Author Archives: Ferdinand Meyer V

About Ferdinand Meyer V

Ferdinand Meyer V is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and has a BFA in Fine Art and Graphic Design from the Kansas City Art Institute and School of Design. Ferdinand is the founding Principal of FMG Design, Inc., a nationally recognized design consultation firm. Ferdinand is a passionate collector of American historical glass, specializing in bitters bottles, color runs, and related classic figural bottles. Ferdinand is married to Elizabeth Jane Meyer and lives in Houston, Texas, with their daughter and three wonderful grandchildren. The Meyers are also very involved in gardening (Peachridge Gardens), antiques (Peachridge Collections), and early United States postage stamps. Ferdinand is the past three-term president of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, a long-time board member, FOHBC 2021 Hall of Fame, and one of the founding members of the FOHBC Virtual Museum.

Dr. Green’s Poleish Bitters; yes it is spelled wrong.

Posted on 14 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. Green’s Poleish Bitters; yes it is spelled wrong (on the bottle). 14 March 2014 I suppose I could make some sort of ethnic joke here with the way “Polish” is spelled on the Dr. Green’s Poleish Bitters, but I … Continue reading →

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Where is the Jones’ Tonic Bitters from?

Posted on 14 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Where is the Jones’ Tonic Bitters from? 14 March 2014 I have not thought about my extremely rare, Jones’ Tonic Bitters (pictured at the top of post) for some time until I saw that Glass Works Auctions has an outstanding … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Auction News, Bitters, Digging and Finding, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Questions, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Where is the Jones’ Tonic Bitters from?

My Purdy’s Bitters Mystery Solved!

Posted on 14 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

My Purdy’s Bitters Mystery Solved! 14 March 2014 (R•082818) (R•042219) Hiram Purdy was engaged for many years in the wholesale liquor trade. He was the inventor of the metal showcase and was the projector of the first horse street railway in New … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Article Publications, Bitters, Club News, Digging and Finding, History, Liquor Merchant, Publications, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Isabella Glass Works of Thomas Stanger – 1841 to 1856

Posted on 13 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

The Isabella Glass Works of Thomas Stanger – 1841 to 1856 Part 3 by Stephen Atkinson 13 March 2014 Part 1: Frederick Stanger and John Marshall 1831-1832 Part 2: Thomas Wriggins Stanger and John Marshall 1832-1839 Thomas Stanger began building a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Currency, Early American Glass, Flasks, Glass Companies & Works, Glass Makers, Historical Flasks, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The unusual Mede’s Mexican Fluid – New York

Posted on 12 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

The unusual Mede’s Mexican Fluid – New York 12 March 2014 In case you haven’t noticed, Norman Heckler has this incredible, oddly shaped medicine in their upcoming Auction 108. The Mede’s Mexican Fluid is six sided, flaring from the base to … Continue reading →

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The unlisted Yaupon Bitters – Norfolk, Virginia

Posted on 11 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

The unlisted Yaupon Bitters – Norfolk, Virginia or Vegetable Elixir of Life 11 March 2014 (R•031615) (R•092019) Bitters trade card authority Joe Gourd (Chicago, Illinois) sent me the pictured advertising trade cards below for Yaupon Bitters put out by John … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Civil War, Druggist & Drugstore, Ephemera, History, Medicines & Cures, Tea, Trade Cards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is the Magic Bitters related to the Penn’s Pony Bitters?

Posted on 10 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Is the Magic Bitters related to the Penn’s Pony Bitters? 10 March 2014 (R•031214) At the Baltimore Antique Bottle Show the weekend before last, I was able to add a Magic Bitters, put out by Minetree & Jackson, Petersburg, Virginia, to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Two bitters that W. E. French was selling in Petersburg, Virginia

Posted on 9 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Two bitters that W. E. French was selling in Petersburg, Virginia 09 March 2014 I completed a post the other day on some extremely rare bitters put out by H. N. Winfree in Chester, Virginia and James D’Alton in Petersburg, … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Cologne, Druggist & Drugstore, Ephemera, History, Medicines & Cures, Tonics, Trade Cards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Winfree’s Bitters Family

Posted on 7 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

The Winfree’s Bitters Family Winfree’s Aromatic Stomach Bitters, Winfree’s Bitters and Winfree’s Tonic Anti-Spasmodic and Alterative Bitters 07 March 2014 (082819) I picked up an extremely rare, Winfree’s Aromatic Stomach Bitters at the Baltimore Antique Bottle Show this past weekend. There … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitters, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Those Doll Heads that you Diggers & Pickers Keep Finding

Posted on 6 March 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Those Doll Heads that you Diggers & Pickers Keep Finding 06 March 2014 Walking around the Baltimore Antique Bottle Show this past weekend and looking at the kazillion antique bottles and old go-withs that we typically see at a show … Continue reading →

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