Red Cloud Bitters – One of the Chicago ‘Indians’

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RED CLOUD BITTERS

TAYLOR & WRIGHT – CHICAGO

The ebay listing read, RED CLOUD BITTERS” “bottle old !!! BEAUTIFUL”. “TAYLOR & WRIGHT CHICAGO” and “Hi, Here is a beautiful and RARE bottle !! I can not find any chips or nicks on this bottle. There is a spot that looks like a nick on the bottom but it is just an air bubble, you can see this in the picture. Any questions please ask. Thanks for looking and have a GREAT day !!!”

“Hi, Here is a beautiful and RARE bottle!!”

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Apple-Touch-IconASimple enough of a listing. Here is an ‘Indian’ bottle that I am unfamiliar with even though I possess a few other Chicago ‘Indian’ bitters such as “Red Jacket Bitters”. I am making an assumption here as I believe ‘Red Cloud” refers to the famous Sioux war leader.

Are any of the Chicago ‘Indians’ related or is it just a coincidence? With names like Taylor, Wright, Vowinkle, Theller, Bennett, Pieters, Monheimer, Schwab and McQuaid embossed on various bottles, there must be a link. Well it is high time to find out.

Time to Find Out about the Chicago ‘Indian’ Bitters Bottles

Jeff Burkhardt (Froggy) tipped me off initially to this extremely rare Chicago square that closed on Saturday, 09 March 2013 on ebay for $1,175 with 29 bids. I think I remember seeing it on ebay too but I was just ‘covered-up’ with unwinding and returning to Houston after a ten day trip. What a great bottle though the pictures were less than desirable (see below). The seller (hemirules1, Chenoa, Illinois) did post some exterior ‘sunlight’ shots (see above)  that were much more exciting. Just goes to show you that these squares need light to make them dance.

Update: Mark Warne just notified me that about a year or so ago another Red Cloud Bitters sold on ebay. Dark amber. It went for $825 and I was the underbidder.

There is a real renaissance with the bitters square collectors and you are seeing some strong prices.

There is a real renaissance with the bitters square collectors and you are seeing some strong prices. I have picked up a few killers lately myself and someone (or someones plural) has been snapping them up quite regularly on ebay and at the auction houses. Since I have been ‘cherry picking’ squares for years, it is great to see the wonderful appeal of bitters squares growing. I am so fired up about this. The Western bitters group has loved their squares since day one so it is nice to see this appeal spread to the rest of the country.

Red Cloud was a war leader and a chief of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux).

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R 16 RED CLOUD / BITTERS // TAYLOR & WRIGHT /  CHICAGO – ebay

Who is Red Cloud?

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Red Cloud (Lakota: Maȟpíya Lúta), (1822 – December 10, 1909) was a war leader and a chief of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux). He led as a chief from 1868 to 1909. One of the most capable Native American opponents the United States Army faced, he led a successful campaign in 1866–1868 known as Red Cloud’s War over control of the Powder River Country in northeastern Wyoming and southern Montana.

After signing the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868), he led his people in the important transition to reservation life. Some of his US opponents mistakenly thought of him as overall chief of the Sioux. The large tribe had several major divisions and was highly decentralized. Bands among the Oglala and other divisions operated independently, even though some individual leaders such as Red Cloud were renowned as warriors and highly respected as leaders. [Wikipedia]

Grabbing my Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham Bitters Bottles book as I left the house today, I see there are two listings for Red Cloud Bitters in the original book:

R 16  RED CLOUD BITTERS (pictured above)

RED / CLOUD / BITTERS // f // TAYLOR & WRIGHT / CHICAGO // f //
9 1/2 x 2 3/4 (7 1/2) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Extremely rare

R 17  RED CLOUD BITTERS (pictured below)

RED CLOUD BITTERS // f // VOWINKLE & THELLER // f //  // b // A&DHC
9 1/2 x 2 3/4 (7 1/2) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Very rare

RedCloudBitters_R17

R 17 RED CLOUD BITTERS // VOWINKLE & THELLER, 9 1/2″h. amber, smooth base, square – weloveoldbottles.com

Sometimes trying to answer a question just leads to more questions. Here are my additional questions after laying out this post.

  1. Who is “Taylor & Wright” in Chicago? There is a Wright & Taylor distiller in Louisville. Doubt a connection.
  2. Are the R 16 & R 17 Red Cloud Bitters related. I would think so.
  3. Are Red Cloud and Red Jacket Bitters related? Probably not. Stay tuned.
  4. Does the R16 Red Cloud Bitters have an applied top?
  5. Which bottle is earlier?
  6. Who is Vowinkle & Theller“? Theller is mentioned in some type of lawsuit. Hostetter’s name pops up.
  7. What does A&DHC mean? It is embossed on other old Chicago soda bottles. It also shows up on Pittsburgh sodas on Tod von Mechow’s web site. Tod says Chambers, Alexander & David H. From Glass Bottle MarksA. & D. H. C. ………Alexander & David H. Chambers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1843-c.1889). This was one of the most prolific glass companies in Pittsburgh during the mid-to-late 1800s. Huge quantities of bottles, flasks, and fruit jars were made, as well as window glass. Many local, regional, and nationally distributed sodas, mineral waters, beers, bitters, tonics, and other types of products were packaged in bottles made by A&DHC. Most commonly, bottles with this mark usually seem to date from the 1870s and 1880s, but the mark was probably in use at least from around the start of the Civil War, perhaps a bit earlier.
  8. Theller is a New York bitters name. I have the lady’s leg. Was there a New York – Chicago connection with the bottles made in Pittsburgh? Say Taylor & Wright pushed the product in Chicago and Vowinkle & Theller in New York?
Posted in Bitters, eBay, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Forbes Windows – Gallery of Light and Color

Jerry and Helen Forbes

Jerry and Helen Forbes

My BBB (Best Bottle Friend) Jerry Forbes (Carmel, California) flooded my inbox this afternoon with some simply outstanding pictures of his latest bottle additions from the Baltimore Bottle Show. Read: Balto 2013 – Crab Cakes, Bottles and my Mother – Part 1. Jerry has the uncanny, innate ability to leave every bottle show with outstanding examples for his collection and resale. It is nice today to see some of these jewels in his windows. Quite spectacular. In many cases he takes his booty and sets them up in his hotel room window or inside of a room refrigerator if no light is available. Like a warrior or hunter posing with his conquests. GREAT friends, Jerry & Helen Forbes. Read More: Cassin’s Grape Brandy Bitters Joins the Forbes Collection Read More: Travellers Bitters Travels from Baltimore to Carmel Read More: Bottle Still Life Shots from our Porch in Downieville Read More: Jerry Forbes Does it Again Read More: What’s in the Fridge?

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2013 Baltimore Bottle Show booty – Jerry Forbes

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Improvising with a quick but cold Light Box – Jerry Forbes

Gallery of Light and Color

Jerry & Helen Forbes Collection


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Posted in Bitters, Bottle Shows, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Digging and Finding, Display, Figural Bottles, Fire Grenades, Flasks, Hair Tonics, Historical Flasks | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Le Doyen’s Disinfecting Fluid – The Last Bottle

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Ice blue LE DOYEN’S DISINFECTING FLUID at the 2013 Baltimore Bottle Show – Jack Pelletier

LE DOYEN’S DISINFECTING FLUID

“The Last Bottle”

Apple-Touch-IconAI say the “last bottle” because this is the last bottle I photographed as I left the floor of the 2013 Baltimore Bottle Show. Since I was repacking my bottles without my wife Elizabeth for shipment back to Houston, I was taking my time and carefully wrapping each bottle in bubble wrap and fitting them in compartments in my large China Barrel shipping box. I had the unfortune of having four bottles break in the shipment up to Baltimore with FedEx so I was taking my dog-gone time.

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Jack Pettetier

As the clean-up crews were putting up chairs and tables, and the last dealers were packing up, Jack Pelletier (Gorham, ME) reminded me that he had this great ice blue bottle that I had seen and admired earlier in the day. This would be my last chance to photograph it. Jack thought is was a ‘one of a kind’ known example of a LE DOYEN’S DISINFECTING FLUID. A killer bottle I thought when I first inspected it earlier in the day. It looked like it was carved from ice by an expert chisel-man. And oh what a pontil. It kind of reminded me of my Boggs Cottman German Tonic Bitters (from Baltimore) and my Dr. Plannett’s Bitters. Very similar size, color and iron pontil. You will also notice a similarity to a Dr. Townsend’s too.

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BOGG’S COTTMAN GERMAN TONIC BITTERS and DR. PLANETT’S BITTERS – Meyer Collection

“for destroying putrid smells arising from either animal or vegetable decomposition; also, for immediately purifying sick rooms”

The three panels of the bottle are embossed LE DOYENS / DISINFECTING FLUID // BY / POULIN ROGERS & KEENEY / N.Y. // PATENTED OCT 8 / 1844. There seems to be quite a bit of historical material on the brand which is surprising since it is such an early bottle.

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Le Doyen’s Disinfecting Fluid advertisement – Geneva Gazette, February 1849

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Ice blue LE DOYENS DISINFECTING FLUID at the 2013 Baltimore Bottle Show – Jack Pelletier

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Ice blue LE DOYENS DISINFECTING FLUID at the 2013 Baltimore Bottle Show – Jack Pelletier

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Ice blue LE DOYENS DISINFECTING FLUID at the 2013 Baltimore Bottle Show – Jack Pelletier

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Ice blue LE DOYENS DISINFECTING FLUID at the 2013 Baltimore Bottle Show – Jack Pelletier

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Ice blue LE DOYENS DISINFECTING FLUID at the 2013 Baltimore Bottle Show – Jack Pelletier

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Ice blue LE DOYENS DISINFECTING FLUID at the 2013 Baltimore Bottle Show – Jack Pelletier

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Ice blue LE DOYENS DISINFECTING FLUID at the 2013 Baltimore Bottle Show – Jack Pelletier

I also found that a LE DOYENS sold on ebay (see listing) on 19 August 2012 for $2,025 with 32 bids by buybuy4now from Vista, California. The ebay write-up is noted below:

COLOR PONTIL “LE DOYEN DISINFECTING FLUID // BY POULIN ROGERS & KEENEY N.Y.

UNIQUE EXAMPLE – ONLY ONE KNOWN IN THIS SHAPE AND COLOR

“LE DOYEN DISINFECTING FLUID // BY POULIN ROGERS & KEENEY N.Y. // PATENTED OCT. 8TH 1844” – IRON PONTIL – ***ICE BLUE COLOR***, America, 1844 – 1847 **Earliest known Variant – New York Example** UNLISTED AND PROBABLY UNIQUE, About Perfect

Large Square with beveled corners “SIMILAR TO A TOWNSENDS” topped with a drippy applied sloping collar lip. Our research shows that there has never been a previous document sale for this rare example – It is un-listed in this color, No chips or cracks or other significant after Mfg damage. This is indeed extremely rare, and we think it is a unique example in this color.

Deviations from perfect: This bottle is somewhat hazy in appearance with overall interior de-vitrification (or contents etching). Striking BLUE COLOR that sparkles in the sun with tons of hammer whittle. It has some normal, and actually expected light ware on base and corners; and has the inner haze previously mentioned, but all that is insignificant because there are no others known! The bottle was cleaned, there is remains some etching and scratches, please use the close-up feature to examine the surface thoroughly. It’s unlikely we will ever find another whole example. Estimate, $3,000.00

History: One like shaped variant was patented and produced by T. Ripley Hawley four years later (1847) in Boston. Also this other like shaped example was in plain AQUA, and that aqua example is thought to also be unique (the only know example in this shape). It recently sold in John Pastors November 5th 2011 Auction.

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LE DOYENS DISINFECTING FLUID variation in the American Glass Gallery Auction #7

John’s description was as follows: The following Info from catalog record – American Glass Gallery Auction #7.

“Le Doyen’s / Disinfecting Fluid– By / T. Ripley Hawley / Boston / Patented Dec / 1847”, America, 1847 – 1855. Aquamarine, square with beveled corners, applied sloping double collared mouth – blowpipe pontil scar, ht. 9 ½”, perfect. Extremely rare / unlisted. To our knowledge, there is only one other example, believed to be in a different size. This example is similar in size and appearance to a Dr. Townsend’s. A great pontiled medicine, nicely whittled, possibly unique. Est.: $1,200 – $2,200 • Min. bid: $800

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LE DOYENS DISINFECTING FLUID – ebay

More searching yields the following:

LeDoyensTestimonial

The New York Journal of Medicine – Sterlings Case of Artificial Anus – 1850

LeDoyensIngridients

Fenner’s Complete Formulary – 1889

Read More: M. LeDoyen’s Disinfecting Fluid from the Pharmaceutical Journal and Transactions Volume VII. 1847-8 – London

Posted in Bitters, Bottle Shows, Early American Glass, eBay, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The elusive Dr. John’s Stomach Bitters

The elusive Dr. John’s Stomach Bitters

Fundamental Collecting Shift

10 March 2013 (R•032818 – example) (R•040418)

Apple-Touch-IconAIn recent years I have had a fundamental shift in my Bitters bottle pursuits as I have shifted my primary focus from immaculate examples to include broken or damaged examples of elusive, and in many cases, solo examples of particular bottles. Basically I am maturing to realize that condition, while critical, should not be the governing factor in adding a bottle to my collection. I mean, would you not appreciate the beauty and historical significance of the Venus de Milo at the Louvre Museum in Paris because the arms are missing?

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DR. JOHN’S STOMACH BITTERS

Bill Ham (co-author of Bitters Bottles and Bitters Bottle Supplement) has been searching for a complete example of a Dr. John’s Stomach Bitters to join his already outstanding collection of pontiled bitters with the word “Stomach” in the name. Without fail, he always mentions this bottle whenever we chat about the latest rare and extremely rare bottles that are new to the collecting scene.

DrJohnsStomachBittersShard

Well, the wait is over because a collector walked up to my table at the Baltimore Bottle Show a week ago with glass shards of a Dr. John’s that had been recently dug. I was fortunate enough to get some pictures. As the bottle is listed, illustrated and has measurements in Bitters Bottles, I do suspect there are more complete examples tucked away somewhere.

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

J 43.5  Dr. John’s Stomach Bitters
DR. JOHN’S / STOMACH BITTERS // f // sp // f //
10 1/4 x 2 7/8 (7 3/8) 1/4
Square, Emerald green, LTC, Applied mouth, Pontil mark, 2 sp, Extremely rare

THE SHARDS

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Dr. John’s Stomach Bitters on eBay

21 March 2018

Well, here it is five years later from when I saw the shards. The bottle was found at an estate auction in York, Pennsylvania. Here is the Buy it Now eBay description. I have cropped two images to best show the bottle and pontil.

eBay Description: If your looking at this auction you know how rare this bottle is.
Dr. Johns Stomach Bitters in emerald green. Bottle measures just under 10” high and 2 7/8” across. This is a dug bottle that still hasn’t been cleaned very well. Shows some iridescence normal to a dug bottle. Biggest defect is what I believe a burst bubble that got filled in by clear glass in the making. The actual exposed clear glass is egg shaped 2.25” long x 1” high. Defect is water tight. I don’t think it’s been fixed since being dug due to it still be dirty. Also a ding to the bottom.


What are the chances… stumbled across this reader’s letter in the 6/86 issue of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector. Sheds a little more light on the elusive DR. JOHNS STOMACH BITTERS.  “Digger”, and Jim Hagenbuch had never heard of it in 1986. – Jeff Burkhardt

Posted in Advice, Bitters, Bottle Shows, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, Museums, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Balto 2013 – Crab Cakes, Bottles and my Mother – Part 2

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CRAB CAKES, BOTTLES and my MOTHER

Read: Balto 2013 – Crab Cakes, Bottles and my Mother – Part 1

PART II

Sunday, 03 March 2013 (Day 4) The Show

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Saturday Evening Set-Up

One of the biggest points about the Baltimore Bottle Show this year that I would like to make was the complete ‘flatness’ of Saturday evening. Basically it was a non-event. This is contrary to the many years previous, as the hottest bottle action usually occurs during this time period. Most collectors know this as they come from many locales from across the United States just to get in Saturday night, before the public comes in on Sunday. A number a folks routinely fly in from the west coast which is thousands of miles just for this early action.

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As many of you know, Saturday evening from about 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm, is reserved for dealer ‘set-up’. There are no early buyers and there is a strict Baltimore Bottle Club policy that only badged dealers and helpers are allowed in. In the proceeding months and weeks, many bottle collectors, who are neither a dealer nor helper, try to find ways to get in, usually by latching on to a table as a helper. Many come in using suspicious means. Obviously with my position as President of the FOHBC, I respect crowd control as we must watch over our shows and govern our attendees and crowds. I am thinking back to the Reno Expo.

Police_crowd_control

Saturday evening is usually the most coveted time as you get the excitement of looking at great bottles as they are carefully unwrapped or unboxed for each table. The best finds can happen during this period as they have year after year. It is nerve wracking as you have to decide if you want to be at your own table selling or if you want to follow the crowd and the buzz. You can see pockets of eager onlookers at certain tables and you are anxious to move from pocket to pocket to see the goods. I have missed a number of great bottles including that great OK Plantation Bitters that Jack Stecher picked up last year in the opening minutes. I have also picked up some good bottles so it all evens out in the end. This is just part of the thrill of being a bottle collector and going to a major show.

Bottle Sighting of the Show

I guess my favorite bottle Saturday night was the legendary Carlyn Ring example of the Barto’s Great Gun Bitters that Sandor Fuss (Denver, Colorado) took delivery from a private Pennsylvania collection.

Read More: Legendary Barto’s Great Gun Bitters added to Fuss Collection

BartosDetailBalto

Catching Up With Bottle Friends

A few years ago I noticed that a few dealers were not even setting up on Saturday evening opting to buy and search instead. Last year it was really noticeable. Well this year, the tide finally turned and it seemed like most dealers, at least the ones that I like to visit did not set up Saturday evening. I even opted to bypass the set-up for the first time. Now maybe this is what the Baltimore Bottle Club has in mind as it certainly follows procedure, but is was kind of a let down. It pleasantly turned out to be one big social evening withs lots of friendship, people catching up, bottle stories and planning for crab cakes for dinner (see Part 1).

BaltoGroup13

Heavy hitters on Saturday night: Bill Taylor (Grants Pass, OR), Jerry Forbes (Carmel, CA), Bill Ham (Lakeport, CA), Larry Marshall (St. Augustine, FL), Jeff Burkhardt (Cedarburg, WI), Jack Stecher (Rochester, NY) and Fritz Wilmanns (Cedarburg, Wi)

Sunday Morning Set-Up

Sunday morning found Jerry Forbes and myself arriving to unpack and set up early as we did not set up the night before as noted previously. It was here that I found my four broken bottles (see Part I). The public gates opened precisely at 8:00 am and it was crowded and exciting. This year seemed busier than most because you had the public crowd and all of the dealers and helpers wheeling and dealing which would have occurred the night before. I must say, much transpired between 7:00 am and 9:00 am. I am still catching my breath and sorting out information in my head or on hastily scratched messages on pieces of paper and business cards.

Some Great Displays

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My table position at B8 and B9, in the second aisle near the front door, puts me real close to the excellent displays. My tables have been handed down through generations (I’m exaggerating a bit) through my father and brother. You do not want to lose your table as there is a waiting list like there is for season Redskin Tickets. I guess it will be the same for the Baltimore Ravens since they won the Superbowl. I think I saw more Ravens shirts than bottle related shirts this year! Baltimoreans love their football. This year there were five or so displays including the Steve Charing “Barber Shop” display (Best in Show), the Gary Katzen “18th Century Milk Glass” display (Peoples Favorite) the “Early American Pottery” display, “Figural Decanters” display and the “Cone Inks” display among others.

Putting Faces With Names

JackSullivan_FM

I also met some great people this year including Jack Sullivan (pictured above – FOHBC Hall of Fame winner last year), Stephen Jackson (Warner’s Safe Cure Blog), Gary Katzen (Milk Glass fame), Andy Goldfrank (historian and digger), Eric Richter (Researcher), Joseph Gourd (Bitters trade card king). These are just a few names listed here as there are many others not listed that have visited Peachridge Glass, PRG facebook or are new FOHBC members that stopped by the table to say hi and to introduce themselves.

FOHBC Table

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I was really pleased with the FOHBC table team at the show. The Federation table looked better than ever with a magazine rack full of the latest issues of the Bottles and Extras magazine, a membership poster, a membership contest bottle prize and bright smiley faces such as Pam Selenak, Alan DeMaison, Bob Ferraro, Sheldon Baugh, Tom Phillips and James Bender who sold close to thirty new memberships which has to be a record for a one-day show. Hats off to the crew at the table!

Jerry Forbes Booty Take

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My table-mate Jerry Forbes continued his streak of hitting a grand slam by pulling in some of the greatest bottles during the show. He usually takes them back to his hotel room and does either a window shot or a refrigerator shot depending on the setting sun. This year was no exception with Jerry reeling in two cathedral pickles, a killer green Drake’s Plantation Bitters, an Old Continental Whiskey and a labeled Bourbon Whiskey Bitters barrel (all pictured above).

All in All

Another great show, the best in my book. Sandor Fuss adds in an e-mail “P.S. The Baltimore show was the just the best! I had a great time. It really is by far my favorite show and in my opinion the best in the country.”

There is also a rumor that the Baltimore Bottle Club might be receptive to hosting a FOHBC National Show down the road at some point. The next available slot might be the 2016 EXPO. Wouldn’t that be something? Thinking 500 table mega event downtown at the inner-harbor.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photographs by Alan DeMaison, Jerry Forbes, Dave Maryo and Ferdinand Meyer V
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Always smiling – Phyllis & Adam Koch

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Clevenger Tool and Piece – Thomas Haunton

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Bill Ham at the Glass Works Auctions table

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Figural Decanters display

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Two Class of 1846 whiskey cylinders

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Ray Klingensmith of Glass Discoveries auction house

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Barber Shop display – Steve Charing

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Large Demijohn

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Busy Crowd

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Early American Pottery display

Reggie & Mindy Lynch

Reggie & Mindy Lynch

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Cone Ink display

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Dana Charlton-Zarro and Eric Richter

Posted in Advice, Bitters, Bottle Shows, Club News, Collectors & Collections, Display, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

FOHBC Membership Contest – Win This Flask!

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WIN THIS FLASK !

GII-11 , 1/2 pint , pontiled, Eagle / Cornucopia, Pittsburgh made flask with beaded edges

FOIHBC Poster

JimBenderMugJim Bender (FOHBC Membership Director) announced a contest to award a prize to any new member and renewal from 3 years back or more. Our goal is to reach 2,000 members.

The Contest is effective as of the Baltimore Bottle Show and shall run post date from 01 January 2013 to 31 December 2013.

FOHBC Board Members are not allowed to win the prize. The FOHBC thanks Jim for graciously donating this flask from his personal collection.

If you are not already a member, please Join the FOHBC now…

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You can see the GII-11 Eagle / Cornucopia flask and the contest poster on the FOHBC table at the 03 March 2013 Baltimore Bottle Show. Pictured left to right, Pam Selenak, FOHBC Public Relations Director, Sheldon Baugh, FOHBC Merchandise Director and Bob Ferraro, FOHBC Vice President. Note: Not all table attendees present when this picture was taken – photo Alan DeMaison

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GII-11 , 1/2 pint , pontiled, Eagle / Cornucopia, Pittsburgh made flask with beaded edges

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GII-11 , 1/2 pint , pontiled, Eagle / Cornucopia, Pittsburgh made flask with beaded edges

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GII-11 , 1/2 pint , pontiled, Eagle / Cornucopia, Pittsburgh made flask with beaded edges

Posted in Advice, Bottle Shows, Bottles and Extras, Club News, Flasks, FOHBC News, Historical Flasks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lacour’s Bitters – “Heartbreakers” & “Tearjerkers”

Apple-Touch-IconAWhat a great package of Lacour’s Sarsapariphere Bitters that closed on ebay yesterday. The lot was titled Lacour’s Bitters “Heartbreakers” Lot – All Broken, One Repairable. The pictures were excellent. Let’s see how long it takes Warren Friedrich to identify the variants. The description by cwkennedy (Penryn, California) is as follows:

Lacour’s Bitters “Heartbreakers” Lot – All Broken, One Repairable

LacoursBroken

“parts and pieces all came out of the same hole”

“Heartbreakers” “Tearjerkers” or whatever you want to call them, this lot of Lacour’s Sarsapariphere Bitters parts and pieces all came out of the same hole. Lot, as pictured, consists of three medium to darkish-amber necks, one light Seven-Up green body and neck, and one light-to-medium yellowish-amber specimen in repairable condition, as the broken piece is present, the break is clean and, when matched to the bottle, it fits tightly with no gaps or flakes. These are literally “fresh to market,” having been dug this past Saturday in the Northern California foothills near Auburn. All pieces have been lightly cleaned and exhibit varying degrees of haze and/or staining. The almost intact specimen measures approximately 9 1/8 inches tall by just a little over 3 1/4 inches wide at base. Lacour’s Bitters, dating from the late 1860s through the early 1870s are among the rarest, most desireable, and most visually appealing western bitters. The sale price was $246.50 with 11 bids.

See ebay listing

These are literally “fresh to market,” having been dug this past Saturday in the Northern California foothills near Auburn. 

Lacour's Sarsapariphere Bitters - Meyer Collection

Lacour’s Sarsapariphere Bitters – Meyer Collection

Read More: Two New Lacour’s Bitters added to the Meyer Collection

LacoursAmberBaseBroke LacoursAmberBroken LacoursAmberBrokenBase LacoursBases LacoursBroken LacoursGreenBroken LacoursGreenBroken2 LacoursTops

Posted in Bitters, Color Runs, Digging and Finding, eBay, Figural Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Mysterious Coca Bitters – New York

Apple-Touch-IconAAs with many posts where I look back at my collection, I get asked a question about a specific bottle. In this case the question pertains to the mysterious Coca Bitters that was recently dug in the coastal town of Duxbury, Massachusetts (see pictures below).

The Mysterious Coca Bitters – New York

08 March 2013 (R•30 Sep 2013) (R•103118)

CocaBittersFoundMaine

Hello Ferdinand, I just discovered the web site while searching for info on a bottle I dug up today (picture above) in Duxbury, Ma. It is the identical (to the) one shown on the site that was referred to as rare and was found in Hamden, Conn. in July 1973. Is this is so, then the Coca Bitters bottle I found is a big deal? – Chris

I say mystery because I know nothing about this bottle except that I like the name and it sits on a shelf somewhere, waiting for someone to ‘rediscover’ the story of the brand. The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham description in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

C 178  COCA BITTERS
COCA BITTERS // f // f // f //
8 1/2 x 2 1/2 (6 1/4) 3/8
Square, Amber, yellow amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare
One dug in Hamden, Connecticut, July, 1973.
ColaBittersLogo

Probably a printer’s proof of Coca Bitters logo – Joe Gourd Collection

They have named it COCA BITTERS, but hope the name will not cause it to be classed with the so-called “Bitters”, which have done so much harm – physical and moral. 

C 178 COCA BITTERS - Meyer Collection

C 178 COCA BITTERS – Meyer Collection

“COCA BITTERS”, America, 1880 – 1890. Amber with a slight orange tone, square with beveled corners, applied sloping collar – smooth base, ht. 8 3/8″, virtually attic mint; (a minor, paper-thin ¼” open bubble at edge of base, otherwise perfect). R/H #C178. Extremely rare. Note; there are at least two distinct mold variations of this bottle, as well as colors ranging from this orange-amber to a yellowish tone. All are considered rare and difficult to acquire. Put out by the Quichua Coca Co. of NYC. – American Glass Gallery – Auction #21

With little information to go on I can quickly search the net and find a few references to a Coca Bitters made by The Quichua Coca Co. in New York City. I love the copy in the advertisement below that says “They have named it COCA BITTERS, but hope the name will not cause it to be “classed with the so-called ‘Bitters’, which have done so much harm – physical and moral”. WOW. Use the coca leaf instead of alcohol and rise above!

[Update] I also see, (with the eyes of Warren Friedrich) that this new dug example is different than the example I possess. It looks earlier with indented panel(s) and smaller embossed typography. Is the mouth also applied. I only received one picture. I will ask for more. Stay tuned.

From the official report of Lieut- Herndon, U.S.N.:The Peruvian natives who use Coca, perform prodigies of labor without fatigue. A powerful tonic for the nervous system, but not injurious to the health”

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Article from The Newtown Register, Thursday, May 30, 1878

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Coca Bitters advertisement – made by Quichua Coca Co, New York, 1880

Coca Bitters advertisement – The Baltimore Sun, Saturday, May 19, 1883

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The Medical World – Volume 5 – 1887

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1880 Coca Bitters advertisement (see copy below). It appeared over 140 years ago in an issue of a rare weekly publication, The Boston Journal of Science – ebay

“Erythroxyline,”

OR

SPIRITS OF COCA.

This new and wonderful Remedy, which is specially adapted to disorders of the STOMACH and NERVOUS SYSTEM, is the result of a triumph of chemical art in extracting the volatile active principles of ERYTHROXYLINE COCA.

The properties of this remarkable Plant are such as to interest every physician, as it has the power of stimulating all the vital functions of the Human System, and unlike all other nervous excitants, such as alcohol, opium, etc., its use is followed by no after feeling of depression, but leaves behind it a permanent benefit.

COCA has been used for centuries in its native lands, Peru and Bolivia, with great success for the cure of

DYSPEPSIA, DISEASES OF THE LIVER,

DEBILITY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, And all forms of Malarial Diseases.

It is also a most reliable tonic for Muscular or Mental Fatigue, as under its use prodigies of labor may be performed without that feeling of weariness which usually follows continued exercise, whether of mind or body. It is, in fact, equally valuable to literary workers or mechanical artisans. IN SHORT, COCA IS NOT A SPECIAL STIMULANT, BUT A TRUE SUPPLY OF VITAL FORCE.

The most valuable properties of COCA are fully represented in our New Preparation,

ERYTHROXYLINE: Or, SPIRITS OF COCA,

A compound prepared with great care from the FINEST and FRESHEST COCA LEAVES, and guaranteed to be of uniform strength. ERYTHROXYLINE is an excellent Nervous Sedative, and is particularly applicable to Gastric Irritability, the Vomiting of Pregnancy,and Dyspepsia, and all disturbances of the Stomach arising from Catarrh of that Organ.

But its most remarkable property is its action upon the NERVOUS SYSTEM generally, and as has been shown by repeated trials, it is a

SPECIFIC FOR NEURALGIA AND NERVOUS HEADACHE.

Its action in Neuralgia is rapid and pleasant, relief being experienced in a short time, and, as with all preparations of Coca, no evil after-effects are experienced, BUT A COMPLETE CURE OF THIS MOST DISTRESSING COMPLAINT IS EFFECTED.

We also make the following preparations directly from the fresh Coca leaf:—

FLUID EXTRACT OF COCA, U. S. P.

Also COCA BITTERS.

The best nerve tonic known. An invaluable remedy for Dyspepsia, Malaria in all forms, and Nervous Debility.

QUICHUA COCA CO.

MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS,
72 William Street, New York.

Read More: If you wanna hang out you’ve got to take her out – Cocaine

Read More: Heroin – Purest and Best

Read More: To Smoke Opium is to get out of the Train (while it is still moving)

More Coca Bitters Photos

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Gorgeous Coca Bitters in yellow amber – Meyer Collection (photo ebay)

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Bottles of any age as “Art”

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Sandor FussHi Ferdinand,

My wife and I were shopping today at the Cherry Creek Mall in Denver and I noticed a chandelier for sale in one of the stores. Upon inspection, I realized that it was made of bottles! We thought it was lovely and went on our way to the next store where we saw several bottles on a shelf display that were for sale as “home decor”. We looked them over and went on to the next store and sure enough there were some bottles on a table for sale as a coffee table decoration! We saw bottles being sold in at least 5 stores and I have attached pictures of them for you to see.

Sure they were all new bottles but what is fascinating to me is that the general public, not just us “bottle nuts” are starting to appreciate bottles of any age as “art”. This is just a silly observation but it is a tell tale sign of the future of our wonderful hobby. Bottles have gone “mainstream”, with the help of such web sites as Peachridge Glass and the efforts of the FOHBC to name just a couple of our hobby’s tireless promoter’s and it is my belief that we are entering a new renaissance of bottle collecting!

Enjoy!

Sandor

Read: Surprise Bottle Article in Martha Stewart Living

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Label Under Glass Flasks at ABA Auction 57

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Richmond P. Hobson

Label Under Glass Flask

Apple-Touch-IconAJeff Wichmann had a nice assortment of Label Under Glass flasks and bottles in his recent American Bottle Auctions | Auction 57 that closed this past Sunday evening. It was very nice to get a report from Dennis Humphrey (Northport, Alabama) of his successful win of the Richmond P. Hobson flask. Dennis adds in a recent communication:

Just bought this historical flask off the American Bottle Auction web site. A small label under glass flask with a picture of a famous Naval officer.

Richmond P. Hobson was born in Greensboro, Alabama in 1870. He is famous for his volunteer encounter in the conflict in Cuba trying to sink the collier Merrimac in the entrance to the harbor of Santiago, Cuba. He and eight other volunteers steamed the ship under toward the entrance of the harbor under heavy fire from the Spanish war ships on the night of June 3, 1898. The steering gear was damaged by fire and she sank without obstructing the channel and he and the crew were captured.

After the Battle of Santiago De Cuba, Hobson and his men were released. He later was awarded the Medal of Honor, something unheard of, as an officer by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 29, 1933. He was elected to the Alabama House Of Representatives in 1906 and served from 1907 to 1915. By a special Act of Congress in 1934 he was advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral on the retired list. Hobson died on March 16, 1937 and is buried at Arlington Cemetery. A great Alabamian by all accounts if you ask me.

Dennis Humphrey

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American Bottle Auctions wrote the following in their description:

HANLEN BROS. WINES & LIQUORS Sole Distributors 330 MARKET STREET HARRISBURG, PA w/ U.S. on reverse. Label over Richmond Hobson. Label under glass. 5 inches high. Apparently Hanlen placed a label over a stock photograph of an army lieutenant. There is a chip on the threading which was hidden by a cap that did not fit. The condition of the label under glass is as nice as it comes. Possibly another cap and you’ve got something here. At any rate, the most important part is perfect. No grade on flask, however label is perfect. SEE VIDEO

Additional Auction Examples

JamRumLabelUnderGlass

JAM RUM w/ Woman Label Under Glass Back Bar. Here is a gorgeous example that comes with the 25-cent stopper. There is an area on the bottom right of missing glass, which doesn’t affect the picture. Please see photos and videos for reference. Image is dazzling, and these stoppers are almost impossible to find. Condition of label is perfect with the aforementioned glass missing. SEE VIDEO

DandyDanceLabelUnderGlass

LABEL UNDER GLASS HALF PINT DANDY GLASS w/ Dancing Couple. 5 ½ inches. Comes with original screwed top and ornate design in the glass. Label is about perfect on the dancing couple with just some light staining on the very edges. Overall grades a 9.5. SEE VIDEO

EarlyCoupleLabelUnderGlass

WHIMSICAL EARLY COUPLE. Label under glass. 1910. Label depicts a woman and man from possibly the revolutionary war period. Condition is superb and has original pewter cap. Label is 98% intact. Grades a 9.8. SEE VIDEO

HatLadyLabelUnderGlass

LABEL UNDER GLASS HALF-PINT FLASK w/ Young Woman in Hat. 5 ¾ inches with ornately designed glass. Here is another fancy pocket flask from the turn of the century. This one has a lot going for it as the image is quite nice and with just a touch of stain on the edges. Overall a grade 9.5. SEE VIDEO

RememberTheMaineLabelUnderGlass

REMEMBER THE MAINE. Label under glass. 5 inches high. This is certainly one of the better examples we have seen. The label is perfect and the canteen has its original cap. The entire bottle and label creates a grade of 9.8. SEE VIDEO

Posted in Auction News, Collectors & Collections, Flasks, History, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment