Chattanooga National Bitters Spotting
19 August 2015 (R•082015)
As busy as I was at the FOHBC 2015 Chattanooga National Antique Bottle Show, I certainly had the opportunity to see some nice bitters on the floor, under the tables, in the displays, in the auction and in some hotel rooms. I thought I would lasso a few for your enjoyment. Many of these were southern bitters as this was our Southern Region show.
*All photographs by Mallory Boyle unless otherwise noted.
ROLLING THUNDER AUCTION
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Rolling Thunder Auction. Lot #70: E. DEXTER LOVERIDGE/WAHOO BITTERS (on 2 panels), embossed eagle with arrow and label, full label on 4th panel, embossed on roof DWD/PATD/XXX/1863, (Ring/Ham L-126), 10” tall x 3” square, applied collared mouth, nice medium amber, original foil and cork, both labels are 95%, mint condition—as good as they come. Estimate: $1,000-$2,000. Purchased by Brad Francis for $4,300 not including auction house premium. Photograph Daniel Auctions
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Rolling Thunder Auction. Lot #81: SOUTHERN/BITTERS/C.H. EBBERT & CO./DEPOT/MEMPHIS, TENN., (Ring/Ham, O-94.5), applied sloping collared top, square, 9.5” tall x 3”, nice medium amber, a rare southern bitters, near mint condition (couple of high point wear spots on label panel). Estimate: $2,000-$4,000. Sold for $6,400 not including auction house premium. Photograph Daniel Auctions
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Rolling Thunder Auction. Lot #41: KIMBALL’S/JAUNDICE/BITTERS/TROY, N.H., (Ring/Ham, K-2), 7” tall x 3” wide x 1.75” deep, applied sloping top, medium Stoddard amber, improved pontil, mint condition — super example. Estimate: $1,000-$2,000. Sold for $800 not including auction house premium to FM5. Photograph Daniel Auctions
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Rolling Thunder Auction. Lot #74: Loveridge Business Ephemera – Carte de Visite photo of Loveridge building, letterhead, envelopes, other early photos, ink blotters, etc. Lot. Estimate: $500-$1,000. Sold for $1,300 not including auction house premium. Photograph Daniel Auctions
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Rolling Thunder Auction. Lot #73: E. Dexter Loveridge Items – beaver skin top hat, 1864 tin type photo of him wearing top hat, his walking cane (engraved coin silver handle cap) with concealed knife, 13 x 17”, near mint condition. Lot of 3 Estimate: $500-$1,000. Sold for $3,500 not including auction house premium. Photograph Daniel Auctions
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Rolling Thunder Auction. Lot #71: Wahoo Bitters by E. Dexter Loveridge Great Indian Remedy, Paper Sign, litho by Gies & Co. Buffalo, NY, framed In Victorian-era frame, absolutely beautiful, a great addition to any bitters or early advertising collection, 13 x 17”, near mint condition. Estimate: $500-$1,000. Sold for $6,800 plus auction house premium. Photograph Daniel Auctions
THE DISPLAYS
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Great Southern Bottles Group Display organized by Tom Lines. Dr. Leriemondie’s Southern Bitters (Ring/Ham, L-77), pontiled, known to be from Brookhaven, Mississippi but not marked. Collection of Dr. Charles Aprill (New Orleans, La.). Also First Place Winner (tie) in the Battle of Chattanooga “Best Bottle South of the Mason Dixon Line” category.
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Great Southern Bottles Group Display. Left to right standing three great Savannah, Georgia bitters. Lippman’s Great German Bitters (Ring/Ham L-99), Solomon’s Strengthening & Invigorating Bitters (Ring/Ham S-139) and Arabian Bitters (Ring/Ham A-80).
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Tennessee Bottles Group Display. Organizer Ed Provine. Highland Bitters and Scotch Tonic (Ring/Ham H-117) figural barrel and Victory Tonic Bitters (Ring/Ham V-20).
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Tennessee Bottles Group Display. Fine Apple Bitters from Nashville, Tennessee. Our Own Southern Bitters represented on left.
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Tennessee Bottles Group Display. Left to right (full image bottles) Cumberland Bitters (Nashville) (Ring/Ham C-256), Highland Bitters and Scotch Tonic figural barrel (Ring/Ham H-117), Wiggs Bros, Memphis, Tenn. figural cabin and a Genl Frank Cheatam’s Bitters (Nashville) (Ring/Ham C-136).
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Great Southern Bottles Group Display. Two Tutt’s Golden Eagle Bitters (Augusta, Georgia), (Ring/Ham T-71). Photograph Ferdinand Meyer
SHOWROOM FLOOR
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Argyle Bitters (New Orleans, La.) (Ring/Ham A-83) and a J T Wiggin’s Gentian Bitters (Ring/Ham W-108.3) (1 of 3 known, 2 in Meyer collection) – Meyer Table
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Some excellent bitters that were on sale and will probably be headed to an auction house. Three tables full! Peter & Jon Zimbelman table. Photo by Ferdinand Meyer.
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Extremely rare Rivaud’s Imperial Bitters (Louisville, Ky.) (Ring/Ham R-69) Photograph Ferdinand Meyer
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E. Dexter Loveridge’s Wahoo Bitters in yellow green (Ring/Ham L-126). Saw this baby last year. Believe is was consigned to an auction house at the show. Photograph Ferdinand Meyer
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Toneco Bitters (Ring/Ham T-37) in a blue purple, prob been nuked. Usually clear. For $50 why not? Photograph Ferdinand Meyer
UNDER THE TABLE
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Left, extremely rare blue green Dr. Gilbert’s Rock and Rye Stomach Bitters (Ring/Ham G0-40) and an extraordinary green Russ’ St. Domingo Bitters (Ring/Ham R-125). Both Gary Beatty collection recently from the collection of Howard Crowe. Photograph Ferdinand Meyer
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Large size, open pontil, Old Sachems Bitters and Wigwam Tonic (Ring/Ham O-46). Meyer table. Ex: Elmer Smith Collection
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Extremely rare H. N. Winfrees Aromatic Stomach Bitters (Chester, Va.) (Ring/Ham W-136). Photograph Ferdinand Meyer
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Extremely rare Missouri IXL Bitters (Ring/Ham M 104.5) – Shultis Collection. Photograph Ferdinand Meyer
Really fantastic to get a glimpse of some very rare bitters! Thanks for sharing.