An eBay bottle leads to something much bigger!

Posted on 3 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

I was in southern California earlier in the week and was able to have dinner at a really fantastic Indian restaurant in San Bernardino with my friends Pam and Randy Selenak from Orange, California. During the course of dinner, Pam started telling me this really cool story about a bottle and postal history which is right up my alley. Pam was kind enough to recite the story again and send some pictures to accompany her tale. I think you will enjoy this.

P A M    G O E S    P O S T A L

Ferdinand:

On July 29, 2011 I bought a cobalt blue Owen Casey Eagle Soda Works (pictured above) from a seller on eBay. Little did I know that this was a beginning of a great friendship. I noticed that the city that the bottle was from was in the next town over from me. So I e-mailed the seller to see if I could just pick up the bottle there. The owner replied and said that she could drop it by on her way to the Orange Antique Circle when she goes for coffee. The “Circle” is a famous antique area of Orange, California about a 1/2 mile from my house. I told her that would be great.

When she arrived, she was surprised to see all the old bottles and more surprised to see all the ghost town artifacts that Randy and I have on display. She told me the story of her growing up with her parents who loved digging and site seeing in the old ghost towns. This was back in the early 1960’s. She particularly had great memories of times in Gold Point. Then in the early 1970’s (she thinks it was 1972), her parents bought the post office and a few other things from Ora Mae Wiley, the last post mistress for Gold Point. Ora Mae Wiley was married to Senator Harry Wiley. Her parents had a museum in Garden Grove, California and it was displayed along with all the other articles from Gold Point until her parents past away. The museum no longer exists. These items have been in her garage since the passing of her mother.

She made me the offer to come by the house to see all these things that she had once she was more organized. She was living in the house that her parents lived in and she had not even begun to find all that there was to see. We stayed in touch throughout the year and this late spring we were able to go see her Gold Point items. When she opened the garage I almost fell over. Before me was this 12 ft long by 8 ft. high masterpiece. I had goose bumps on my arms. Along with the post office was the original post stamp with the date of Dec. 2, 1915. If this piece of history could talk, what a story it could tell. She said there was more in the back.

There I found the general store’s book keepers desktop complete with all of the receipts with dates, names and items bought. It was solid oak with a glass top over what looks like the names of specific merchants. The top also raised and under the top was stacks of sales books with names, dates and items sold. The top of the desk also had receipts that were clipped into place. Some of them had red CREDIT STOPPED over their space. There were seven of these metal trays that flipped down to reveal more receipts. There was also a book specific to the Great Western Mine. In it were sales of items sold to the G.W. Mine with dates and amounts.

Then she brought us over to a very odd item and she told us that it was an old washing machine that still had all the working parts. I was offered all of these items because she thought that her parents would be happy to see it go to somebody who could appreciate the history. She had offered it back to the owners of Gold Point but they had refinished the post office and made it into the museum and all of the pieces would not fit.

In September we were made the proud new owners of the Gold Point Post Office and all of this is now in our garage. Randy and I go out everyday and look upon this majestic piece of history and know how fortunate we are to be able part of it’s journey. If anyone would like to come see these items we would love to share it with you. Please call first. The washing machine is for sale if anyone is interested.

We have become good friends with the seller and keep in touch to this day. If you are reading this, Joan, Thank you so much!!!!! For more information on Gold Point read: Gold Point History

Pam Selenak (FOHBC Public Relations Director) *Visit the FOHBC web site for Pams information.

Hi Pam,

What a wonderful article! Photo’s were fantastic also. I started to cry because my parents would have really liked this article and I know they are very pleased! Their store which had a museum was in Stanton on Beach Blvd down the street from Hobby City . it was called “Rock and Relics”. I am going to Santa Monica today, I will call you later. Thank’s again for the wonderful article.

Joan

G O L D    P O I N T    P O S T    O F F I C E

T H E    W A S H I N G    M A C H I N E

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, eBay, Ephemera, FOHBC News, History, Museums, News, Postage, Soda Water | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The “Blue-Green” Drakes Mystery

Posted on 3 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

T H E   “B L U E – G R E E N”  D R A K E S

Updated 01 July 2013

A good marketing or advertising piece should catch your eye whether it is mailed,  displayed or used in any media. Most of us know that a large majority of information that is sent or projected at us is discarded or completely ignored. And junk-mail is certainly something most of us distinctly dislike.

I have rather strong filters on my e-mail system that remove 99% of the junk e-mails and spam that I receive. Fortunately, I do not even see it. If it is suspect, my e-mail filters place it in quarantine and deliver me a report each evening at 9:00 pm sharp. I have to peruse this list of fifty to one hundred e-mails and usually find that one or two are real and important. Most of the others are outright junk or they are from mass e-mailings. This includes auction house news, organization news and other messages where the system detects a potential problem because the e-mail did not come from a singular person or business. This is just the way it is in the world I live in. Oh, I also have 3 or 4 e-mail addresses which make e-mail management a must. Maybe the next time that I hear that a person does not have a computer or do e-mails, I will think twice before feeling sorry for them. Maybe they are having the last laugh.

Anyway, I find this e-mail from Jim Hagenbuch and Glass Works Auctions within my quarantine report last night. No surprise as it was mass mailed. I forward it to my inbox for reading this morning. Probably something announcing his next auction.

Well, not an auction announcement date per say, only Jim trolling for consignments for his January 2013 “Cabin Fever” Auction. Nothing earth shattering until I look at the one and only accompanying picture and I see a ‘blue-green” Drake’s Plantation Bitters. Leaping lizards and ‘whoa Nellie’ here folks. There are only four known “blue-green” Drakes (at least with the crowd I run with) and I know Jim Hagenbuch has one of the four. Actually, the Hagenbuch example is the only one I have not seen in person. Is this example pictured the Hagenbuch example? Is this a new example unbeknownst to me and my figural Bitters buddies? Of course and as expected, Jeff Burkhardt received this e-mail from Jim and Glass Works Auctions too and he is wondering the same.

Update #1: This is a ‘new’ find. Probably the new Drake’s super figural collector Bill Taylor heard about.

Update #2: Includes new example auctioned off by American Bottle Auctions on 30 June 2013.

“I look at the one and only accompanying picture and I see a ‘blue-green” Drake’s Plantation Bitters. Leaping lizards and ‘whoa Nellie’ here folks. There are only four known “blue-green” Drakes (at least with the crowd I run with)…”

This might be a good time to look at these “blue-green” Drakes that sometimes are called the ” teal-green” Drakes. They have NEVER been grouped together for study and comparison. They are simply legends in the figural bottle world that receive a lot of conjecture about color, embossing and character. The pictures I use below have been taken at different times, by different persons and methods using different light sources. This is all I have for now. This only adds more intrigue to the discussion because every picture is different!

It is also inevitable to hear someone say “which one is the best”. This is impossible to say unless they are judged together such as at the FOHBC Reno Expo shootout. Read more: FOHBC Reno Expo Shoot-Out Pictures

For clarity of discussion and for identifying pictures, I have numbered and described the four known “blue-green” Drakes.

Burkhardt Specimen #1 – Possible containing more blue than the other three. Provenance: Ex: Frank Kurzewski

Fuss Specimen #2 (aka travelin’ Drake’s) – Provenance: Ex: Mike Henness. Rumored sale to Bill Taylor.

Meyer Specimen #3 – Provenance: Ex: John Feldmann. Winner of the FOHBC Reno Expo Shootout (note: other three, at the time, “blue-green” Drakes were not there)

Hagenbuch Specimen #4 – Rumored. Obtained privately from Oregon thru California intermediary. Not pictured. Held privately by Jim Hagenbuch.

New Specimen #5 – Connecticut find cosigned to Glass Works Auctions

New Specimen #6 – Sold by Jeff Wichmann with American Bottle Auctions on 30 June 2013. $33,000 not including auction house premium.

Jeff Burkhardt – Specimen #1

Burkhardt Specimen #1 (far left) – DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS in a blue ‘blue-green”. Killer color run display at the Burkhardt home

Burkhardt Specimen #1 (I am pointing to the bottle) – DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS in a blue ‘blue-green”. – Jeff Burkhardt home

Sandor Fuss – Specimen #2

Fuss Specimen #2 – DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS in ‘blue-green”. Ex Mike Henness. Picture taken at the 2012 Morro Bay Show prior to Fuss purchase. Rumored sale to Bill Taylor.

Ferdinand Meyer V – Specimen #3

Meyer Specimen #3 – DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS in ‘blue-green”. Ex John Feldmann. Picture taken at John Feldmann’s famous bottle room.

Meyer Specimen #3 – DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS in ‘blue-green”. Ex John Feldmann. Picture taken at the 2012 Houston Bottle Show (Meyer table display)

Meyer Specimen #3 – DRAKE’S PLANTATION BITTERS in ‘blue-green”. Ex John Feldmann. Picture taken at the 2012 Reno Expo Shootout (bottle top center). Winner of Drake’s Shootout.

New Find –  Specimen #5 (GW)

Hagenbuch New Specimen #5 – Rare, circa 1862 – 1870, blue-green ‘Drake’s Plantation Bitters’ Estimate: $30,000-40,000 – picture and caption featured on a Glass Works Auctions e-mail “Cabin Fever” marketing piece to get cosigned bottles – November 2012

BlueGreenDrakesAuctionGW96

“ST / DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS – PATENTED / 1862”, (D-105), New York, ca. 1862 – 1875, medium cotton candy blue green, 6-log cabin, 10”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. A less than pinhead size flake is off the underside of a roof peak that we mention only for accuracy. This recently discovered bottle is in as found attic condition, never washed it does retain some slight inside dried contents that a little soap and water will remove. You are bidding on what is considered by the Drake’s collecting fraternity to be the most sought after color of any Drake’s Plantation Bitters. It’s been 22 years since we’ve auctioned one close to this color. (Cris Batdorff Collection 1990). We have been made aware that a Drake’s Plantation in an almost identical color was sold privately within the past six months for in excess of $55,000! – Glass Works Auction #96 The “Cabin Fever” Auction” (January 2013)

New Find – Specimen #6 (ABA)

See Video

ABABlueGreenDrakes1

ST DRAKE’S 1860 PLANTATION X BITTERS. Applied top 10”. 1862-72. D-105. In a recent article on the Peachridge Glass website (https://www.peachridgeglass.com/2012/11/the-blue-green-drakes-mystery/) Ferdinand Meyer talked about this elusive bottle in regard to its blue green color. Here’s one that could simply be described as turquoise, and is a bottle that surpasses our expectations on almost every front. Condition is beautiful with the word Drake’s being very weak and there is some light wear on a roof edge corner, along with what could be described as a microscopic open bubble near the edge of the roof (see pictures and video). We believe the light strike on the word Drake’s is due to the bottle possibly being removed from the mold too quickly, or rather before the glass had a chance to settle into the upper part of the mold. As you can see, the entire upper portion of the bottle is slightly twisted. In Ring/Ham they talk about the inconsistencies of the embossing on these bottles, some even having dates that look a few years off. Here is one that rarely shows up and if you collect Drake’s, bitters, or just bottles for that matter, this is one you might not want to miss. Grade is 9.7 even with slight imperfections. Please look at this bottle; you’ll know what we mean. We’ve gone to great lengths to make sure the color is consistent with the bottle. As always, the still photos are the most reliable. Winning Bid: $ 33,000 – ST DRAKE’S 1860 PLANTATION X BITTERS. Applied top detail – American Bottle Auctions – Auction 58

ABABlueGreenDrakes2

ST DRAKE’S 1860 PLANTATION X BITTERS Top detail. – American Bottle Auctions – Auction 58

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Color, Figural Bottles, News, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Some Great Bottles worth watching in American Glass Gallery Auction #9

Posted on 2 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

American Glass Gallery | Auction #9

This is my second post reviewing the outstanding American Glass Gallery Auction #9 which is now online. Read: 1st post Historical Flasks worth watching in American Glass Gallery Auction #9. Great photography, good write-ups and a nice round-up of bottles. Visit Auction

John Pastor and Liz Maxbauer certainly are hitting it out of the park with their stellar efforts with Antique Bottle & Glass Collector magazine and American Glass Gallery Auctions.

S O M E    G R E A T    B O T T L E S 

Josee Johnson Fruit Jar

America, 1865. Aquamarine, cylindrical, short neck with ground lip and original heavy metal (likely iron), lid with a hardened rubber insert – smooth base, ½ gal., mint. The jar is enclosed in original wooden frame stamped along top end, “PAT’D MAY 16 – 65”. A metal thumbscrew (part of the wooden frame), is used to turn down and seal the metal lid against the lip of the jar. This is the only recorded example to date. See p.414, Standard Fruit Jar Reference, 2011.

“Jerry indicated that the jar, to his knowledge, remains unique!”

In a recent phone conversation with Jerry McCann, noted jar authority and publisher of the 2011 encyclopedic, 854 page The Standard Fruit Jar Reference, Jerry indicated that the jar, to his knowledge, remains unique! Jerry further commented that it is one of the most unusual closures ever produced and one that was probably never put in production. The jar represents one of the most complicated closures thus far known. The impractical nature of this closure likely doomed any chances for the commercial success of this jar. A very interesting and historically important jar.

“Western – Spice – Mills” Cathedral Peppersauce Bottle

America, 1860 – 1870. Brilliant yellow with a slight honey or topaz tone in the base and corners, square with arched gothic panels and a diamond pattern in the upper windows, applied round collared mouth with lower bevel – smooth base, ht. 8 ¾”, attic mint! Provenance: Ex. Dr. Burton Spiller, Sandor Fuss collections. The color is intense, vivid, and spectacular! Considered by many to be the finest peppersauce bottle known.

“Considered by many to be the finest peppersauce bottle known.”

Note: pictured in the book, Encyclopedia of Collectibles, Beads to Boxes, Time Life Books, page 139. This particular peppersauce bottle is absolutely one of brightest, most appealing, and prettiest bottles in the entire peppersauce / pickle or food bottle category. It is arguably one of the most attractive bottles in any category!

“Race & Sheldons / Magic / Waterproof / Boot Polish.”

Blacking Bottle, America, 1845 – 1855. Brilliant deep blue green, cylindrical with 10 flat panels, cone type shoulders, applied wide flared mouth – iron pontil scar, ht. 7 ¾”, virtually attic mint! Extremely rare, one of only two known examples in this large size (the other having a mouth chip). This bottle was found during Boston’s famous “Big Dig”, and luckily only required soap and water to clean to attic condition. Sandor Fuss collection. A very impressive bottle with intense color and brilliance, great multisided form, and nice large size!

“This bottle was found during Boston’s famous “Big Dig”, and luckily only required soap and water to clean to attic condition.”

“E. Waters / Troy. NY” Master Ink Bottle

America, 1845 – 1855. Brilliant clear yellowish green, cylindrical with fancy fluted shoulders, large applied flanged mouth – iron pontil scar, ht. 6 ¼”, near mint; (a minor, 1/8” flake on the edge of the applied mouth and a small, pinhead-size potstone on the reverse with a tiny, 1/8” flash). C#774. An extremely rare and beautiful master ink, nicely whittled, with great clarity and outstanding color. Ex. Ed & Kathy Gray collection.

“it is believed to be possibly the finest example known to date.”

Note: it is believed that virtually all examples of this impressive, ornate master ink have some form of damage. The flaws on this one are extremely minor and it is believed to be possibly the finest example known to date.

“W. Wolf / Pittsburgh” Figural Whiskey

Probably a Pittsburgh district glasshouse, 1850 – 1860. Deep cornflower or light sapphire blue, squatty barrel form, applied round collared mouth with ring – red iron pontil scar, ht. 7 ¾”; (two tiny, pinhead flakes that are easy to miss on the upper rings at the side of the bottle and two shallow pinhead flakes on the center rings at the side; some dried interior calcium or mineral deposits in the upper shoulder and neck area). An iconic bottle, one of two known examples!

“The last and only other example was sold in the legendary Charlie Gardner Auction more than 35 years ago in 1975.”

Note: This beautiful blue barrel is certainly one of the most important bottles known from the Pittsburgh area. It is considered by many to be one of the top whiskey bottles and would likely be a shoe-in on almost anyone’s “most desirable barrel” list. As mentioned, it is only the second example known. The last and only other example was sold in the legendary Charlie Gardner Auction more than 35 years ago in 1975. The noted condition items mentioned are very minor. The bottle has outstanding color, character, eye appeal and rarity!

For more information on how this amazing bottle was discovered, see the October issue of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector.

Read More: Barrel Series – W. Wolf found at Thrift Shop for $1.00

Posted in Auction News, Blacking, Figural Bottles, Fruit Jars, Inks, Pickle Jars, Sauce, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Historical Flasks worth watching in American Glass Gallery Auction #9

Posted on 2 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

American Glass Gallery | Auction #9

Just getting a notification today that American Glass Gallery has opened the Internet portal for their exciting Auction #9. I was also able to closely look at the auction catalog during my 3+ hour flight from Houston to LA Wednesday evening. Of course I always check the Bitters bottles out first and then I slowly start at Lot #1 and work my way through the catalog. Typically I am looking for stand-out bottles that deserve special attention. In this case I have circled the following Historical Flasks that are all exceptional with a long lineage of provenance. It is also interesting to note that Denver collector extraordinaire, Sandor Fuss, is moving some of his historical flasks. This can only mean that he is making room for other bottles of a higher degree of importance to him which is another story in itself. Stay tuned.

I would also like to congratulate John Pastor on another great auction catelogue and photography. Great job! Visit Auction

H I S T O R I C A L    F L A S K S

“Lafayette” / Bust of Lafayette / “T.S.”

Masonic Historical Flask, Coventry Glass Works, Coventry, Connecticut, 1824 – 1826. Bright, clear medium olive, sheared mouth – blowpipe pontil scar, pint, virtually attic mint; (just a faint touch of very light high point wear, otherwise pristine). GI-83. Outstanding clarity and color. Certainly one of the finest possible examples of this rare and desirable mold. Provenance: Ex. Paul Richards, Jeff Noordsy, Sandor Fuss collections.

Note: in discussions with Mark Vuono about the various Lafayette flasks, Mark indicated that this mold, the GI-83, is actually a more difficult mold to acquire that the ½ pint 84 mold.

“Lafayette” / Bust of Lafayette / “T.S.”

Masonic Historical Flask, Coventry Glass Works, Coventry, Connecticut, 1824 – 1826. Bright, clear medium olive, sheared mouth – pontil scar, ½ pint, virtually pristine perfect; (two tiny, onionskin-thin open bubbles at corrugated edge, otherwise “out-of-the-mold” perfect). GI-84. Extremely rare. A bright, bubbly, exceptional example with a very strong impression, as nice as one could hope to find without even a trace of high point wear! Provenance: Ex. Blaske, Spiller, Noordsy and Fuss collections.

Eagle – Eagle Historical Flask

Louisville Glassworks, Louisville, Kentucky, 1855 – 1860. Brilliant medium to deep blue green, more of a bluish or teal tone than most, applied ring type collared mouth with lower bevel – large blowpipe pontil scar, Qt; (other than a tiny, less than pinhead bit of roughness on one of the heavy vertical ribs, it is absolutely “out of the mold” pristine perfect). GII-31. Exceptional condition, color and clarity. Provenance: Sandor Fuss collection.

Masonic – Eagle Historical Flask

Probably Keene Marlboro Street Glassworks, Keene, NH, 1817 – 1830. Rich, very deep aquamarine, sheared mouth – pontil scar, ½ pint, sparking attic mint! An unlisted mold having 29 bricks as on the GIV-13a, but with an 8-pointed star similar to GIV-14. An absolutely “finest possible example” with a strong impression, wonderful density of color and “out of the mold” sparking condition. Provenance: Ex. George McKearin, Sandor Fuss collections.

Sunburst Flask

Probably Baltimore Glass Works, Baltimore, Maryland, 1820 – 1830. Clear light to medium copper coloration, sheared mouth – blowpipe pontil scar, ½ pint, perfect. GVIII-25. This scarce little sunburst flask is truly a gem with gorgeous color and clarity, nice light density, and outstanding condition! This mold is extremely rare in the lighter tones and certainly as nice as they come! Provenance: Ex. Terry Gillis, Sandor Fuss collections.

Anchor – Fleur-de-lis Wide Mouth Scroll Flask

Probably John Robinson & Son Glass Manufacturers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1830 – 1834. Aquamarine, sheared, tooled and expanded wide mouth – blowpipe pontil scar, ½ pint, perfect! GIX-41. A very scarce, early and attractive mold to begin with, this example was fashioned by the glassblower into a jar, possibly for snuff. A great rarity and one of only a handful of documented or known flasks that have been made into whimseys or jars.

Note: this example is likely one of the earliest of the various Scroll Flask molds and as mentioned, in a unique class with only a handful of other known flasks that were made into snuff jars or whimseys.

Pattern Molded Pocket Flask

28 ogival diamonds or “honeycomb pattern” over flutes, probably Stiegel’s American Flint Glass Manufactory, Manheim, Pennsylvania, 1769 – 1774. Grape amethyst, plump horseshoe form, sheared mouth – pontil scar, ht. 5 1/8”, near mint; (somewhat weakened impression in lower body and some scattered light exterior high point wear). A beautiful, vivid color, classic form and pattern (see, Glass in Early America, Arlene Palmer, #353).

Posted in Advice, Auction News, Collectors & Collections, Early American Glass, Flasks, Glass Companies & Works, Historical Flasks, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Skull Shaped Poison Bottles – A frightening favorite

Posted on 1 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Exciting photograph of the three different sizes of the cobalt blue poison skulls – Aprill Collection

P O I S O N   –   P A T    A P P L ‘ D    F O R

A skull and crossbones is a symbol consisting of a human skull and two long bones crossed together under the skull. It is generally used as a warning of danger, usually in regard to poisonous substances, such as deadly chemicals.

Now that halloween is past, and after Dr. Charles Aprill from New Orleans posted the above poisons for our frightful delight, I circle back to look at this wonderful bottle.

Since the 1850s, the skull & cross bones has been the accepted symbol warning users of a poisonous substance. Poison bottle collectors love the bottles with the skull and crossbones embossed. In the 1700s the “Skull & Crossbones” flag was first flown by French pirate Emanuel Wynne.  

The handling of poisonous substances has always been a matter of concern both here and abroad. Various symbols have been used over the centuries to indicate dangerous substances. The Danes used + + + on their ceramic containers to warn the unwary.  Sometimes apothecaries would display skeletons when they were compounding poisonous materials. As early as 1829, New York state required the clear labeling of containers whose contents was poisonous. 

Beginning in the 1870s here in the United States uniquely designed containers in bright cobalt blue began appearing. In order to warn the user of the dangerous nature of the contents, the outside of the bottle was covered with a series of raised bumps, dots, ridges, or lattice work. The purpose of these features was that should an unsuspecting victim mistakenly grab a bottle in a dark or dimly lit room he could tell by feel that the contents should not be ingested. Various unusual shapes (triangular or hexagonal) were widely adopted to store poisons, but the skull and crossbones had a long history and appealed to a primitive part of our conscience.

“In the 1700s the “Skull & Crossbones” flag was first flown by French pirate Emanuel Wynne.” 

It was not until the late 1880-1890s that the skull and crossbones became a familiar site embossed on bottles. The practice continued through the 1920s when it was decided that the brightly colored bottles and symbols maybe attractive to children and harming more than helping the situation. Eventually the emphasis changed to creating containers which would be difficult for children to open. [reference John Odell]

The three sizes of antique poison bottle skulls – Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association

The three very rare skeleton skull bottles pictured above were patented on June 26, 1894 by Carlton Lewe of Boston, Mass. To most, these figurals have become the most famous and desired poison bottle. Each is embossed POISON on the forehead and PAT APPL’D FOR on the reverse near the base. The base of the bottle is embossed with crossed bones. Also, the reverse features a raised panel obviously for an ingredient-identifying paper label. The famous blue bottle came in three sizes, 2-3/4”,  3-l/2” and 4-l/2”. The smallest size is reported to be the hardest to find. It has been estimated that less than 100 of the rare skull-shaped poison bottles are in existence.

The Aprill image was posted on the Peachridge Glass facebook page and generated a ton of excitement as you might expect. Some of my favorite comments:

“My favorite bottle in poisons.”

Toni Scholtz Johnston

“I think we all would like to dig one. A couple were found many years ago in a chemist’s shop in Wales.”

Francis Romanowski

“Probably the coolest bottle ever…”

Dustin Scott Baker

Skull shaped poison bottle, 19th century – Museum of American Glass at Wheaton Village

Antique skull shaped poison bottle. Still looking for my own after years of searching! – I am an Addams.. Girl. 28 years. Lives in the UK. Collects skulls, antique religious items, and eye tattoos. Feels she has connections to the Addams family. Likes Victorian styling, catholic art, and the macabre….

The very rare 3″ ‘middle’ size skull poison (they come in 3 sizes – small one below). Embossed POISON on the forehead, and PAT APPL’D FOR on the back label panel near the base. Deep cobalt blue color, with embossed crossbones across the base (this is the non-lettered base variant), and has a tooled lip. Sold by James Hagenbuch. – AntiqueBottles.com

“Poison – Pat. Appl’d. For” Figural Skull, America, 1890 – 1905. Medium cobalt, in the form of a skull, tooled prescription type mouth – crossbones on smooth base, ht. 4 1/8”; (several flakes around the edge of the mouth, the largest one is approx. ½” wide on top of the beveled collar, and a bit of interior dirt or residue that would likely wash out, but no cracks or other form of damage). KU-10. The noted flakes could easily be professionally repaired, if desired. An impressive, desirable poison! – American Glass Gallery Auction #9

On left: Crystal Head Vodka bottle, designed in 2008 by American landscape painter and portrait artist John Alexander; center & right: a blue “KU-10“ poison bottle and an 1894 advertisement from the Druggist Circular and Chemical Gazette – Bottlebooks.com

Web site home page image for the Antique Poison Bottle Collectors Association (APBCA) – Joan Cabanis

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, History, Poison Bottles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Capt. John B. Morris Occupational Shaving Mug

Posted on 1 November 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Occupational Shaving Mug for Ship Capt. John B Morris made by C A Smith Barber Supplies – Philadelphia

Ferdinand:

I did get an interesting barber related piece this month. We were in Florida on vacation and I got a phone call from a friend of mine who said he heard a nice occupational shaving mug turned up at a local junk store. I found out the guy who bought it was someone I knew. I called him and asked about it. He said he didn’t know anything about it other than it had the man’s name on it and a picture of a boat. He wasn’t sure if it was a reproduction or an old one. I told him I would like to see it when I got back in town. He said fine. I got back in town and met him. He pulled it out of a paper sack and showed it to me. I couldn’t believe it. He asked if it was a good one and if it was something I would be interested in. I said yes it is good and yes I am interested in it. We negotiated on a price. Now I have it in my mug rack.

Jack (Hewitt)

FOHBC Southern Region Director

PRG Question: I wonder is this John B. Morris is a descendant of the pirate John Morris?

Charles A. Smith was in the Barber’s Supplies business in Philadelphia from 1893 until at least 1910. His business was at the corner of Jefferson and Randolph. In 1895 Smith added a second location at 901 Filbert, but it only lasted a year. Starting around the turn of the century, his business was at 1219 Germantown Avenue. [Hair Raising Stories]

The mug rack came from a barber shop near Balston Spa, in New York State. I bought it at an Antique shop in that area along with the New York State Barbers license (see below) that was issued in 1903.

New York State Barbers license that was issued in 1903.

Base of Occupational Shaving Mug – C A Smith Barber Supplies – Philadelphia

Left: Occupational Shaving Mug for Ship Capt. John B Morris – C A Smith Barber Supplies – Philadelphia

Right: Occupational Shaving Mug for Ship Capt. John B Morris
 – C A Smith Barber Supplies – Philadelphia

Posted in Barber Bottles, Collectors & Collections, FOHBC News, Hair Tonics, History, Shaving Mugs | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Burnable Bottles – Hand Crafted Antique Bottle Candles

Posted on 30 October 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Rick Meech Burchfield (Flaschenjager@aol.com) recently updated his great web site AntiqueBottleHunter.com and added an interesting retail component for Burnable Bottles. I think he has done a fine job here. The photographs are excellent too. Just in time for the holidays! I like the Cloverland Farm milk bottles. Used to get these bottles delivered to our door in Towson, Maryland as a kid. Pretty cool. I know what’s going to be in the kids and family stockings this Christmas.

We can make our candles to suit your needs. Large group and multiple orders are available upon request. Turnaround time may take a while, so please contact us well in advance.

These are great for collecting, weddings, Christmas presents, Halloween, gifts for friends and family and the list goes on and on.

Our quality beeswax candles are nice to display or burn. Grab one to display or burn OR get one for burning and another to display.

We use only all natural white beeswax for our candles and it’s refined in the USA without any chemical bleaching aids. The beeswax we use to make our candles is suitable for pharmaceutical as well as all food, cosmetic and all personal care product applications.

Many colors are available, plus we offer each variant without dyes in an all natural ‘white’ beeswax.

Each candle is a representation of a collectible antique bottle. We offer many hard-to-find shapes and sizes of desirable antique glass bottles.

Availability and selection is limited, so order yours today!

Posted in Advertising, Advice, Color Runs, Ephemera, Folk Art, Humor - Lighter Side, Milk & Creamers, News | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The transposed London Jockey Club Huose (Club House) Gin

Posted on 30 October 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Extreme “London Jockey Clubhuose Gin” with mis-spelled CLUBHUOSE!

The transposed London Jockey Club Huose (Club House) Gin

30 October 2012

LONDON JOCKEY CLUB HUOSE GIN

Michael & Janet George (New Boston, New Hampshire)

Apple-Touch-IconAMichael George has this extraordinary example of a London Jockey Club House Gin where ‘HOUSE’ is misspelled as “HUOSE”. The ‘U’ and ‘O’ are transposed. The bottle is in a gorgeous Stoddard color with tons of character. This bottle is for sale, at least it was at the Yankee Bottle Show in Keene, New Hampshire earlier this month and previously at the FOHBC 2012 Reno Expo this past July. Wow is all I can say.

As an aside, Michael George is the Show Chairman for the upcoming FOHBC 2013 National Antique Bottle Show – Manchester, New Hampshire

Read More: London Jockey Club House Gin

Read More: Heinle’s Jockey Club Root Beer – Jockey & Horse Label

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The Bodeker Brothers brand – killer bitters from Richmond!!

Posted on 29 October 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

C 221 – CONSTITUTION BITTERS – Tom Leveille: The one shown above was dug in downtown Richmond, in the early 90’s by a man named Ronnie Lewis.

Incoming Peachridge Glass facebook picture (above) and question from Tom Leveille.

The Bodeker Brothers brand – killer bitters from Richmond!!

Are you familiar with this bitters?

TOM LEVEILLE (NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA)
29 October 2012 (R•020214)

Apple-Touch-IconAI like it when I get these types of questions because it allows me the opportunity to go back and look more closely at a brand and my collection. It seems like Phase I of my journey was acquisition and phase II is learning. How fun.

So now we look at the Bodeker Brothers from Richmond, Virginia and their various medicines and bitters products, one being a strap sided flask. We also get a dose of woman suffrage.

AUGUST AND HENRY BODEKER

AUGUST BODEKER (1819-1884)

At age seventeen, the eldest of five brothers, August Bodeker emigrated from Hanover, Germany to Richmond, Virginia in 1836. Together with his brother Henry, he started the “A. Bodeker Apothecary” on Main Street in 1846. By 1860, August Bodeker – meanwhile married to suffragette Anna Whitehead – owned two slaves, property in Henrico County and a drug company worth $40,000. During the war, August sold drugs to most of Richmond’s 44 hospitals, among them Phoebe Pember’s and Sally Tompkins’ private hospitals. Virginia Historical Society, Richmond

HENRY BODEKER (? – 1890)

Henry Bodeker was August Bodeker’s younger brother and part owner of the business. As the Bodeker Drug Company was urgently needed for the production of all kinds of medicine, Henry did not take up arms during the Civil War. His son George H. Bodeker, however, served as a private in Captain Joseph K. Lee’s Co. B, 1st Virginia Volunteers, until he offered his services as a secret detective to the Provost Marshall’s Office in 1862, “being familiar with the German language.” Virginia Historical Society, Richmond

[Both above from The Germans of Charleston, Richmond and New Orleans During the Civil War – by Andrea Mehrlander]

Civil War Citizens: Race, Ethnicity, and Identity in America’s Bloodiest – edited by Susannah Ural

Harrisonburg Daily News, Harrisonburg, Virginia (Tuesday, March 18, 1913):

In 1856 Mr. Hoppe married Miss Elsie Bodeker, daughter of Dr. Henry Bodeker, Surgeon in the German navy, and Sophia Epmier, also a sister of Hon. Augustus Bodeker of the well known Bodeker family of Richmond. After the death of his wife, he retired from active business, and made his home with his only daughter, Mrs. Geo. E. Shuey.

ANNA WHITEHEAD BODEKER

“The Age of Iron: Man as He Expects to Be” – Currier & Ives c 1869 – Library of Congress

Anna Whitehead Bodeker (1826–1904)

Born Anna Whitehead in New Jersey on about July 26, 1826, she was married at age eighteen to Augustus Bodeker, a German immigrant who worked as a clerk and druggist in Richmond. They had three children and remained in Richmond during the Civil War. Inspired by her reading of newspapers and other accounts of the activities of the National Woman Suffrage Association, she arranged for suffrage advocate Pauline Wright Davis to speak in Richmond early in 1870. The event and Bodeker’s sponsorship of it attracted the attention of national newspapers, and in March of that year she published a two-part article entitled “Defence of Woman Suffrage” in one of the city’s most influential newspapers.

Bodeker corresponded with other national advocates of woman suffrage and persuaded a federal judge to allow his courtroom to be used for another public address in favor of woman suffrage. The judge and his wife also attended the meeting at which Bodeker and other supporters of the cause founded the Virginia Woman Suffrage Association in May 1870 and elected delegates to a convention of the National Woman Suffrage Association. As president of the Virginia association, the first of its kind in the state, Bodeker arranged for Susan B. Anthony to speak in the federal courthouse in Richmond in December 1870. By then a well-known advocate of woman suffrage, Bodeker persuaded a member of the House of Delegates to introduce a resolution to grant the vote to women—the legislators never voted on it—and in 1871 attempted to vote in the general election in Richmond but was not permitted to do so. Instead of placing a ballot in the box, she placed in it a slip of paper on which she had written, “By the Constitution of the Untied States, I Mrs. A. Whitehead Bodeker, have a right to give my vote at this election, and in vindication of it drop this note in the ballot-box, November 7th, 1871.”

In spite of Bodeker’s work and of being acknowledged as a brilliant and effective organizer, the cause of woman suffrage failed to attract widespread support during the years immediately after the Civil War, and the Virginia Woman Suffrage Association faded into obscurity after less than a decade. Bodeker, too, disappeared from public view and died in October 1904. [The Library of Virginia]

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listings in Bitters Bottles are noted below:

CONSTITUTION BITTERS

C 221  CONSTITUTION BITTERS, Circa 1875 – 1885
CONSTITUTION / BITTERS // f // BODEKER BROS. / PROPRIETORS / RICHMOND VA // f //
7 x 2 1/4 (5) 3/8
Square, Amber, NSC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare
Bodeker Bros 1414 E. Main Street, Richmond, Virginia

C 221 – CONSTITUTION BITTERS – 6 7/8″h, Extremely rare, one of only a very few known examples – Meyer Collection

Detail C 221 – CONSTITUTION BITTERS  – Meyer Collection

Back panels C 221 – CONSTITUTION BITTERS  – Meyer Collection

BODEKER’S CONSTITUTION BITTERS

B 131  BODEKER’S CONSTITUTION BITTERS, Circa 1880 – 1895
BODEKER’S / CONSTITUTION BITTERS / RICHMOND, VA. // f // f // f //
7 7/8 x 2 1/4 (5 3/4) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Tooled lip, 1 sp, Very rare

B 131.5 BODEKER’S CONSTITUTION BITTERS – American, ca. 1880 – 1895, medium golden amber, 6 1/8″h, smooth base, tooled mouth, about perfect. Extremely rare, possibly even unique in this smaller and unlisted size. – Meyer Collection

B 131.5 BODEKER’S CONSTITUTION BITTERS – Meyer Collection

BODEKER’S CONSTITUTION BITTERS

B 132  BODEKER’S CONSTITUTION BITTERS, Circa 1880 – 1895
BODEKER’S / CONSTITUTION BITTERS / RICHMOND, VA. // motif anchor //
6 3/4 x 2 3/4 x 1 5/8 (3 5/8) 1/4
Flask strap sided, Amber, DC, Tooled lip, Extremely rare

BODEKER BROS

Embossed on Front Body: “BODEKER BROS., RICHMOND, VA.”. Applied Top, Dates to the 1890’s, measures 5 1/8 in. tall, 1 5/8 in. across, 7/8 in. from front to back – eBay

Left: Aqua 4.3″ bottle embossed: horizontal: BODEKER BROS / RICHMOND, VA
bottom: (smudge, possibly a pontil scar of some kind?) Right: Aqua 7.0″ bottle (with cracks) embossed:
horizontal: BODEKER BROS / RICHMOND, VA – Chosi Virginia Drugstore Bottles

Bodeker Drug Co. bottles (and many others) found at dig site – Archaeological Data Recovery Investigation of the Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Site – Richmond, Virginia

Front BodekerBrothers trade card. – Chosi Virginia Drugstore Bottles

Back BodekerBrothers trade card. – Chosi Virginia Drugstore Bottles

Writing tablet book for the The Bodeker Drug Co. / Richmond, Va. – Chosi Virginia Drugstore Bottles

This is a cork-screw bottle opener. It is marked on both sides with BODEKER DRUG COMPANY – Chosi Virginia Drugstore Bottles

bodecker1869richmond

Early A. Bodecker & Bro. Druggist advertisement – 1869 Richmond City Directory

This is a 9″ long metal ice pick from the Bodeker Drug Company. It is marked as follows: front: COMPLEMENTS OF / BODEKER DRUG CO. / RICHMOND, VA. back: WE APPRRECIATE / YOUR BUSINESS – Chosi Virginia Drugstore Bottles

Posted in Apothecary, Bitters, Civil War, Collectors & Collections, Druggist & Drugstore, eBay, Ephemera, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Emerson’s Excelsior Botanic Bitters – Augusta, Maine

Posted on 28 October 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Full front image: Vintage EMERSON’S EXCELSIOR Botanic Bitters Blood Purifier – Circa 1890’s – eBay

EMERSON’S EXCELSIOR Botanic Bitters

28 October 2012

A Tonic that Promotes Digestion, Improves the Appetite, Invigorates the Nervous System and Purifies the Blood.

 E.  H.   B U R N S,

AUGUSTA, MAINE

Apple-Touch-IconAI have taken a renewed and heightened interest in labeled bottles of late following posts from John Hinkle, Jack Stecher, John Panella and many others. These folks love their labeled bottles. With this said, I post about a bottle now on eBay called an Emerson’s Excelsior Botonic Bitters. This bottle is an excellent example that has a really nice label and applied top that prompts closer inspection. The photographs are also rather nice. The eBay listing is as follows:

Vintage EMERSON’S EXCELSIOR BOTANIC BITTERS Blood Purifier – Circa 1890’s See Listing

9-1/8″ Tall Emerson’s Excelsior Botanic Bitters Bottle. A tonic that Promotes Digestion, Improves the Appetite, Invigorates the Nervous System and Purifies the Blood. Prepared and sold by E.H. Burns – Augusta, Maine – Price 50 cents. Label is all intact. No chips or cracks, some haze in a few spots, overall a great looking bottle. Circa 1880’s or ’90’s. Aqua blue.

pahaskabooks 100%

Getting red flags on this label and applications. Red comments below.

Look at this fantastic EMERSON’S EXCELSIOR Botanic Bitters bottle label. E. H. Burns, Augusta, Maine. Unused, VF – Current Eric Jackson Auction 

Bottle laying on back: Vintage EMERSON’S EXCELSIOR Botanic Bitters Blood Purifier – Circa 1890’s – eBay

Applied top image: Vintage EMERSON’S EXCELSIOR Botanic Bitters Blood Purifier – Circa 1890’s – eBay

Bottom image: Vintage EMERSON’S EXCELSIOR Botanic Bitters Blood Purifier – Circa 1890’s – eBay

EMERSON’S EXCELSIOR Botanic Bitters – This 12.5″ “ladies leg” bottles has a full label that has faded over the years. Manufactured in Augusta, Maine this bottle is near mint with no condition problems. – past eBay sale

Here’s some more Emerson’s Excelsior examples (bigger red flag) – Brian Wolff

Posted in Bitters, eBay, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments