Barrel Series – Smith’s Druid Bitters

Posted on 20 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

B. T. 1865 S. C.

SMITH’S DRUID BITTERS

J. Smith & Son, Wholesale Grocers and Liquor Merchants, No. 35 Cheapside, Baltimore

20 July 2012 (R•052914) (R•032919)

“on o/e all due up to this date except 1 barrel whisky”

The Smith’s Druid Bitters is a great Baltimore figural bitters barrel that I have written about before. Read: Awesome Smith’s Druid Bitters Moves from West Virginia to Houston to Oregon. These barrels are extremely tough to obtain and rarely make an appearance at an auction, eBay or bottle show circuit. Most are embedded in collections. You would think that they would all be amber in coloration but that is not the case. I have seen, and possessed one in amber and olive green and recently have seen two in yellow amber and one in puce.

Three of the Smith’s Druid Bitters that I have seen have shown up in the Shenandoah Valley (western Virginia and Eastern West Virginia) region leading one to believe of local distributors for this extremely rare Baltimore bottle. A puce example owned by a collector in West Virginia was found in Stephens City which is west of Winchester, Virginia.

Here is what I have on the brand including two documents from my collection. I would love to find a labeled example and some related advertising for John Smith and his son.

Box of candy for someone who can tell me what “B. T.” and “S. C.” stands for? Also, while you are at it, what is the meaning of the cryptic lettering within the tree trunk of the trademark logo for Smith’s Druid Bitters? Looks like some type of Greek or Celtic lettering.

Box of candy for someone who can tell me what “B. T.” 1865 “S. C.” stands for?

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

S 124 Smith’s Druid Bitters

B. T. 1865 S. C. ( au ) / SMITH’S / DRUID BITTERS ( ad ) // c //
9 1/2 x 2 1/2
Round barrel, 10-10, NSC, Applied mouth, Amber and Puce – Rare; Yellowish olive green and Olive yellow – Very Rare

Newspaper Advertising

B.T. – 1865.- S.C., Try Smith’s Druid Bitters – Civilian and Telegraph (Cumberland, Maryland), Thursday, August 31, 1865

B.T. – 1865.- S.C. Smith’s Druid Bitters, J. Smith & Son, Proprietors, Baltimore, Md. – The Progress Index (Petersburg, Virginia), Tuesday, April 24, 1866

I found this 24 April 1866 advertisement in a Petersburg, Virginia newspaper, showing “B. M. Robertson & Co.” as the Virginia proprietor for Smith’s Baltimore bitters. Hope that helps! Furthermore, I’ve confirmed “B. M. Robertson” as a Petersburg, Virginia druggist, grocer and merchant during the Civil War and that he sold supplies to the Confederacy, including medical, food, and chemical supplies. Enjoy! – Jim (Schmidt)

The Indian War of 1864, by Eugene Ware

Plantation Bitters appeared in 1860, and every wall and fence and vacant place in the United States was placarded with the legend, “S. T. 1860 X.” For several months everybody was guessing what the sign meant. It was in the newspapers. It was distributed in handbills on the street. It was seen at every turn, “S. T. 1860 X.” After the world had long grown tired of guessing, there appeared the complete legend, “Plantation Bitters, S. T. 1860 X.”

Plantation Bitters became the bottled liquor of the age. It was made out of alcohol, water and flavoring, and was really very attractive as to taste and results. The Hostetter and the Log Cabin followed closely behind in popularity. The Log Cabin got into sutler tents all over the district which the army occupied. Its principal advertisement was the strange glass bottle made in the shape of a log cabin. At about the time I speak of, all three of these liquors were on sale at Boyer’s.

The legend of the Plantation Bitters was that it meant “Sure thing in ten years from 1860.” That is, when the inventor had made the decoction, and submitted it to a friend as an invention and marketable article, the friend, so the story goes, told him that it was a sure thing for a fortune in ten years. So, acting on this thought, he had billed the United States, “S. T. 1860 X.,” and spent half a million advertising “S. T. 1860 X.,” before anybody knew what it was all about.

Here is another thought.

No doubt the Druid’s anogram was the result of following the success of the Drake’s Plantation bitters Ad campaign. Best guess, Best Tonic 1865 Sure Cure – Steven James Anderson

“Best Tonic 1865 Sure Cure”

Receipts

Receipt dated 1867. Cream paper with black engraving of an attractive Smith’s Druid Bitters logo and a hand written notation as follows, ‘on o/e all due up to this date except 1 barrel whisky’. This is also the exact receipt pictured on p. 506 of ‘Bitters Bottles’ (R/H). – Meyer Collection

Dated 1867. Receipt on salmon colored paper with black engraving – Meyer Collection

J. Smith & Son, 35 Cheapside

J. Smith & Son (John Smith and Joseph S. Smith) were wholesale grocers and commission merchants who sold liquor, tobacco, cigars, fish and other provisions to the seasoned Baltimore inner harbor inhabitants and sailors. They were located at No. 35 Cheapside Street in Baltimore, Maryland.

I believe that John Smith worked at C. C. Adreon & Company who were importers and dealers in brandies, wines, gins and cigars located at two locations in downtown Baltimore, one being at 35 Cheapside. John Smith would take over the Cheapside location in the mid 1860s. In 1873, he was partnered with W. P. Whiting and the business was called Smith & Whiting. By 1883, W.P. Whiting & Co. took over the concern again as grocery and commission merchants located at 35 Cheapside.

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor was unsuitable for larger ships and heavy industry, both of which found Fells Point, Canton, and Locust Point to be more accessible. In spite of these disadvantages, the so-called “Cheapside Wharf” along Light and Pratt streets remained crowded with wooden docks and warehouses well into the 1950s. Cheapside Street disappeared after the 1904 Baltimore fire that burned the city. Cheapside and Franklin Lane were never rebuilt. In the maps below, we can see that Cheapside Street was one block east of Calvert Street and perpendicular to Pratt Street.

As their barrel is embossed B.T. – 1865.- S.C., SMITH’S DRUID BITTERS, we can say that their bitters was invented 1865. Their label said that the bitters was a tonic that would cure dyspepsia, heartburn, indigestion, sick stomach, chills & fever & C & C. A pleasant and agreeable drink. The best appetizer in the world.

The bitters had a relatively short shelf life which attributes to the rareness of the bottles.

Why is Druid in the name?

Why did John Smith call his medicine Smith’s Druid? A druid was a member of the high-ranking professional class in ancient Celtic cultures. Perhaps best remembered as religious leaders, they were also legal authorities, adjudicators, lorekeepers, medical professionals, and political advisors. Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, the religion of the Iron Age Celts. Like other Iron Age Europeans, the early Celts maintained a polytheistic mythology and religious structure. Celtic mythology is rich with symbolism of life, death and rebirth, replete with the magic of nature and the ancient world.

The art above is the Celtic tree which is a symbol of the eternal renewal of life – an important theme in Celtic mythology. The tree was also used in the Smith’s Druid Bitters logo.

Druid Hill Park

It is thought that John Smith and his wife lived and had a horse farm on what would become Druid Hill Park. This 745-acre urban park in northwest Baltimore was bounded by Druid Park Drive (north), Swann Drive and Reisterstown Road (west and south), and the Jones Falls Expressway / Interstate 83 (east). Inaugurated in 1860, Druid Hill Park, a famed urban park, ranks with Central Park (begun in 1858) in New York City, Fairmount Park (1812) in Philadelphia and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco as the oldest landscaped public parks in the United States.

The history of Druid Hill Park began over two centuries ago when the Susquehannock Indians ceded land in 1652- that included that park’s area and its holdings to Lord Baltimore. Because of its access to the Jones Falls stream and other springs it is believed to have been an ideal site for the Native Americans. Lord Baltimore subsequently began to parcel the land out.

Gallery

SMITH’S DRUID BITTERS B.T. 1865 S.C. – Glass Works Auctions

SMITH’S DRUID BITTERS catching some sunlight after a snowfall in West Virginia – photo Ferdinand Meyer V

SMITH’S DRUID BITTERS embossing so crisp you could hang your hat on – photo Ferdinand Meyer V

SMITH’S DRUID BITTERS B.T. 1865 S.C. Here’s a scarce barrel and one we do not see often. Medium amber with a hint of red. Ex-Stewart Elman collection. Grade: When we first looked at this one we though that the top was reshaped or buffed. Such is not the case. Under extremely high magnification, one can see a continuance of not only texture but also patina, which erases any doubt as to the authenticity of the mouth. Just the lightest signs of normal wear; we’ll grade this a Mint 9.2. – American Bottle Auctions – Meyer Collection

SMITH’S DRUID BITTERS B.T. 1865 S.C. in a yellow green – Bitters Bottles Supplement

I dug a very rare barrel bitters from a small 4 foot deep wood lined privy a few weeks ago. Sadly it was in several pieces on the bottom of the hole. I saved the pieces and plan to glue them back together. It was embossed B.T. 1865 S.C. / SMITHS / DRUID BITTERS. this is a rare Baltimore bitters and it was in a very rare green color. It seems like the good stuff always broke. Chris (Rowell) on AntiqueBottles.net

Yellow olive B.T. 1865 S.C. SMITHS DRUID BITTERS temporally parked between a few of my OLD SACHEM BITTERS AND WIGWAM TONIC barrels on a rainy day – Meyer Collection

Gorgeous yellow B.T. 1865 S.C. SMITHS DRUID BITTERS on the right in a run of figural barrels in the John Feldmann Collection

Select Listings:

1860: Newspaper advertisement (below) Cows forSale, Apply to John Smith, 35 Cheapside – The Baltimore Sun, Friday, April 6, 1860

1861: Newspaper advertisement (below) C.C. Adreon & Co., Importers and Dealers in Brandies, Wines, Gins, Cigars …, 35 Cheapside – The Daily Exchange, Wednesday, February 20, 1861

1863: Newspaper notice (below) $20 Reward, missing horse, reply to J. Smith, 35 Cheapside –The Baltimore Sun, Wednesday, July 15, 1863

1865: J. Smith & Son (J. Smith, J.S. Smith) Wholesale Grocers and Liquor Merchants, No. 35 Cheapside, Baltimore – 1865 Baltimore City Directory

1865: Newspaper advertisement (above in post) B.T. – 1865.- S.C., Try Smith’s Druid Bitters – Civilian and Telegraph (Cumberland, Maryland), Thursday, August 31, 1865

1866: Newspaper advertisement (above in post) B.T. – 1865.- S.C. Smith’s Druid Bitters, J. Smith & Son, Proprietors, Baltimore, Md. – The Progress Index (Petersburg, Virginia), Tuesday, April 24, 1866

1867: Receipt (above in post) dated May 1867. Cream paper receipt with black engraving of a Smith’s Druid Bitters logo and a hand written notation as follows, ‘on o/e all due up to this date except 1 barrel whisky’. This is also the exact receipt pictured on p. 506 of ‘Bitters Bottles’ (R/H) – Meyer Collection

1869: Newspaper notice (below) Pasture for Horses and Cows, Mrs. John Smith, 35 Cheapside – The Baltimore Sun, Tuesday, June 1, 1869

1871: J. Smith & Son, 35 Cheapside – The state gazette and merchants and farmers’ directory for Maryland and District of Columbia, Sadler, Drysdale & Purnell, Baltimore, 1871

1873: Newspaper advertisement (below) Gunpowder… For Sale at Smith & Whiting, 35 Cheapside – The Baltimore Sun, Tuesday, September 30, 1873

1883: W.P. Whiting & Co. (W.P. Whiting), Groceries and Commission Merchants, 35 Cheapside

Barrel Series – Roback’s Stomach Bitters (the smaller ones)

Posted on 19 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS

(R 74)

19 July 2012 (R•031414) (R•091318)

Dr. Roback was neither a Doctor nor a Roback. He was an unsuccessful farmer, turned salesman, who in 1844, escaped debtor’s prison in his native Sweden. He started in Boston as Dr. Roback selling horoscopes and founded an astrological college. He sold galvanic chains which were a cure for worms in children. He also sold love powders. He moved to Philadelphia and then Cincinnati where he died in 1867.

Roback claimed to be a Swedish noble, among other things, but was eventually exposed as a charlatan. He caused quite a scandal and as you can see from his picture, he preferred to imagine himself as a relic of the 17th century. From Charles W. Roback’s self-published book called The Mysteries of Astrology and the Wonders of Magic (see below)

The post is about the popular and smaller, Ring | Ham designated R 74, Roback’s Stomach Bitters from Cincinnati, Ohio. This is a follow-up post to the larger, R 73 barrels (see comparison photograph above and read: Barrel Series – Roback’s Stomach Bitters (the big boys).

The R 74 mold is smaller, shorter and thinner than the R 73 mold and easier in the hand. You can also build a stronger color line-up (see run further below).

Very nice illustration of a labeled Dr. Roback’s Stomach Bitters from The Lancaster Gazette (Lancaster, Ohio), January 05, 1865

In this post we will also look at Dr. Charles Roback a little closer by perusing one of his almanacs, looking at some of the other Robacks popular products and brands, and looking at his rather odd, Mysteries of Astrology and the Wonders of Magic book he published in Boston.

The large (R 73) DR C. W. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS on the left and the smaller (R 74) DR C. W. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS on the right – Meyer Collection

10 thousand sold in one month. The most popular stomach bitters in use.

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

R 74 DR C. W. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS, Circa 1865 – 1875

DR C. W. ROBACK’S ( au ) / STOMACH BITTERS / CINCINNATI, O ( ad ) // c //
Prince, Walton & Co. Successors to C. W. Roback Sole proprietors Cincinnati, Ohio
9 3/8 x 2 3/8 (7 1/8)
Amber – Common; Olive amber, Olive green and Yellow olive – Scarce
O of Ohio under E of Bitters

Advertisement: 10 thousand sold in one month. The most popular stomach bitters in use. Good for all derangement of the stomach, biliousness, liver complaint, and general debility. They possess wonderful tonic properties, giving tone to the appetite and digestive organs. Debilitated ladies and sedentary persons will find in them an excellent tonic.

Color run of the smaller DR. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS (R 74) – Meyer Collection

DR. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS in a yellowish olive amber color from Glass Works Auctions (2006) – Meyer Collection

Incredible, light yellow with topaz overtone DR. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS from a Bottles and More Galleria Auction (2005) – Meyer Collection

Pulled from an attic and never cleaned, DR. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS in an olive color with a yellow tint, from a Bottles and More Galleria Auction (2005) – Meyer Collection

“DR C.W. ROBACKS / STOMACH BITTERS / CINCINNATI. O”, (R-74), Ohio, ca. 1865 – 1875, medium olive green barrel, 9 3/4″h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. Some dried inside contents and a flat 1/8″ chip is off the top of the lip. A reasonable number of olive green Robacks barrels exist, mostly being so dark that you need a strong light to see the color. This is not one of them, as the pure green color is quite stunning in normal lighting! – Glass Works Auctions (March 2013)

ROBACK’S SCANDANAVIAN BLOOD PURIFIER. Midwestern medicine bottle in a great dark aqua with lots of crudity to the glass. Wish it said Salt Lake City on it somewhere. – Utah Bottles

“Dr. C.W. Roback’s / Scandinavien / Blood Purifier. / Cincinnati. O” Medicine Bottle, America, 1845-1860. Oval, brilliant deep bluish aquamarine, applied square collared mouth – iron pontil mark, ht. 7 5/8 inches. – Norman C. Heckler Auction

Roback’s Blood Pills were sold in boxes inside wrappers sealed with wax. The wrappers on white paper were first issued June 29, 1867 and last issued in June of 1874. 340,217 were printed on old paper and 182,725 on silk paper. The copy above is on old paper. The wrappers were supplied in sheets and cut apart with scissors. Some of the guidelines can be seen on this one. – rdhinstl

DR. C. W. ROBACK’S MEDICAL ALMANAC – 1861 – Cover – Indiana State Library

DR. C. W. ROBACK’S MEDICAL ALMANAC – 1861 – Page 7 Testimonial – Indiana State Library

DR. C. W. ROBACK’S MEDICAL ALMANAC – 1861 – Page 31 – An Extensive Medical Establishment – Indiana State Library

DR. C. W. ROBACK’S MEDICAL ALMANAC – 1861 – Page 34 – Dr. Roback’s Stomach Bitters – Indiana State Library

First edition of Charles W. Roback’s self-published book on astrology, necromancy, witchcraft, spiritual phenomenon and much more. The book was published at Boston in 1854 and consists of 236 pages plus contents and some advertisements for consultations with Roback, his galvanic chains and other items. Original green cloth with gilt ornaments, page edges gilt. Roback claimed to be a Swedish noble, among other things, but was eventually exposed as a charlatan. He caused quite a scandal and as you can see from his picture, he preferred to imagine himself as a relic of the 17th century.

The Mysteries of Astrology and the Wonders of Magic by Dr. C. W. Roback – 1854 – Boston

Those miniature Globs and Pocket Flasks

Posted on 19 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Rich, dark green American chestnut with hemp wicker. 4” tall and 2 3/8” at the widest point. Recovered during 1961 demolition of historic building in downtown Philadelphia. Found inside a wall. Purchased by Elizabeth Meyer at the FOHBC York Expo auction in 2008. This is Elizabeth’s favorite bottle (this week).

We had a visitor (Brad Seigler) to see our collection at Peach Ridge this past weekend after the Houston Antique Bottle Show. In one of our bottle rooms, with the power figurals, Brad asked Elizabeth, my wife, about her favorite bottle. I knew for sure, that Elizabeth would take Brad over to the Suffolk Bitters or Berkshire Bitters figural pigs. Elizabeth loves these pigs! You know, when I have the pigs on a show table, the female general collectors or persons new to the hobby, especially young girls, teenagers, mothers, grandmothers etc. love the pigs!

Elizabeth is taking this picture in one of the figural rooms. The little glob I am talking about is on a short shelf in front of my right arm. I fully expected Elizabeth to point out the pigs in the center window as her favorites.

Well… Elizabeth surprised me and went straight to a little bottle she won at a past FOHBC National Auction (York, PA 2008) and pulled the bottle from the shelf to show Brad. Of late, she is telling me often that she loves the Early American Glass facebook page. She is constantly talking of an image she has seen of a pitcher, bowl, witch ball, flask or some other beautiful object that is not a Bitters Bottle. In honor of my wife, and thinking it is best to keep her happy and ‘on board’ with our glass partnership, I post her bottle and some other miniature globs and flasks that have been appearing of late on facebook.

I really like how some of the collectors are photographing their bottles. I especially like the juxtaposition of larger glass next to these small flasks. Quite spectacular.

My GLOB MOB…(Nicknamed my magnificent seven) An eclectic grouping of colors, forms, lip treatments. I have been wanting to get these outside for quite some time. I had a blast…. – Rick Ciralli

I was dusting off the bottle shelves, took these off, and thought I’d take a photo. – Woody Douglas

Although the winter was mild, I was thinking about Spring while taking this photo in February! Most of this glass is mid-late 18th century in my opinion, one or two may be early 19th century. Some of the pieces are possibly from the Wistar factory. – Michael George

Miniature kidney form. This one is three and a half inhes tall. 1780-1830, probably New England – Tom Marshall

All 3 of these pieces came from New England. Two of them had attribution to Germantown or Temple by Boo Morcom. I can’t say with any certainty where they are from… just that I like em! – Michael George

North and south? Little bit of swamp a little bit of southern (south of New England). What do you guys think about these for attribution? The Strait sided demi has some real interesting things. It has what has been considered a classic NE color (it is pretty swampy), a “mid Atlantic ” shaped top even though these were produced at lots of factories and a big awesome tube pontil. To me the form is similar to a mallet though may be a stretch. – Chris Helenek

New addition for the collection. 4.5 inches tall. – Chris Helenek

Little glob next to some big Stoddard glass – Eric Correla

Two speckled flasks. The larger flask came from the Bob and Muriel Heath collection. – Dana Charlton-Zarro

While everyone’s now talking about right and left, I thought I’d share a PLAIN piece of the Midwest that I got at the St. Louis bottle show the year before last. The color is sort of a honey-amber-olive, and the photo doesn’t do it justice. A little gem of a pocket flask. – Elise Hempel

Pitkin flask in Ian Simmonds dealer booth – Dana Charlton-Zarro

In my collection – the color is actully closer to the other Pitkin above. This one has 14 vertical ribs and 14 ribs swirled to the right. – Dana Charlton-Zarro

With all of this “gutsy” glass from Hartford County… Here is a picture that shows the “lighter” side of Pitkin glass! – Michael George

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Early American Glass, Flasks, Freeblown Glass, Glass Companies & Works | Tagged Bob and Muriel Heath, Boo Morcom, Brad Seigler, Chris Helenek, Dana Charlton-Zarro, Early American Glass, Elise Hempel, Elizabeth Meyer, Eric Correla, Flask, Germantown, glob, Hartford County, Ian Simmonds, Michael George, New England, Pitkin, Rick Ciralli, Stoddard, Temple, Tom Marshall, Wistar, Woody Douglas | Leave a comment

Barrel Series – Roback’s Stomach Bitters (the big boys)

Posted on 18 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS

(R 73)

18 July 2012 (R•122113) (R•091516) (R•091318)

Dr. Roback was neither a Doctor nor a Roback. He was an unsuccessful farmer, turned salesman, who in 1844, escaped debtor’s prison in his native Sweden.

ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS, Prince, Walton & Co. poster (reproduction) – Meyer Collection (I had this framed and it looks great in my bottle work room)

The large (R 73) DR C. W. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS on the left and the smaller (R 74) DR C. W. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS on the right – Meyer Collection

The post is about the popular, larger, Ring | Ham R 73, Roback’s Stomach Bitters from Cincinnati, Ohio. I will follow up with a post on the smaller R 74 barrels (see comparison photograph above). The R 73 is a big, robust figural barrel that is great to hold. It is even paired with a partially clothed rubenesque woman in the popular advertisement (pictured above). It embodies everything you want in a barrel. You can find them crude, full of bubbles and with pontils which makes it even more exciting. The colors are not as vibrant as an Old Sachem Bitters and Wigwam Tonic but none-the-less, strong enough to do a run of ambers leading to green. The Roback’s also have support information and related material, some of which I have referenced below. Notice how the artistic image of the building appears on the Roback’s poster, letterhead, tax stamp and label. Now that is consistency!

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

R 73 DR C. W. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS, Circa 1865 – 1875,

DR C. W. ROBACK’S ( au ) / STOMACH BITTERS / CINCINNATI, O ( ad ) // c //
Prince, Walton & Co. Successors to C. W. Roback Sole proprietors
Nos. 56, 58, 60 & 62 East 3rd Street Cincinnati, Ohio
10 x 2 5/8 (8)
Round barrel, 10-10 in front, 6-6 in reverse, LTC, With and without Metallic pontil mark, Amber – Common; Green and Apricot – Very rare

Advertisement: 10 thousand sold in one month. The most popular stomach bitters in use. Good for all derangement of the stomach, biliousness, liver complaint, and general debility. They possess wonderful tonic properties, giving tone to the appetite and digestive organs. Debilitated ladies and sedentary persons will find in them an excellent tonic.

Note: Dr. Roback was neither a Doctor nor a Roback. He was an unsuccessful farmer, turned salesman, who in 1844, escaped debtor’s prison in his native Sweden. He started in Boston as Dr. Roback selling horoscopes and founded an astrological college. He sold galvanic chains which were a cure for worms in children. He also sold love powders. He moved to Philadelphia and the Cincinnati where he died in 1867.

Big amber variant with lots of color. DR C. W. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS – Meyer Collection

Crude yellow amber DR C. W. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS with red iron pontil. Ex: Earl ‘Pat’ Patterson collection – Meyer Collection

Light to medium root-beer amber DR C. W. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS – Meyer Collection

Yellow olive DR C. W. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS – Meyer Collection

“DR. C.W. ROBACK’S / STOMACH BITTERS / CINCINNATI, O.”, (Ring/Ham R-73), Ohio, ca. 1865 – 1870, deep olive green barrel, 9 7/8”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. Fine example. In past sales we have sold a few of these, always in a dark olive color. This one is considerably lighter in color and passes light easily. Here’s one that just missed the pontil rod, but certainly of the same period. Purchased from a 2008 Bottles and More Auction. – Glass Works Auctions – Bob Ferraro Collection – Session 1

“DR. C.W. ROBACK’S / STOMACH BITTERS / CINCINNATI, O.”, (Ring/Ham R-73), Ohio, ca. 1865 – 1870, medium yellow with a hint of amber and olive barrel, 9 3/4”h, red iron pontil, applied tapered collar mouth. A few light scratches are on the reverse of the embossing. Nice glass whittle and very close to being pure yellow! Purchased in 2004 from Jeff Burkhardt at the FOHBC Show in Memphis, Tennessee. – Glass Works Auctions #112 – Bob Ferraro Collection – Session 1

Dr. Roback’s Manufactory

Advertisement for U.S. Proprietary Medicine Co. and Celebrated Roback’s Stomach Bitters – 1870 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Paper Receipt: C.W. Roback Company paper letterhead and receipt (signed by Charles W. Roback), dated April 4, 1865. Nice graphics on letterhead depicting building with heading to the right, ‘Office of / C.W. Roback / Distiller / Rectifier / And / Manufacturer / Domestic Wines & Liquors, / Catawba Brandy, / Roback’s Stomach Bitters. Receipt measures 8” x 9 ¾”, near mint. Signed by C.W. Roback. – Meyer Collection (from American Glass Gallery)

The Scandinavian Remedies – Dr. Roback’s Blood Purifier

Dr. C.W. Roback of Cincinnati, Ohio, introduced a group of proprietary medicines in 1855, designating them as “Scandinavien” in 1857. A year later the designation was changed to “Scandinavian” and applied to Blood Pills and Blood Purifier. All were distributed through a wholesale druggist, Demas Barnes. The United States Proprietary Medicine Company, also of Cincinnati, took over the business in 1866, whereupon “Dr.” Roback was listed in the city directory as “Manufacturer of Fine Cut and Smoking Tobacco.” The six-cent stamp was issued first, for use on the Stomach Bitters. It appeared on April 24, 1867 and was last delivered on June 18, 1868. 63,622 were issued, all on old paper. The four-cent stamp, used on bottles of the Blood Purifier, was first issued on May 14, 1867 and last issued in July of 1875. 192,968 were printed on old paper and 38,750 on silk paper. The copy above is printed on experimental silk paper, so counted with the old paper copies. – rdhinstl’s Page

DR. C.W. ROBACKS SCANDINAVIAN BLOOD PURIFIER PURELY VEGETABLE LIVER COMPLAINT. Applied top and smooth base with partial original label. This is one with a familiar name and not the first time we’ve seen the Roback name associated with the country of Scandinavia. This one has about two-thirds of the original label, which shows a building and street scene. The bottle itself is quite crude and stands somewhat askew. Notice the large bulbous top and overall pristine condition of this rare bottle. Here is a bottle that appeals to not only the bitters collectors, but also medicine collectors alike. – sold by American Bottle Auctions

The Scandinavian Remedies – Dr. Roback’s Blood Purifier (circa 1856)

Newspaper Advertising – Dr. Roback’s Stomach Bitters

Roback’s Stomach Bitters advertisement – The Evansville Daily Journal, Friday, October 2, 1863

Roback’s Stomach Bitters advertisement – The Fremont Weekly Journal, Friday, July 15, 1864

Roback’s Stomach Bitters advertisement – The Daily Milwaukee News, Friday, January 4, 1867

Select Listings:

1844: Dr. Roback was neither a Doctor nor a Roback. He was an unsuccessful farmer, turned salesman, who in 1844, escaped debtor’s prison in his native Sweden.

1855: Dr. C.W. Roback of Cincinnati, Ohio, introduced a group of proprietary medicines in 1855, designating them as “Scandinavian“.

1857: Roback modified the word “Scandinavian” and applied to Blood Pills and Blood Purifier.

1863: Earliest Roback’s Stomach Bitters advertisement – The Evansville Daily Journal, Friday, October 2, 1863

1864: Dr. C. W. Roback, Roback’s Stomach Bitters, Nos. 56-62 East Third Street, Cincinnati, Ohio

1867: Prince, Walton & Co., (Succesors to Dr. C. W. Roback), Proprietors, Nos. 56-62 East Third Street, Cincinnati, Ohio

1870: U.S. Proprietary Medicine Co. and Celebrated Roback’s Stomach Bitters – 1870 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

The two embossed TEXAS Bitters

Posted on 17 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

The two embossed TEXAS Bitters

17 July 2012 (R•032519)

Seeing pictures of these two legendary Texas embossed bitters and meeting David Cole, who may have the most complete and extensive collection of Texas embossed blobs, hutches, crown tops and related go-withs, was great this past weekend at the Houston Antique Bottle Show.

I have challenged Jim Schmidt to use his talent in finding more information such as advertising, letterheads and other ephemera.

(Read: Houston Bottle Show 2012!)

David Cole – Houston 2012 Antique Bottle Show

[From David Cole] Ferdinand, was good to meet you at the Houston show. Brad (Seigler) called me as he was traveling home and told me about his visit to your home. You and your collection had quite an impact on Brad. Looking forward to when you can come here and see my Texas collection. Will attach the pictures of the three embossed sides of the San Antonio bitters in this e-mail, and will send a separate e-mail of the Navasota bitters. This is the only Texas bitters that I have that are embossed with the word “bitters”. I have a couple that were most likely bitters with paper labels.

Also, please pay attention to the spelling ‘disaster’ on the SIMMONS’ AMERICAN bottle. I count four mistakes! “POULWARE” should be “BOULWARE”, “HAVASOTA” should be “NAVASOTA”, “MANUFACTURIED” should be “MANUFACTURED” and “HEPATTIC” should be “HEPATIC”! At least “AMERICAN” is spelled right. This could be a record for errors on a bottle and I am not even counting misplaced dots.

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

S 106.5 SIMMONS’ AMERICAN HEPATTIC BITTERS

SIMMONS. AMERICAN / HEPATTIC BITTERS // HAVASOTA, TEXAS. // f / MANUFACTURIED / BY. W. P. POULWARE & CO //
8 1/2 x 2 1/2 (5 3/8) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare
“POULWARE” may be “BOULWARE” misspelled
“HAVASOTA” may be “NAVASOTA” misspelled
Example was dug in Lynchburg, Texas, a town that settled so much it is under water.

[Wikipedia] Lynchburg is an unincorporated area in east central Harris County, Texas, United States. The community is also known as Lynch’s Ferry. In 1822, Nathaniel Lynch built a ferry to cross the San Jacinto River just below where Buffalo Bayou flows into it. The ferry connected what would become the community of Lynchburg, on the east side of the crossing with the road to Harrisburg. At the western landing is the location of the San Jacinto Battlefield where Texan forces under Sam Houston defeated Antonio López de Santa Anna’s Mexican forces in 1836.

SIMMONS AMERICAN HEPATTIC BITTERS – Cole Collection

Cover: 1873 Logan’s Railway Business Directory, St.Louis to Galveston

Advertisement Simmons’ American Hepatic Bitters – 1873 Logan’s Railway Business Directory, St.Louis to Galveston

T 13.5 TEXAS BLOOD PURIFIER AND TONIC BITTERS

TEXAS / BLOOD PURIFIER // AND // TONIC BITTERS // R. L. SMITH / PROPRIETOR / SAN ANTONIO / TEXAS. // f //
9 7/8 x 2 3/4 (7 5/8) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Extremely rare

T 14 TEXAS BLOOD PURIFIER AND TONIC BITTERS

TEXAS / BLOOD PURIFIER // AND // TONIC BITTERS // area with lettering removed showing plate mark with two round marks / SAN ANTONIO / TEXAS // f //
10 x 2 3/4 (7 1/2) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Extremely rare
The A in Texas in the panel with San Antonio lacks cross bar.
This bottle was found under an old house being razed in downtown San Antonio.

T 14.5 TEXAS BLOOD PURIFIER AND TONIC BITTERS

TEXAS / BLOOD PURIFIER // AND // TONIC BITTERS // area with lettering removed showing plate mark with two round marks // R. L. Smith /
10 1/2 x 2 3/4 (7 1/2) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Extremely rare

TEXAS BLOOD PURIFIER AND TONIC BITTERS (T 13.5) – Cole Collection

Posted in Bitters, Bottle Shows, Collectors & Collections | Tagged amber, bitters, Boulware, David Cole, Navasota, R. L. Smith, San Antonio, Simmons American Hepattic Bitters, square, texas, Texas Blood Purifier | Leave a comment

Barrel Series – Dr. Chandler’s Jamaica Ginger Root Bitters

Posted on 17 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

DR. CHANDLER’S JAMAICA GINGER ROOT BITTERS

17 July 2012 (R•110816)

The Chandler’s are definitely a favorite with bitters collectors because of the unique form of the barrel which is a flattened oval opposed to round like most figural barrels. They come in two exciting colors, amber and apple green and are highly ornate as you will see from the pictures below. This pair is difficult to get.

“PRICE ONLY 75 CENTS – FOR SALE BY ALL FIRST CLASS DEALERS”

Two DR. CHANDLER’S JAMAICA GINGER ROOT BITTERS photo from the John Feldmann collection

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

C 127 DR. CHANDLER’S JAMAICA GINGER ROOT BITTERS, Circa 1860 – 1880

DR. CHANDLER’S / JAMAICA GINGER ( au ) / ROOT / BITTER’S // c // // s // CHAS. NICHOLS JR & CO. PROPS. ( au ) / LOWELL MASS. // c //
10 x 3 1/2 x 2 1/4 (5 1/2)
Oval barrel, Amber and green, DC, Applied mouth, Very rare

DR. CHANDLER’S JAMAICA GINGER ROOT BITTERS in apple green – photo Ferdinand Meyer V

Advertisement for a Dr. Chandler’s Jamaica Ginger Root Bitters, Lowell Daily Courier, Saturday July 2, 1881

DR. CHANDLER’S JAMAICA GINGER ROOT BITTERS in apple green on the shelves of the great figural bitters collection of Bob Ferraro

DR. CHANDLER’S JAMAICA GINGER ROOT BITTERS in apple green from the Carlyn Ring sale

DR. CHANDLER’S JAMAICA GINGER ROOT BITTERS. 1860-80. R/H C 127. Applied top, smooth base. This is another Chandler’s in a light to medium yellowish green. If you have the amber example, you just have to have the green one, right? Seriously, this is another gorgeous piece that is in a color you don’t see often. Not mentioned because frankly you don’t see it much is the embossing above the name, which reads, CHAS. NICHOLS J. & Co. PROPS. This example has just a hint of wear around the middle barrel ring but is overall in super condition. Lots of bubbles and overall appeal, grades About Mint 8. Ex. Frank Kurczewski and Joe Wheeler collections. Possibly only three known in this color. – Sold by American Bottle Auctions for $16,500 without premium.

DR. CHANDLER’S JAMAICA GINGER ROOT BITTERS. Applied top, smooth base. Ring & Ham C 127. circa 1860-80. These Dr. Chandler bottles pretty much have it all. The great barrel shape, neat name and in this case, provenance. The shading goes from a yellow throughout the body to a medium to deep amber into the top. This bottle was originally in the collection of Charles Gardner and then Judge McKenzie. It was purchased by Bryan Grapentine in Heckler Auction 23 in 1995. Mint 9, here’s a bottle that has made it’s way through time quite gracefully. Top specimen. Sold by American Bottle Auctions for $15,500 without premium.

DR. CHANDLER’S JAMAICA GINGER ROOT BITTERS in amber – Bitters Bottles Supplement

DR. CHANDLER’S JAMAICA GINGER ROOT BITTERS in apple green – Bitters Bottles Supplement

“CHAS. NICHOLS JR & CO. PROPS / LOWELL, MASS. / DR. CHANDLER’S / JAMAICA GINGER / ROOT / BITTERS”, (Ring/Ham, C-127), Massachusetts, ca. 1875 – 1885, light to medium yellowish lime green barrel, 10”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth. Pristine perfect condition, great impression and a number of tiny air bubbles. You are bidding on a very rare and desirable bottle. Possibly only five or six known examples with this one possibly being the best! Ex Carlyn Ring Collection. Purchased from Jim Hagenbuch in 1995. Glass Works Auctions – Bob Ferraro Collection – Part 2

My Bottle Room – Dick Andre

Posted on 16 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

WARNER’S SAFE CURE bottles sitting in the sun

Ferdinand,

I’ve been meaning to contact you for a while now to say thanks for putting together and maintaining your website – you’re a real credit to the hobby. I grew up digging in dumps around the Philadelphia area in the 1970s, but have been living in the Woodlands (Texas) for the past 10 years or so.

The first bottle I ever dug was a large Warner’s Safe Cure, which I sold for $50. That was a lot of money to a 12 year old in 1973, but of course I would much rather have the bottle than the money now. My niece and her husband come over from Austin a few months back, and although they aren’t bottle collectors they loved all the colors and took a bunch of pictures. Attached is a nice shot of some fairly common Safe Cures sitting in a window.

I hope to make it to the Houston show this weekend and will stop by to say Hi. Thanks again for all your support of the hobby.

Best regards,
Dick Andre

[PRG] I did meet Dick this past weekend at the Houston Antique Bottle Show (Read: 2012 Houston Antique Bottle Show – Rain or Shine!). What a nice guy. Dick is also one of our newest members of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors. Welcome! These are really nice pictures Dick.

My Bottle Room

Heavily whittled and ice blue DR. KENNEDY’S MEDICAL DISCOVERY

Dutch case gin bottles standing like sentries atop office book shelves

The sun shining thru a milk glass PROF HUBERT’S MALVINA LOTION

Check out the tiny skull and cross-bones!

Cobalt blue Pharmacy and Poison Bottles found in an 1890’s Philadelphia dump

Pontiled Medicines in a crazy assortment of shapes

Three small quilted diamond Poisons

Posted in Bottle Shows, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Digging and Finding, Druggist & Drugstore, FOHBC News, Gin, Medicines & Cures, Milk Glass, Photography, Poison Bottles, Windows | Tagged bottle room, case gin, Dick Andre, Dr. Kennedy's Medical Discovery, dutch, Philadelphia, Prof Hubert's Malvina Lotion, texas, The Woodlands, Warner's Safe Cure | Leave a comment

2012 Houston Antique Bottle Show – Rain or Shine!

Posted on 15 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

2012 Houston Antique Bottle Show – Rain or Shine!

15 July 2012

Well I missed the Friday ‘early bird’ set-up because my flight from the East Coast was 8 hours late and our airports were shut down for a good while backing all air traffic up. Seems like Houston had 10+ inches of rain and major flooding. Last year this time we had the driest year on record and were begging for rain. Hey I’m not complaining, when it rains it pours around here.

This did not stop a record turnout for the smaller Houston show that seems to get more exciting each year with new dealers. Anchored by the likes of Dan Cowman and his ‘off the chart’ three tables of Bitters and paper ephemera, we also had David Cole (Texas bottle legend), Brad Seigler (largest collection of Texas patent medicines) and our own celebrity author, Jim Schmidt of Civil War Medicines (and Writing). I also brought along a few of my Drakes (See: I brought a few of my Drakes to the Houston Show) to stir things up!

You see, I use my table as a trap for the FOHBC and boy were the folks I talked to excited to see the latest issue of Bottles of Extras. I must of signed up 10 new members!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the show…

I used my table display and the front area of the Drakes light table to display the FOHBC ‘Join Now’ poster and copies of the latest issue of our stellar magazine Bottles and Extras. I was able to sign up 7 members on the spot with promises of others to join.

David Cole is the granddaddy of Texas Bottles. Here is is explaining the Benicia effect on local found glass. David has a major collection of Texas Hutches, blobs, crown tops, bitters and go-withs.

Some of Dan Cowman’s DRAKES PLANTATION BITTERS he brought for sale. Must have been a dozen or so great colors. Dan is a dominant player with paper medicine ephemera. His three tables alone were reason enough to visit the show!

Table center-piece display for Jim Schmidt of Civil War Medicine (and Writing). This was Jim’s first time to display at a bottle show. Jim has been instrumental in providing depth and research for obscure bottles in my collection.

Just a small sampling of the great displays of Texas patent and drugstore medicine bottles on the Brad Seigler table. Brad probably has the dominant collection of Texas patent medicine bottles along with David Cole.

Our dearest friends, Tom and Alicia Booth take a break before show start-up to cathch up on the news. We meet the Booths at our first Houston show in 2003 and have been friends since. The Booths will be joining us at the FOHBC Manchester, NH National in 2013 as Manchester is Tom’s home town.

One of the great advertising pieces on Dan Cowman’s table. I love the illustrations for the “Three Days of Cure for Men” with Gonorrhoea.

Great material on Jim Schmidts table for LINCOLN TEA.

Legendary DEWEY’S MANILLA BITTERS pitcher on Dan Cowman’s table. The pitcher used to be in the collection of the Booths.

A great Texas medicine, MERRICK’S VOUDOO OIL from Waco, Texas from Brad Seigler.

A great embossing on a SINGLE STROKE ANTISEPTIC – Brad Seigler

Two labeled, with contents and tax stamps, WISHART’S PINE TREE TAR CORDIALS – Dan Cowman

If painted label Soda bottles are your thing, the Houston Bottle Show dominates in this area. Strong tables with hundreds of great bottles were on display.

Great mirror display of some nice bottles. Love that London Gin.

Nice labeled DAMIANA BITTERS on Dan Cowman’s table

Three E. DEXTER LOVERIDGE WAHOO BITTERS in emerald green, lime and amber – Meyer table

Spectacular labeled HALLOWAY’S BITTERS lady’s leg with contents – Dan Cowman

One of the ‘new’ faces at the Houston Bottle Show and a pretty one at that

For my bud, Tom Doligale, a WOLLFF’S SCHIEDAM AROMATIC SCHNAPPS stands alone if waiting for Tom

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Bottle Shows, Bottles and Extras, Civil War, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Druggist & Drugstore, Ephemera, Figural Bottles, FOHBC News, Medicines & Cures, Painted Label, Soda Bottles | Tagged bitters, Brad Seigler, Dan Cowman, David Cole, Drakes, ferdinand meyer, fohbc, Houston Bottle Shoe, Jim Schmidt, Lincoln Tea, Medicines, weather | 1 Comment

I brought a few of my Drakes to the Houston Show

Posted on 15 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

“the casual show goer must have walked by our tables and figured green drakes are a dime a dozen”

I brought a few of my Drakes to the Houston Show

15 July 2012

To support the Houston group, and to have some fun, I brought a few of my Drake’s Plantation Bitters to the Houston Bottle Show yesterday. By coincidence, Dan Cowman brought some of his green toned Drakes. We both chuckled and discussed that the casual show goer must have walked by our tables and figured green drakes are a dime a dozen.

Posted in Bitters, Bottle Shows, Collectors & Collections, Color Runs, Figural Bottles | Tagged bitters, Dan Cowman, Drake's Plantation Bitters, Drakes, Houston, Plantation | 2 Comments

Barrel Series – Favorite Bitters & Peoples Favorite Bitters

Posted on 14 July 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

FAVORITE BITTERS | PEOPLES FAVORITE BITTERS

Barrel Series – Favorite Bitters & Peoples Favorite Bitters

14 July 2012 (R•111916) (R•011217)

Here is a strong barrel in two forms that you do not come across often. I have only seen examples in the great Feldmann and Ferraro collections and have not been fortunate enough to obtain an example. High on the desirability list, Favorite Bitters and the later People’s Favorite Bitters from Naperville, Illinois.

FAVORITE BITTERS Patent Drawing – Tony Shank

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

F 6 FAVORITE BITTERS (see below)

FAVORITE BITTERS / POWELL & STUTENROTH // c // s // PAT APPLIED FOR // c //
9 1/4 x 2 5/8
Barrel, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Very rare
Design Patent No. 3141, dated July 28, 1868 by Morris B. Powell and Charles W. Stutenroth of Naperville, Illinois. This is the earlier bottle. Once the patent was received the mold was changed: Peoples added to the title and Patd July 28, 1868, on the shoulder. See People’ Favorite Bitters

Favorite Bitters – Bitters Bottles Supplement

“PATENT APPLIED FOR / FAVORITE BITTERS / POWELL & STUTENROTH”, (Ring/Ham, F-6), Illinois, ca. 1868 – 1875, amber barrel, 9 1/8”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. Perfect condition. Morris Powell and Charles Stutenroth were in Naperville, Illinois. Of the two “Favorite Bitters” barrels this is the earlier one. After the patent was received a new mold was made to include the word Peoples. Both bottles are extremely rare making it a real challenge to own both. Purchased from Glass Works Auctions, ‘The Dr. Burton Spiller Collection’, in 2000. – Glass Works Auctions – Bob Ferraro Collection – Part 2

P 41 PEOPLE’S FAVORITE BITTERS (see below)

PEOPLES FAVORITE BITTERS / POWELL & STUTENROTH // c // s // PATD JULY 28 1868
10 5/8 x 2 1/2 (8)
Round barrel, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare Ribs swirl from ring on shoulder to base uninterupted but for 10 ribs which are interrupted for panel with lettering.

“PATD JULY – 28 1868 / PEOPLES FAVORITE BITTERS / POWELL & STUTENROTH”, (Ring/Ham, P-41), Illinois, ca. 1868 – 1875, yellow amber barrel, 10 3/4”h, smooth base, applied tapered mouth. About perfect. One of the rarest of all barrel bitters bottles, three possibly four known examples of which this is possibly the nicest! Ex. Tony Shank, Dave Bowers and Carlyn Ring Collections. Purchased from Glass Works Auctions #42 in 1996. Winning Bid: $ 30,000 (28 Bids) – Glass Works Auctions – Bob Ferraro Collection – Part 3

Peoples Favorite Bitters – Bitters Bottles Supplement

Broadside: Testimonials 1880 P.W. Hubbel & Co. as agent for J.W. Perkins & Co. See: Favorite Bitters

[Glass Works Auctions] Newspaper advertisement – April 21, 1869 A medicine so potent, palatable and pure that wherever known it becomes at once the Favorite of the people. In all cases of Dyspepsia, Liver Complaint, Headache, Loss of Appetite, Humors in the Blood, Blotches and Pimples on the Face, Weakness of the Kidneys, General Debility, Nervous Complaints, Impurities of the Blood, Chills, Fevers, and Diarrhea, The People’s Favorite Bitters should be used. The unimpeachable testimony of ladies, farmers, mechanics, commercial and professional men who have practically tested the mixture of The People’s Favorite Bitters, prove it to be beyond question, the best medicinal compound for the above diseases now offered to the public. If a reasonable attention to diet be given, and The People’s Favorite Bitters be taken strictly according to the directions, and no relief obtained in any or all the ills mentioned above, THE PRICE OF THE BITTERS WILL BE REFUNDED by the proprietors, or any of their authorized agents. The reason The People’s Favorite Bitters have met with much unprecedented success, and are now so generally and highly esteemed, is because they ASSIST nature, instead of exhausting her; they give tone to the stomach and the digestive organs, enrich the blood, and tend to build up rather than tear down; in short, they import vigor to the entire frame, and help the system to throw off disease. The following are the ingredients of The People’s Favorite Bitters: Sarsaparilla, Dandelion, Wild Cherry, Buchu, Cubeba, Orange Peel, Anise, Gentian, Columbo and Sassafras. Any one, at all acquainted with medicines, will know at once that no better or more wholesome Bitters could be made. One trial will convince the most skeptical that The People’s Favorite Bitters are all that they are recommended. For LADIES they are excellent; for TRAVELERS invaluable; for mechanics, farmers, persons of sedentary habits, for professional men, overtaxing the brain at the expense of the body, The People’s Favorite Bitters are a necessity. During sudden changes in the weather, in time of general sickness, these Bitters can be taken with advantage. At any time they are useful, and should be constantly on hand. If you want to save money, preserve your health, do the most good, and get the greatest happiness, use The People’s Favorite Bitters. Price, $1.00 per Bottle. POWELL & STUTENROTH, Proprietors and Manufacturers, Naperville, ILL. Powell & Stutenroth’s Favorite Bitters

FAVORITE BITTERS Patent – Tony Shank

[Glass Works Auctions] By Tony Shank

A number of years ago I acquired a People’s Favorite Bitters, a very rare bitters barrel. With the exception of being 1 1/4″ taller and having a patent date of July 28, 1868 on the shoulder, this barrel has the same design as the Favorite Bitters. The Favorite Bitters has “pat. applied for” on its shoulder. I was always curious about the patent date on the People’s Favorite and often wondered what information, if any, was available on this bottle. Then, Zane and Barbara Shaffer entered the search. While talking with Zane at a bottle show I happened to ask if he knew anyone in the club who could obtain information from the patent office. “Sure,” said Zane, speaking freely of Barbara’s time, “my wife works at the patent office.” So, after much hard work on Barbara’s part, she found the patent date, July 28, 1868, listed on the People’s Favorite Bitters to be the date that the patent was approved for the Favorite Bitters. After the design of the Favorite Bitters was patented, the size and appearance of the bottle changed a little and the name became People’s Favorite Bitters. From this we can surmise that the Favorite Bitters was bottled a year or two before 1868 and the People’s Bitters was bottled after July 28, 1868…..

PEOPLE’S FAVORITE BITTERS (left) and the earlier FAVORITE BITTERS – Feldmann Collection

PEOPLE’S FAVORITE BITTERS from the famous Carlyn Ring collection sale

FAVORITE BITTERS – Ferraro Collection

A Powell & Stutenroth “Favorite Bitters” bottle, one of only a few known and graded 9.7 out of 10 for condition, soared to $64,960 at the 50th Internet and catalog ever held by American Bottle Auctions. The bottle was the top lot of the more than 300 rare and vintage bottles sold. Most dated from the mid-to-late 19th century.

B. T. 1865 S. C.

SMITH’S DRUID BITTERS

J. Smith & Son, Wholesale Grocers and Liquor Merchants, No. 35 Cheapside, Baltimore

20 July 2012 (R•052914) (R•032919)

“on o/e all due up to this date except 1 barrel whisky”

Box of candy for someone who can tell me what “B. T.” 1865 “S. C.” stands for?

S 124 Smith’s Druid Bitters

B. T. 1865 S. C. ( au ) / SMITH’S / DRUID BITTERS ( ad ) // c // 9 1/2 x 2 1/2 Round barrel, 10-10, NSC, Applied mouth, Amber and Puce – Rare; Yellowish olive green and Olive yellow – Very Rare

Newspaper Advertising

The Indian War of 1864, by Eugene Ware

“Best Tonic 1865 Sure Cure”

Receipts

J. Smith & Son, 35 Cheapside

Why is Druid in the name?

Druid Hill Park

Gallery

Select Listings:

1860: Newspaper advertisement (below) Cows forSale, Apply to John Smith, 35 Cheapside – The Baltimore Sun, Friday, April 6, 1860

1861: Newspaper advertisement (below) C.C. Adreon & Co., Importers and Dealers in Brandies, Wines, Gins, Cigars …, 35 Cheapside – The Daily Exchange, Wednesday, February 20, 1861

1863: Newspaper notice (below) $20 Reward, missing horse, reply to J. Smith, 35 Cheapside –The Baltimore Sun, Wednesday, July 15, 1863

1865: J. Smith & Son (J. Smith, J.S. Smith) Wholesale Grocers and Liquor Merchants, No. 35 Cheapside, Baltimore – 1865 Baltimore City Directory

1865: Newspaper advertisement (above in post) B.T. – 1865.- S.C., Try Smith’s Druid Bitters – Civilian and Telegraph (Cumberland, Maryland), Thursday, August 31, 1865

1866: Newspaper advertisement (above in post) B.T. – 1865.- S.C. Smith’s Druid Bitters, J. Smith & Son, Proprietors, Baltimore, Md. – The Progress Index (Petersburg, Virginia), Tuesday, April 24, 1866

1869: Newspaper notice (below) Pasture for Horses and Cows, Mrs. John Smith, 35 Cheapside – The Baltimore Sun, Tuesday, June 1, 1869

1871: J. Smith & Son, 35 Cheapside – The state gazette and merchants and farmers’ directory for Maryland and District of Columbia, Sadler, Drysdale & Purnell, Baltimore, 1871

1873: Newspaper advertisement (below) Gunpowder… For Sale at Smith & Whiting, 35 Cheapside – The Baltimore Sun, Tuesday, September 30, 1873

1883: W.P. Whiting & Co. (W.P. Whiting), Groceries and Commission Merchants, 35 Cheapside

Read More on Figural Barrels

ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS

(R 74)

19 July 2012 (R•031414) (R•091318)

10 thousand sold in one month. The most popular stomach bitters in use.

R 74 DR C. W. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS, Circa 1865 – 1875

DR C. W. ROBACK’S ( au ) / STOMACH BITTERS / CINCINNATI, O ( ad ) // c // Prince, Walton & Co. Successors to C. W. Roback Sole proprietors Cincinnati, Ohio 9 3/8 x 2 3/8 (7 1/8) Amber – Common; Olive amber, Olive green and Yellow olive – Scarce O of Ohio under E of Bitters

Read More on Figural Barrels

ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS

(R 73)

18 July 2012 (R•122113) (R•091516) (R•091318)

Dr. Roback was neither a Doctor nor a Roback. He was an unsuccessful farmer, turned salesman, who in 1844, escaped debtor’s prison in his native Sweden.

R 73 DR C. W. ROBACK’S STOMACH BITTERS, Circa 1865 – 1875,

Dr. Roback’s Manufactory

The Scandinavian Remedies – Dr. Roback’s Blood Purifier

Newspaper Advertising – Dr. Roback’s Stomach Bitters

Select Listings:

1844: Dr. Roback was neither a Doctor nor a Roback. He was an unsuccessful farmer, turned salesman, who in 1844, escaped debtor’s prison in his native Sweden.

1855: Dr. C.W. Roback of Cincinnati, Ohio, introduced a group of proprietary medicines in 1855, designating them as “Scandinavian“.

1857: Roback modified the word “Scandinavian” and applied to Blood Pills and Blood Purifier.

1863: Earliest Roback’s Stomach Bitters advertisement – The Evansville Daily Journal, Friday, October 2, 1863

1864: Dr. C. W. Roback, Roback’s Stomach Bitters, Nos. 56-62 East Third Street, Cincinnati, Ohio

1867: Prince, Walton & Co., (Succesors to Dr. C. W. Roback), Proprietors, Nos. 56-62 East Third Street, Cincinnati, Ohio

1870: U.S. Proprietary Medicine Co. and Celebrated Roback’s Stomach Bitters – 1870 Williams’ Cincinnati Directory

Read More on Figural Barrels

The two embossed TEXAS Bitters

17 July 2012 (R•032519)

S 106.5 SIMMONS’ AMERICAN HEPATTIC BITTERS

T 13.5 TEXAS BLOOD PURIFIER AND TONIC BITTERS

TEXAS / BLOOD PURIFIER // AND // TONIC BITTERS // R. L. SMITH / PROPRIETOR / SAN ANTONIO / TEXAS. // f // 9 7/8 x 2 3/4 (7 5/8) 3/8 Square, Amber, LTC, Extremely rare

T 14 TEXAS BLOOD PURIFIER AND TONIC BITTERS

T 14.5 TEXAS BLOOD PURIFIER AND TONIC BITTERS

TEXAS / BLOOD PURIFIER // AND // TONIC BITTERS // area with lettering removed showing plate mark with two round marks // R. L. Smith / 10 1/2 x 2 3/4 (7 1/2) 3/8 Square, Amber, LTC, Extremely rare

DR. CHANDLER’S JAMAICA GINGER ROOT BITTERS

17 July 2012 (R•110816)

“PRICE ONLY 75 CENTS – FOR SALE BY ALL FIRST CLASS DEALERS”

C 127 DR. CHANDLER’S JAMAICA GINGER ROOT BITTERS, Circa 1860 – 1880

DR. CHANDLER’S / JAMAICA GINGER ( au ) / ROOT / BITTER’S // c // // s // CHAS. NICHOLS JR & CO. PROPS. ( au ) / LOWELL MASS. // c // 10 x 3 1/2 x 2 1/4 (5 1/2) Oval barrel, Amber and green, DC, Applied mouth, Very rare

Read More on Figural Barrels

Ferdinand,

I hope to make it to the Houston show this weekend and will stop by to say Hi. Thanks again for all your support of the hobby.

Best regards, Dick Andre

2012 Houston Antique Bottle Show – Rain or Shine!

15 July 2012

“the casual show goer must have walked by our tables and figured green drakes are a dime a dozen”

I brought a few of my Drakes to the Houston Show

15 July 2012

FAVORITE BITTERS | PEOPLES FAVORITE BITTERS

Barrel Series – Favorite Bitters & Peoples Favorite Bitters

14 July 2012 (R•111916) (R•011217)

F 6 FAVORITE BITTERS (see below)

P 41 PEOPLE’S FAVORITE BITTERS (see below)

PEOPLES FAVORITE BITTERS / POWELL & STUTENROTH // c // s // PATD JULY 28 1868 10 5/8 x 2 1/2 (8) Round barrel, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare Ribs swirl from ring on shoulder to base uninterupted but for 10 ribs which are interrupted for panel with lettering.

B. T. 1865 S. C. ( au ) / SMITH’S / DRUID BITTERS ( ad ) // c //
9 1/2 x 2 1/2
Round barrel, 10-10, NSC, Applied mouth, Amber and Puce – Rare; Yellowish olive green and Olive yellow – Very Rare

DR C. W. ROBACK’S ( au ) / STOMACH BITTERS / CINCINNATI, O ( ad ) // c //
Prince, Walton & Co. Successors to C. W. Roback Sole proprietors Cincinnati, Ohio
9 3/8 x 2 3/8 (7 1/8)
Amber – Common; Olive amber, Olive green and Yellow olive – Scarce
O of Ohio under E of Bitters

TEXAS / BLOOD PURIFIER // AND // TONIC BITTERS // R. L. SMITH / PROPRIETOR / SAN ANTONIO / TEXAS. // f //
9 7/8 x 2 3/4 (7 5/8) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Extremely rare

TEXAS / BLOOD PURIFIER // AND // TONIC BITTERS // area with lettering removed showing plate mark with two round marks // R. L. Smith /
10 1/2 x 2 3/4 (7 1/2) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Extremely rare

DR. CHANDLER’S / JAMAICA GINGER ( au ) / ROOT / BITTER’S // c // // s // CHAS. NICHOLS JR & CO. PROPS. ( au ) / LOWELL MASS. // c //
10 x 3 1/2 x 2 1/4 (5 1/2)
Oval barrel, Amber and green, DC, Applied mouth, Very rare

Best regards,
Dick Andre

PEOPLES FAVORITE BITTERS / POWELL & STUTENROTH // c // s // PATD JULY 28 1868
10 5/8 x 2 1/2 (8)
Round barrel, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare Ribs swirl from ring on shoulder to base uninterupted but for 10 ribs which are interrupted for panel with lettering.