California Sherry Wine Appetizer or Stomach Bitters

Posted on 10 April 2016 by Ferdinand Meyer V

CSWSB_2x

California Sherry Wine Appetizer or Stomach Bitters

10 April 2016 (R•041216) (R•041316) (R•090319)

Apple-Touch-IconAIt looks like we may have an unlisted, labeled bitters here as I find no reference to the California Sherry Wine Appetizer or Stomach Bitters in the Ring & Ham Bitters Bottles or the supplements, both existing and planned. This email and pictures came in from Henry Hartley:

“Hello Ferdinand, having read about you and your connection with bitters, I figured you were the right fellow to ask about a labeled bitters I have. I hope you can read what is left of the label. Unfortunately the maker’s name is missing. Only an “E” and a “W” are discernible. This is sort of puzzle bottle. Thanks for any help in identification.”

I sent Henry a quick email back and asked: “Henry: Interesting. See if there are any remaining words on the label the might be: Speer’s Port, Grape, Leavenworth, Marshall & Pinkston and New York?”

Henry replied: “I could not find any of your terms in the text on the label. However, in the last picture you may make out  “GE W.”. There is label room for George. Do you recall a bitters with George W. (blank) as maker? How ironic the most important information is missing.”

CSWSB_6

The labeled California Sherry Wine Appetizer or Stomach Bitters – Henry Hartley

CSWSB_3

Label detail: California Sherry Wine Appetizer or Stomach Bitters – Henry Hartley

CSWSB_4

Label detail: California Sherry Wine Appetizer or Stomach Bitters – Henry Hartley

CSWSB_5

Label detail: California Sherry Wine Appetizer or Stomach Bitters – Henry Hartley

CSWSB_7

Label detail: California Sherry Wine Appetizer or Stomach Bitters – Henry Hartley

CSWSB_1x

Label detail: California Sherry Wine Appetizer or Stomach Bitters – Henry Hartley

CaliforniaSherryWineBittersClip

Label detail: California Sherry Wine Appetizer or Stomach Bitters – Henry Hartley

A search in the PRG data base does show a George W. Holloway who was a Manufacturing Pharmacist at 807-809 N. Salina Street in Syracuse, New York. He put out the labeled Holloway’s Aromatic Bitters (see picture below). Read: Holloway’s Bitters from Syracuse. His label said, “As fine as silk” to all dyspeptics this bitters is recommended. It relieves at once that “all gone” feeling, wind on the stomach, liver complaint, and all forms of indigestion, fever and ague, biliousness, general debility, faintness, female weakness, also an agreeable stimulant for persons recovering from sickness.” This could be our guy but no solid evidence.

HollowaysBittersFrontLabel

A labeled Holloway’s Bitters

Another place to look might be on the other side of United States on the west coast. Here the California Wine Bitters was made by M. Keller in Los Angeles (see picture below). Doubt there is a relationship here either. Read: M. Keller Label over at Western Bitters News

CaliWineBittersLabel

Label from a California Wine Bitters by M. Keller, Los Angeles

OK… What about the California Wine Bitters ladies leg from the vineyard of Kohler & Frohling? Rennert, Prosch & Company in San Francisco was also related to the brand. Could there be a relationship here? Read: California Wine Bitters – From the vineyard of Kohler & Frohling. Nah, I doubt it.

CWBLabel

Label for a California Wine Bitters by Rennert, Prosch & Co.

Another clue might be to look at the Mercado & Seully’s California Wine Bitters. Look at their label below and you would not think there was a relationship.

Mercado&SuellyLabel

Circa 1866 label for a Mercado & Seully’s California Wine Bitters

Really not getting anywhere with these more ornate western “vineyard brands”. There is even another western variant of the California Wine Bitters by the Sainsevain brothers. Read: El Aliso, Jean Louis and Pierre Sainsevain and their California Wine Bitters.

I don’t think we are really looking at the west coast here. Here is a listing below in a Leavenworth, Kansas newspaper in 1868 for Speer’s Port, Grape, California, Sherry and Wine Bitters sold locally by Marshall & Pinkston’s. This is probably in reference to Alfred Speers in New Jersey and New York. This is the first time “Sherry” appears in the brand name. Read: Alfred Speer and his Raised Sidewalk & Standard Wine Bitters

Marshall&PinkstonsThe_Leavenworth_Times_Sat__Oct_3__1868_

The Leavenworth Times, Saturday, October 3, 1868

speerswineadcvr150

Speer’s Port Grape Wine trade card

So where does this leave us? I can not tell you. Maybe one of you can provide some help. Maybe a fully labeled example is out there?

Update: Bill Ham has provided the following number for the new listing in Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

C 22.5  L .  . California Sherry Wine Appetizer or Stomach Bitters
Gin shape, Amber

St. George Bitters

Ferd, Read your California Sherry Wine Appetizer or Stomach Bitters post on Facebook this morning. Here is some information that may contribute to solving this puzzler. While I can’t be certain, this bitters may have come from the ST. GEORGE VINYARDS of Fresno, California established in 1879. Now, if you were to substitute WINERY for VINYARDS, you would then have St. GeorGE Winery and you might have the missing name of the maker.

This information came from an advertising brochure in an eBay auction saved to my “wanted” list. In it is listed a California Sherry Bitters along with a number of other Sherries. These bitters is also unmentioned in any bitters reference book that I know of.

Regards…………….Joe (Gourd)

Update: Bill Ham has provided the following number for the new listing in Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

Advertisement
S 11.5 ST. GEORGE SHERRY BITTERS, St. George Vineyard, Maltermoro., Fresno County. Office, 123 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal. St. George Sherry Bitters, $6 per doz. bottles., Pacific Medical Journal, 1897
S 154.5 Speer’s Port, Grape, California, Sherry and Wine Bitters, Marshall & Pinkston’s, Leavenworth Times, October 3, 1868
Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Medicines & Cures, Questions, Wine & Champagne | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Happy Easter and a New Bitters for you

Posted on 27 March 2016 by Ferdinand Meyer V

CHB2

Happy Easter and a New Bitters for You!

27 March 2016

EasterGreetings16

Apple-Touch-IconAAlways nice to hear from the digging crews, especially Jeff Milhalik as he has a special knack for finding easter eggs and digging up incredible bottles. Some of you may have been fortunate enough to attend Jeff’s digging seminar, “Ohio River Valley Privy Digging” at the FOHBC 2014 Lexington National. Read: FOHBC 2014 Lexington National | Saturday Morning Seminars

Well, here is my Easter email from Jeff:

Happy Easter Ferd! Hope you and your family are doing well and enjoying your time with each other.

Thought you might be very interested in this bottle. We (Mike Yancosky, Ed Kuskie and me) were digging yesterday outside of the city (we love those small early towns). I was in the hole about four feet down and was carefully removing a nice yellow ware chamber pot with brown bands then found a couple smooth base slicks. We figured this privy was at least 1870s. I hit a clay plug that went for 1 1/2 feet then hit some glass right under the plug.

Carefully I exposed a Mellin type baby food then noticed an amber corner of another bottle right under that. Working slowly I could see what looked like a bevel corner. Mike looking down the hole says he sees embossing, I couldn’t really tell, guess I had sweat in my eyes. After getting the Mellin out I could see that it was most likely a bitters and could now see that it was embossed.

Cleaning it off some before I removed it, I could now see it was a California Herb Bitters!!!! I plucked it out of the dirt and looked it over and there was no damage. Whew that was a relief. Mike went to get his camera and as I inspected the bottle I noticed the name on one of the panels wasn’t familiar. It was from Pittsburgh but said Speck and Morrow (not Frazier!!). Then when we held it to the light it was a nice yellow Amber!!!! Just a killer. We also found several historical flasks, an open pontil pickle, several pontil meds, a really nice emerald green pontiled master ink and loads of other more common stuff. Beautiful day, great friends, and most excellent dig!!

I’ll send some pictures in separate emails, and feel free to post to Peachridge if you would like.

Jeff Mihalik

Read: The California Herb Bitters from Pittsburgh

CHB3

CHB1

Read: S. S. Smith just Dug

Posted in Bitters, Digging and Finding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Farrell’s Magnolia Bitters – O. H. Peckham & Co. – St. Louis

Posted on 26 March 2016 by Ferdinand Meyer V

FarrellsLabelFarrell’s Magnolia Bitters – O. H. Peckham & Co. – St. Louis

26 March 2016

Apple-Touch-IconAEllen Hass Faulkenberry snagged this killer labeled Farrell’s Magnolia Bitters at the recent antique bottle show in St. Louis, Missouri. She posts on Facebook, “Thank you Tom, for selling us this fantastic, extremely rare St. Louis Magnolia Bitters bottle!!” The pictures were pulled from the Antique Bitters Bottles page on Facebook.

Farrells Magnolioa Bitters_S

I’ve cleaned up the pictures a bit and cut away the background. Looks like a fantastic bottle. I’ll see if I can get some complete pictures. What’s interesting here is that the product was sold by a candy manufacturer named Osgood Hazard Peckham. He was from New York and worked in the grocery business in Chicago before coming to St. Louis in 1873.

PeckhamCandyTradeCardx

PeckhamTradeCard2

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

Peckhams_Drawing

M 9.5  Farrell’s Magnolia Bitters
MAGNOLIA BITTERS // O. K. (should be H instead of K) PECKHAM. CO. / PROPRIETORS. // ST LOUIS //  //
// b // N motif – 5 pointed star
L … Farrell’s Magnolia Bitters
9 1/4 x 2 5/8
Square, Amber, LTCR, Extremely rare
Label: One wine glassful taken two or three times a day before meals, will be a cure for dyspepsia, and will remove all flatulency or heaviness from the stomach, keep your system in good order, assist digestion, give a good appetite, and be a sure preventative of the fever and ague, and all other fever, Farrell’s Magnolia Bitters (delete)

OHPeck1916

Osgood Hazard Peckham

Osgood_H_Peckham

Osgood H. Peckham, president of the National Candy Company, and a well known figure in St. Louis, Mo., business circles, is a native of the State of New York, where he was reared and educated. In 1873 he came to St. Louis and engaged in the candy business, under the corporate name of the O. H. Peckham Company. The business thus founded was carried on under various firm names until it was merged into the National Candy Company, October 15, 1892. This larger company was incorporated under the laws of New Jersey and is one of the greatest business concerns in the United States, having the control of candy and confectionery manufacturing plants in nearly all the large western cities of the country. Of these factories, that of the original O. H. Peckham Candy Manufacturing Company, at St. Louis, is one of the largest and best appointed; and a tribute was paid to Mr. Peckham, by the directors of the National Company, by electing him to the presidency, an office he has held ever since the National Company was organized. Further recommendation of his business ability and qualifications is unnecessary. In the larger volume of business, brought about by the consolidation of interests, he has shown himself to be an executive of rare skill and judgment, which has resulted in his retention in that important position. Besides his interests in the candy companv Mr. Peckham is a director in the Merchants-Laclede National Bank, one of the leading financial institutions of St. Louis. – The Province and the States Biography – Weston Arthur Goodspeed, 1904

PECKHAM, Osgood H., president National Candy Co.; born in New York State, Sept. 9, 1844; son of George T. and Cynthia M. (Osgood) Peckham; educated at Pulaski Academy, Pulaski, N. Y.; married, 1st, Utica, N. Y., Oct. 12, 1876, Fannie Sherwood; children, Frank E., Mrs. S. Graham Wilson; married, 2d, Syracuse, N. Y., March 3, 1891, Susie H. Clark. Was traveling salesman in grocery line out of Chicago for seven years before coming to St. Louis in 1873 and establishing in candy business as O. H. Peckham Co., later becoming successively Dunham, Peckham & Co., O. H. Peckham & Co., and O. H. Peckham Candy Manufacturing Co., which, with seventeen other candy manufacturing concerns, formed in 1902 the National Candy Co., of which has been president since 1903. Also director Merchants-Laclede National Bank. Republican. Presbyterian. Clubs: St. Louis, Noonday, St. Louis Country, Commercial, Office: Granite Block, 406 Market St. Residence: 4382 Westminster Pl. – The Book of St. Louisans: A Biographical Dictionary of Leading Living Men of the City of St. Louis and Vicinity – John W. Leonard, St. Louis republic, 1906

Select Listings:

1844: Osgood H. Peckham born in New York State on 09 September 1844. Son of George T. and Cynthia M. (Osgood) Peckham.
1866: O.H. Peckham was a traveling salesman in grocery line out of Chicago before coming to St. Louis in 1873
1868: O.H. Peckham, traveling agent, 29 E. 2nd. – Davenport Iowa City Directory
1873: Osgood H. Peckham came to St. Louis and engaged in the candy business, under the corporate name of the O. H. Peckham Company
1874: O. H. Peckham & Co., 422 N. 2nd, Saint Louis – St. Louis City Directory
1976: Osgood H. Peckham married, 1st, Utica, N. Y., Oct. 12, 1876, Fannie Sherwood; children, Frank E., Mrs. S. Graham Wilson; married, 2d, Syracuse, N. Y., March 3, 1891, Susie H. Clark.
1878: O. H. Peckham & Co., (Osgood H. and George C. Peckham), candy mnfrs. 206 N. 2nd. – St. Louis City Directory
1881: Fire destroys the large candy factory of O. H. Peckham & Co. (see clipping below) – The Atchison Daily Champion, Sun, February 6, 1881

Peckham_The_Atchison_Daily_Champion_Sun__Feb_6__1881_

1888: A few boys (preferably German) to work at O. H. Peckham & Co. – St.Louis Post Dispatch, Thursday, May 24, 1888

Peckham_St__Louis_Post_Dispatch_Thu__May_24__1888_

1892: The business thus founded, O. H. Peckham Company was carried on under various firm names until it was merged into the National Candy Company, October 15, 1892.
1903: O. H. Peckham president of National Candy Company.
1920: O. H. Peckham death on 21 December 1920 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Posted in Bitters, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Story of a Bottle

Posted on 20 March 2016 by Ferdinand Meyer V

BarkhouseSmallPaul

Story of a Bottle – Barkhouse Bros. & Co. Gold Dust Kentucky Bourbon

49er Bottle Jamboree

20 March 2016 (R•032416)

Apple-Touch-IconAIn preparation for the Holabird Americana “49er Bottle Jamboree” Auction at the FOHBC 2016 Sacramento National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo, we will be featuring some of the bottles and other pieces in the auction. According to Fred Holabird, the auction will be live with four (4) different live auction/internet bidding platforms. Here is an interesting email I received recently.

Natl Bottle Auction web ad

Dear Mr. Ferdinand,

I found your article when I was looking for information on an old bottle I purchased yesterday. I hope that you might be able to point me in the right direction. The bottle is embossed with the following words: Trade Mark Barkhouse Bros. & Co. Gold Dust Kentucky Bourbon, John Vanbergen & Co Sole Agents. I read an article that said a bottle like this sold for $28,000 in 2011. Do you know who I should speak to in regard to my bottle? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Paul

Read: Rare Barkhouse bourbon bottle – one of ‘finest’ – brings $28,000 at auction

I contacted Richard Siri (Show Chair) and Eric McGuire (FOHBC Western Region Director) for an appraisal based on the images. Here is their response:

Ferd, I ran this bottle by Richard Siri and we are in complete agreement that it should bring between five to eight thousand. If it goes runaway it might go to ten thousand, but that should be absolute max. The selling point that must be made to the owner is that anyone who would be willing to pay top dollar will be in attendance at the Sacramento show. There is no better venue for selling it. Then, of course, there will be the ability to market it through the FOHBC website. [Editor Note: Eric also was curious about the mouth appearance which will be reviewed upon bottle receipt at the auction house]

Eric M. (McGuire)

SACRAMENTO_R1

I also asked Paul for some information on the bottle find during a telephone call.

It was the weekend of our 29th wedding anniversary and on Saturday we decided to do one of the things we love doing most which was antiquing and flea market shopping, but that day the flea market we like so much wasn’t open. As we made a U-turn to get back on the freeway we saw a sign that said “Estate Sale”. We decided to stop and take a look. They had some nice furniture, a lot of old silver and dishes, but of course we were just window shopping unless we found that perfect item then of course we were ready to purchase it.

My wife and I had basically looked at all that we wanted and we got to talking to the owner about her little dog since ours had passed away just a couple of months before. The owner asked if we’d found anything we liked and I told her that actually there was, so I left my wife at the counter speaking to the owner while I walked back and got this old bottle that I really liked. Since I like to make my own wine I thought it’d be a good bottle for wine. As I was walking back to the counter I saw the look on my wife’s face as if she was saying, “Oh no, not another bottle”. Although I am not an avid bottle collector I had purchased a few here and there that I was planning on using for my wine.

I told the owner that it was on the 50% off rack so we ended up paying $12 for the bottle. We left with the bottle then had a nice dinner and drove home. The next day we decided to go and visit my wife’s brother since the rest of her family was already there. We had such a great time that I wanted to do something nice for my brother-in-law so I thought about the bottle and decided that I would adorn it with postage stamps as I had done in the past on other wine bottles and give it to him as a gift, but before I started I decided to do a little Internet research to find out if the horse on the bottle or the words “Gold Dust” meant anything.

I came across this article from acquired had been sold for $28,000. I was beside myself and turned to my wife and said, “Look at what this bottle sold for that’s just like the one we have”. Her mouth dropped open and we both sat there in disbelief staring at the bottle. It was absolutely crazy! We could not believe it. We had no idea what to do with it, we even thought, “let’s sell it on ebay”, but decided to go a different route.

Soon we started finding websites that are just for bottle collectors and decided to send them an email. We wrote to about four websites and within a couple of days we were getting responses. One from a gentlemen that offered to sell it for us or buy it from us himself for a good sum of money, but by then we had already been contacted by the president of the FOHBC who encouraged us to auction it at the FOHBC 2016 National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo in August in Sacramento, California.

We later visited the “Estate Sale” establishment to try to get more information on the bottle, but all the owner of the place was able to tell us was that they had acquired it and other items from someone who had passed away as in most cases that sell estate sale items. We are happy to say that this has been one of the most surprising anniversaries we’ve had yet!

GoldDustRun

Color run of Barkhouse Brothers Gold Dust Kentucky Bourbon bottles from an anonymous western collector.

Posted in Advice, Auction News, Bottle Shows, Bourbon, Club News, Color Runs, Digging and Finding, FOHBC News, News, Questions, Spirits, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Peachridge Glass: 2016 Select Mailbox Letters

Posted on 20 March 2016 by Ferdinand Meyer V

www.studiomathewes.com

Apple-Touch-IconAPlease feel free to send any antique bottle or glass questions to ferdinand@peachridgeglass.com. The information will be posted if relevant or of interest to the readers. I will try to answer or wait for another reader to respond. Quality images are very important. Thanks! If you want to see previous questions,go to “Mailbox Letters” in “Categories” on the right column of each page.

Mailbox Letters | 2016

What is this…?

aquanetfloatx

Can you help me to identify this, please? It measures 6 inches long and 4.25 around at the widest. There is a seam around the middle, It is blown and has a pontil scar on one end. Any ideas? Or any idea who could help me? – Kayla

[PRG] Because it is closed on both ends, the clue lies there. It was meant to float and was used as decoration on a fishing net. Usually there would be a whole series of floats. Here is a neat picture of some rare Japanese “Roller Pin” net floats from Tim Walters.

japanesenetfloats

Schroders Bitters Sample

Hi, I am writing to you for information on a sample size Schroders’s Bitters, Louisville , KY. No base embossing, stepped shoulder. The bottle measures 5 1/4″ high x 1 1/2″ wide. There is some damage, chips and a crack in the lip and a 1 1/4″ crack in the main body that goes through the first S in Schroder’s.

The bottle was found in west Texas, exact location undisclosed, and looked sand blasted when I received it. I had Rick Lease clean the bottle as best as he could vastly improving the condition and appearance but it is still highly pitted. I have found reference to smaller sample size Schroder’s Bitters, 4″ x 1″ but nothing on this size bottle. I don’t have a camera so I cannot forward any pictures. Any assistance you can offer will be appreciated.

Thank You
Randall Van Wagenen

[PRG] Randall: This looks to be the very rare S 63 listed in Bitters Bottles. 5 1/4 x 1 1/2. I have an example in my collection. Is this the one you have? I assume you spelled Schroeder’s wrong in your email. If it really says Schroder’s, that’s another story.

S 63_Schroeders

DugMiniLoews

My boyfriend uncovered this bottle today at work while digging. I haven’t cleaned it up yet but have been searching the Internet to try and find info on it. It is not the standard size mentioned everywhere but appears to be a miniature version instead. The height is only 3 3/4″. Can you tell me any more about it or what its value would be? Any info you can give would be greatly appreciated! I love antiques and am very curious to find out more:) Thank you in advance.
Mandy

[PRG] Maybe $500 to $1,000 in perfect stellar condition like mine below. This is a salesman’s sample.

Loews Sample

I have a large demijohn that needs a good home.

Moody CarboyHello Mr Meyer, I have a large demijohn that needs a good home. It has been in my possession since 1952, and looks to be made 1870-1900 or possibly earlier. It is free blown with no pontil mark, with a dimpled bottom so it stands on it’s own. The neck is 3” outside diameter and has an applied band embossed with { .W. 60L } upside down. I suppose that it could stand for 60 liters, that would be 15.8 gallons, my guess was that it held 12-14 gallons so 60 liters might be correct. Rough measurements are 18” largest diameter X 24” high. Would you know of anyone (possibly nearby Washington State) that collects carboys & demijohns, and could you have them contact me? Regards,

Douglas Moody
PO Box 1107
Eastsound, Washington, 98245

Clarke or Clark?

Clarkes1

Hi Ferdinand, Your collection of Clarke’s bitter bottles is amazing! My husband’s family are direct descendants of Dr. Clarke of Sharon, Massachusetts. Dr. Clarke is third great-grandfather to my children. “Dr.” Clarke — as he had “no degree from a medical college,” according to the family history — manufactured at one time 36,000 bottles of bitters per month. Family history writes that in an old newspaper article the large number of bottles, ‘will not seem incredible, when we are aware that the doctor’s portrait, which is on each bottle, is as familiar a sight at the trading stations on the West Coast of Africa, in
Honolulu, and the Sandwich Islands as in the country stores of New England.’

Dr. Clarke’s Sherry Wine Bitters ‘acquired a worldwide reputation as a cure for asthma, dyspepsia, and general debility,’ the article also states. A fun family fact of Dr. Clarke is that in the family, the Clarks before him never spelled their name with the final “e.” Dr. Clarke must have liked having that extra “e” for some reason. All direct descendants of
Dr. E. R. Clarke have hung on to that final “e.” My children’s great-grandfather (deceased 2003) shared Dr. Clarke’s name, Edwin Richards. His wife, Mrs. E. R. Clarke, is still living and celebrates her 98th birthday next month. Her name is Elizabeth. She has always been a history buff and told me the story of Dr. Clarke’s patent medicines when I married into the family, even showing me a piece of one of Dr. Clarke’s bottles with his name intact. I thought you would appreciate some information about the man on the bottles you collect.

Holly Warden

Read: A grouping of Clarke’s Vegetable Sherry Wine Bitters

NEED HELP with identification

OddBarrel

Hi Ferdinand, I have been a member of FOHBC on and off for years. I have been a bitters collector for 43 years. I guess around twenty years back I acquired a dug and cleaned bottle from a San Francisco collector who claimed this bottle was dug somewhere in SF. I have never been able to identify and need some help. It is a beautiful specimen, 10 1/8″ long, yellow amber to citron in color, straight – no barrel, seven ring on top, seven ring on bottom, label area in the middle. I paid a good price for this bottle, even back then. Also, a two piece mold, pin bottom with an applied top in early 1800’s style. However, due to this type of two piece mold. I estimate the age between 1880 and 1910. I can send some photos later so you can see this piece. Need some help!

PRG: I posted the bottle pics on the PRG Facebook as I had seen the bottle before. It is not an American barrel form. Lou Holis responded with the following information he found on a past ABCR Auction in Australia.

OddBarrelGroup

Posted in Advice, Bitters, Mailbox Letters, News, Questions | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Surgical Institute Bitters

Posted on 17 March 2016 by Ferdinand Meyer V

KCSurgicalInstituteImage

Surgical Institute Bitters

17 March 2016
SurgicalInstituteBitters_The_Daily_Commonwealth_Sun__Aug_8__1880_

Advertisement for Surgical Institute Bitters – The Daily Commonwealth, Sunday, August 8, 1880

Apple-Touch-IconAHere is reference to an unlisted bitters called the Surgical Institute Bitters. Yesterday, when I found this advertisement shown above, I immediately thought we might be talking about the same fellows who put out the famous “Kansas City Indian Queen Bitters”. I was right. Only two examples of this figural queen bottle are known. An example is pictured below.

Read: The Indian Herb Bitters Prepared by Drs Dickerson & Stark

KC_QueenYou see in 1873, Dr. D’Estaing Dickerson and Dr. John Stark founded the Western Surgical Institute in Kansas City, under the incorporate laws of the State of Missouri.  This enterprise proved a financial as well as professional success with patients coming from New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Indian Territory, Nebraska, and adjacent States. They claimed in advertising to being the only institution west of the Mississippi that provided steam-propelled movement cure, that being the most modern treatment for the cure of paralytics. They claimed to perform difficult surgical operations daily. In some references the business is called the Kansas City Surgical Institute.

I would suspect that the Surgical Institute Bitters was the same as Indian Herb Bitters or related in some way. Probably a generic, less expensive version for patients sat the institute. The guys formed the Indian Herb Bitters Company as a commercial venture to sell the queens.

DRS. JOHN STARK and D. E. DICKERSON

The History of Jackson County, Missouri, Union Historical Company, 1881

Drs. John Stark and D. E. Dickerson of the Western Surgical Institute of Kansas City. Dr. Stark was born in Coatbridge, Scotland, December 20, 1841. He graduated from the Royal College of Glasgow, Scotland, and came to the United States in 1863, stopping in New York, when he was commissioned assistant surgeon in the United States Army. Served four years, and for three years of that time had charge of the United States Army Hospital, at Fort Mohave, Arizona. In 1867 he returned to Europe, and while in Glasgow, Scotland, received the appointment of surgeon for the Anchor Line of Trans-Atlantic Mail Steamships. In 1868 he came to Kansas City, when, in 1873, he associated himself with D. E. Dickerson, M. D., when they founded the Western Surgical Institute, under the incorporate laws of the State of Missouri. This enterprise has proved a financial as well as professional success, patients coming from New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Indian Territory, Nebraska, and adjacent States, it being the only institution west of the Mississippi that is provided with steam-propelled movement cure, that being the most modern treatment for the cure of paralytics. Difficult surgical operations are performed daily.

Dr. Dickerson is a native of New York. He was born in Watertown, May 19, 1835, and received his literary education by attending the Jefferson County Academy, and graduated as M. D. from the New York Medical University at Albany, in 1857. He first practiced in his native town. In 1861 he was appointed, by Governor Morgan, surgeon of the Sing Sing Prison Hospital on the Hudson, holding that position only a short time, when the same Governor commissioned him surgeon of the 33d Regiment New York Volunteers. He served in that and other regiments until the close of the war in 1865, and coming to Kansas City in the fall of that year, he soon built up a lucrative practice. Here he has served as city physician on the staffs of Mayors Harris, Long, and McGee.

Advertising for the Western Medical & Surgical Institute

KC_Queen_Atchison_Daily_Patriot_Wed__Dec_24__1879_

Letter to Dr. Stark, Indian Herb Bitters Co. – Atchison Daily Patriot, Wednesday, December 24, 1879

KC_Bitters_The_Holt_County_Sentinel_Fri__Nov_18__1887_

Drs. Dickerson & Stark (Surgeons in Charge) of the Western Medical & Surgical Institute – The Holt County Sentinel, Friday, November 18, 1887

KCBitters_The_Kinsley_Graphic_Thu__Oct_26__1882_

Drs. Dickerson & Stark of the Kansas City Surgical Institute – The Kinsley Graphic, Thursday, October 26, 1882

KCBitters_The_Macon_Republican_Fri__Mar_16__1894_

Dr. J. D. Robert’s now man-in-charge of the Western Medical and Surgical Institute – The Macon Republican, Friday, March 16, 1894

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Figural Bottles, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Extremely rare Senour’s Calisaya Bitters from St. Louis

Posted on 16 March 2016 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Senour's Calisaya Bitters_s

Extremely rare Senour’s Calisaya Bitters from St. Louis

16 March 2016

Apple-Touch-IconAEarlier in March. I posted on Daily Dose about a Senour’s Calisaya Bitters saying, “Off to Dallas and then San Antone tomorrow night. Baltimore next week for the big antique bottle show and FOHBC board meeting. Here is another Senour’s Calisaya Bitters that crossed my path today (see below). Obviously with a problem. That makes the one dug last month (see above) and this one, the only examples that I have ever seen.” As you can see, both have issues.

SenoursBitters

The bottle is about nine inches tall. It has no other damage other than the top. It does have some oxidation from being dug. In a window it is honey amber. On the Senours side it displays nicely. The bottle with the rigaree, I found in an antique mall in Corpus Christi about twenty years ago. The only other one like it I have seen was in a New England bottle auction catalog about ten years ago. The only difference is that this one is a quart and the other was a pint. It is cloudy inside. Pontiled with wide wear band. If you are interested in the Senours what ever feels good to you is fine. Thank you for your reply. If you know anyone that needs custom furniture in the 18th or early 19th century style. This what I do. Have a blessed day.

So the complete Senour’s Calisaya Bitters was dug recently in Memphis, Tennessee. Probably was carried down the Mississippi some 145 years ago or so. You can read about the bottle dig at TheMemphisDiggers.

DugSenours

Listing

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

S 86.5  SENOUR’S CALISAYA BITTERS
SENOUR’S // CALISAYA // BITTERS // f //
9 ¾ x 2 ¾ (6 ¾) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Extremely rare
Advertisements: The Leavenworth Times (Kansas), Thomas T. January and Charles T. Biser, Sole Proprietors, No. 206 Walnut St., St. Louis, Thursday, November 2, 1871, The Galveston Daily News, Sunday, Chas. Southerland joined firm November 24, 1872

Senour’s Calisaya Bitters

The first time I can find mention of Senour’s Calisaya Bitters is in a St. Louis, Missouri newspaper in 1871. January & Biser (Thomas T. January & Charles T. Biser) were wholesale liquor dealers and importers and were the sole proprietors of Senour’s Calisaya Bitters. In 1872, Charles Southerland was in business with January & Biser and his name dominates advertising that year. By 1873 and 1874, you can find most advertising in Texas where I suppose, the Hispanic market was targeted. They must have stopped making the brand in 1873 and shipped the remains to New Orleans and then over to Galveston, Texas. I suspect, someone will eventually dig a bottle in our port cities here in Texas. It is interesting to note that in 1874, Williams Brothers in Dallas, Texas was selling Senour’s Celebrated Calisaya Bitters by Mercer, Agnew & Co., London. Not sure of this London connection.

Senours_The_Lincoln_County_Herald_Thu__Jun_8__1871_

January & Biser Sole Proprietors for Senour’s Calisaya Bitters – The Lincoln County Herald (St. Louis), Thursday, June 8, 1871

Senours_The_Leavenworth_Times_Thu__Nov_2__1871_

January & Biser Proprietors Senour’s Calisaya Bitters – The Leavenworth Times (Kansas), Thursday, November 2, 1871

Senours_The_Galveston_Daily_News_Sun__Nov_24__1872_

Charles Sutherland with January & Biser Sole proprietors of Senour’s Calisaya Bitters – The Galveston Daily News, Sunday, November 24, 1872

Senours_The_Galveston_Daily_News_Sun__Jan_19__1873_

Charles Sutherland with January & Biser Sole proprietors of Senour’s Calisaya Bitters – The Galveston Daily News, Sunday, January 19, 1873

Senours_The_Dallas_Daily_Herald_Thu__Feb_19__1874_

Interesting notice saying that Williams Brothers can sell Senour’s Celebrated Calisaya Bitters by Mercer, Agnew & Co., London – The Dallas Daily Herald, Thursday, February 19, 1874

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Digging and Finding, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Strickland’s Life Bitters

Posted on 16 March 2016 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Reference to a Strickland’s Life Bitters

16 March 2016

Apple-Touch-IconAThe Strickland’s Life Bitters is an unlisted bitters that I came across recently while searching for other material. We are talking about Dr. Alfred Strickland who founded Strickland & Company around 1862 in Cincinnati, Ohio. I first found his advertisements in various newspapers around 1864 for Dr. Strickland’s Mellifluous Cough Balsam, Strickland’s Pile Remedy, Strickland’s Anti-Cholera Mixture and Strickland’s Tonic. Some advertising was targeted to Civil War soldiers.

The tonic would be renamed Strickland’s Life Bitters around 1867. His concoctions were initially manufactured at No. 3 and 6 East Fourth street in Cincinnati until he moved to 139 Sycamore.

Dr. Strickland would later move to Chicago and practice medicine. Quite possibly he then made the label only, Strickland’s Itaka Bitters which Ring & Ham list as S 214 in Bitters Bottles. (The Strickland Co., 1624 – 1637 Wabash Avenue). One advertisement says the company was established in 1862 which is about right. In Ring & Ham there are also listings for Strickland’s German Bitters (S 213), Strickland’s Orange Bitters (S 215) and Strickland’s Stomach Bitters (S 216). All later products.

Alfred Strickland died in 1893 in Chicago. I am not aware of any surviving bottles of Strickland’s Life Bitters. I am picturing a pretty cool embossed amber square but of course, it could have been labeled only.

Strickland_The_Indiana_Herald_Wed__Jul_27__1864_-2

Various Dr. Strickland advertisements – The Indiana Herald, Wednesday, July 27, 1864

Strickland_The_Indiana_Herald_Wed__Jul_27__1864_

Strickland’s Tonic advertisement – The Indiana Herald, Wednesday, July 27, 1864

Stricklands_Urbana_Union_Wed__Jul_27__1864_

Dr. Strickland’s Pile Remedy advertisement – Urbana Union (Urbano, Ohio), Wednesday, July 27, 1864

Strickland_Brownlow_s_Knoxville_Whig_Wed__Sep_20__1865_

Various Strickland products represented (Strickland & Co. Bitters) – Brownlows Knoxville Whig, Wednesday, September 20, 1865

Stricklands_The_Highland_Weekly_News_Thu__Sep_12__1867_

Strickland’s Life Bitters advertisement – The Highland Weekly News, Thursday, September 12, 1867

Stricklands_The_Courier_Journal_Fri__Sep_20__1867_-2

Strickland’s Life Bitters notices – The Courier Journal, Friday, September 20, 1867

StricklandsLifeBitters_Ashtabula_Weekly_Telegraph_Sat__Sep_28__1867_

Strickland’s Life Bitters advertisement – Ashtabula Weekly Telegraph, Saturday, September 28, 1867

Select Listings:

1864: Strickland & Co., (Alfred Strickland (physician), Amos P. Wiles), Proprietors Dr. Strickland’s Cough Balsam, Depot 6 E. 4th – Cincinnati Ohio City Directory
1865: Dr. A. Strickland & Co., Medicines (patent and family), 139 Sycamore – Cincinnati Ohio City Directory
1866: A. Strickland & Co., (Alfred Strickland (physician), A. B. Merriam, Wm. Knox), Patent Medicines, 139 Sycamore – Cincinnati Ohio City Directory
1867: Dr. A. Strickland & Co., Patent Medicines, (A. S. & Wm, Knox), 139 Sycamore – Cincinnati Ohio City Directory
1893: Dr. Alfred Strickland, aged 63 years, died June 30 at his residence at 3605 Lake avenue, of heart failure. Dr. Strickland has been well-known as a patent medicine manufacturer in this city (Chicago) for the last 27 years. He leaves a widow and one son, W. W. Strickland. – The Pharmaceutical Era, Volume 10, D. O. Haynes & Company, 1893
Posted in Advertising, Bitters, History, Medicines & Cures, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Dose | March 2016

Posted on 1 March 2016 by Ferdinand Meyer V

March & April  |  2 0 1 6

Friday, 29 April 2016

Hey Ferd — Just a quick note to let you know that our May 13 & 14 Lake City Show is again a sellout — All tables were sold (and paid for) within two weeks of sending out the dealer contracts — That’s almost a month before the show date — Thanks a bunch for listing our show in your show calendar — Brian Hoblick & Ed LeTard / Show Co-Chairmen

FloridaAnitqueShow16

Was hoping for some dry weather this weekend so we could remove all of our stuff from the first floor of the house. Contractors coming monday to start flood repairs for 6 to 8 weeks. Floods warning too. Where can we get an ark?

Late April Weather

Thursday, 28 April 2016

Sonora1LongWeb

Looks like contractors will take 6 to 8 weeks to rip out everything on the first floor. Looking for a Rent-A-Zoo or something for us, our 7 dogs, 5 cats, fish and 1000 + antique bottles. Speaking of antique bottles, look at this unlisted SONORA STOMACH BITTERS dug in Baltimore a couple weeks ago. It was in a wet brick lined outhouse about 8-10 feet deep. Researching now. Not much more to go on. Story forthcoming. Obviously a Hostetter’s wanna-be.

The new listing by Bill Ham for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

S 144.3  SONORA / STOMACH BITTERS // f // SONORA / STOMACH BITTERS// f //
8 7/8 x 2 1/2
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare
Dug in a brick lined cistern in Baltimore

Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Canceled my trip to the east coast this week as we are dealing with cleanup, insurance and contractors this week from our flood last week (see video). Thanks for all the well wishes. Here is an email that I’ve been sending to a few people explaining us dropping off the radar:

I suspect you heard and saw that South Texas was hit by some epic and biblical like weather this past Monday. We get a lot of rain and average over 50″ a year but this was special with around 17″ or so in one day. Unfortunately Bessie’s Creek and the Brazos River left their banks. We sit in between. This has never happened in our area before.
Where I live (Waller County, west of Houston) was declared a State of Disaster (9 Counties total) with National Guard rescues etc. They asked us for a boat rescue twice but with our seven dogs and five cats, that wasn’t our desire so we moved operations upstairs. We live kind of remote and roads were under water. We lost our downstairs and a lot of stuff unfortunately. No basements in South Texas thank goodness.
I took off last week but did make it into the office Friday. Houston and county schools were also closed all week.
I was hoping we could postpone our meeting one week as we have contractors and insurance appointments starting tomorrow. Wife wants me here which makes sense. My apologies for such late notice but things are evolving. More storms headed in now so we are moving wet stuff that was outside to dry back inside. Yada Yada….

Jim Bender send this cool image of a poster for a meeting at the Log Cabin.

ThisEvening2

Also from Jim Bender late last week: Hey Ferd, I found this Drakes type bottle this past week end at the Rochester Show. I have seen these bottles before with no name on the roof but what I think is different is the base. It is marked M.S Recd No 812487 UCB Do you have any idea what this bottle is?

PRG: Some interesting comment on PRG Facebook

DrakesOddBaseEmbossing_Bender

Thursday, 21 April 2016

Hi Ferdinand, Just wanted to send along some spring color! Hope all is well, Cody Zeleny

SpringColor_CodyZeleny_web

Tuesday, 12 April 2016

St. George Bitters

Ferd, Read your California Sherry Wine Appetizer or Stomach Bitters post on Facebook this morning. Here is some information that may contribute to solving this puzzler. While I can’t be certain, this bitters may have come from the ST. GEORGE VINYARDSof Fresno, California established in 1879. Now, if you were to substitute WINERY for VINYARDS, you would then have St. GeorGE Winery and you might have the missing name of the maker.

This information came from an advertising brochure in an eBay auction saved to my “wanted” list. In it is listed a California Sherry Bitters along with a number of other Sherries. These bitters is also unmentioned in any bitters reference book that I know of.

Regards…………….Joe (Gourd)

Thursday, 08 April 2016

AmericanBittersBeatty

Gary Beatty snagged that Tyler’s Standard American Bitters on eBay recently.

“Here are some pictures of the TYLER’S STANDARD AMERICAN BITTERS. I really was glad to get a BITTERS with AMERICAN in the name. The TYLER’S is T72 in Ring & Hams Bitters Bottles book. It says it is rare. I believe it should be in the next bracket, “Extremely Rare.” Bob Strickhart believes there are only about 4 known? I think it is possibly a New England bitters.”

Read: Tyler’s Standard American Bitters – New Haven, CT

Sunday, 27 March 2016

Happy Easter little wabbits. Aaron Weyand posts these pics of an extremely rare National Stomach Bitters / Kurtz Medical Co. (N 11) over an Antique Bitters Bottles on Facebook. I’ve cut away the background, combined and rotated for better viewing.

NationalStomachBitters

Thursday, 24 March 2016

GoldDustRun

Rain on Jane this AM. Pouring. That’s Houston though. Love this color run of Barkhouse Brothers Gold Dust Kentucky Bourbon bottles from a prominent anonymous western collector.

Wednesday, 23 March 2016

CoppsWhiteMountain_VariantSmall

Ferdinand,

I was reading through your past write up on the Dr. Copp’s White Mountain Bitters and noticed that you don’t have anything on there about the variant. There is another version that is identical except below the JC monogram it is embossed “Ring’s Ambrosia Co,/Wilton, N.H.”  I have a damaged example…if you would like I’ll try to get a photo of it tonight.  It is the only example I have seen…bought it many years ago now with a damaged Manchester example that I have since sold. Ring’s Ambrosia Co. put out a number of other medicines, including several other embossed bottles.

Best Regards, Brandon DeWolfe, P.E.

Read: Dr. Copp’s White Mountain Bitters – Manchester, New Hampshire

Sunday, 20 March 2016

Hi Ferdinand, Your collection of Clarke’s bitter bottles is amazing! My husband’s family are direct descendants of Dr. Clarke of Sharon, Massachusetts. Dr. Clarke is third great-grandfather to my children. “Dr.” Clarke — as he had “no degree from a medical college,” according to the family history — manufactured at one time 36,000 bottles of bitters per month. Family history writes that in an old newspaper article the large number of bottles, ‘will not seem incredible, when we are aware that the doctor’s portrait, which is on each bottle, is as familiar a sight at the trading stations on the West Coast of Africa, in
Honolulu, and the Sandwich Islands as in the country stores of New England.’

Dr. Clarke’s Sherry Wine Bitters ‘acquired a worldwide reputation as a cure for asthma, dyspepsia, and general debility,’ the article also states. A fun family fact of Dr. Clarke is that in the family, the Clarks before him never spelled their name with the final “e.” Dr. Clarke must have liked having that extra “e” for some reason. All direct descendants of
Dr. E. R. Clarke have hung on to that final “e.” My children’s great-grandfather (deceased 2003) shared Dr. Clarke’s name, Edwin Richards. His wife, Mrs. E. R. Clarke, is still living and celebrates her 98th birthday next month. Her name is Elizabeth. She has always been a history buff and told me the story of Dr. Clarke’s patent medicines when I married into the family, even showing me a piece of one of Dr. Clarke’s bottles with his name intact. I thought you would appreciate some information about the man on the bottles you collect.

Holly Warden

Read: A grouping of Clarke’s Vegetable Sherry Wine Bitters

POST UPDATE >> Barrel Series – Highland Bitters and Scotch Tonic

HighlandsHeckler

Thursday, 17 March 2016

1859 advertisement below from The Louisville Courier for Dr. Brunon’s Bitters from New York. Listing only for advertisement in Bitters Bottles as B 239.

Brunons_The_Louisville_Daily_Courier_Fri__Jul_8__1859_

Wednesday, 16 March 2016

This interesting Professor Byrne’s closes tonight at Heckler Premier Auction #133.

Read: Professor Byrne and Landsberg – Some Highly Decorative Bottles

004-1

Lot: 4 “The / Great / Universal / Compound / Stomach / Bitters / Patented / 1870” – “Professor / Geo. J. Byrne / New York” Figural Bitters Bottle, America, 1870-1880. Square modified cabin form with roped corners and fancy overall embossing, colorless with a strong lavender tint, tooled sloping collared mouth with ring – smooth base with impressed five pointed star, ht. 10 1/2 inches. R/H #B-280 Retains metal closure and porcelain stopper which reads “Amanda Miller / Germantown, PA.”. Extremely rare. Strong mold impression. Unlisted color. Fine condition. Property of The Strong, sold to benefit the museum’s collections fund.

Tuesday, 15 March 2016

Columbia Color RunSmall

Updated The Bust of Columbia Liberty Cap Eagle Historical Flask post with this image of three half pints from an anonymous collector.

Monday, 14 March 2016

FussPineappleTopaz

Updated Pineapple Bitters post with this better photograph of an uniquely colored topaz W & Co NY pineapple bitters from the Sandor P. Fuss collection. Read: Pineapple Bitters – The Different Variants

Tuesday, 08 March 2016

Robacks_The_Cincinnati_Enquirer_Fri__Apr_21__1865_

Greenbacks are Good but ROBACK’S ARE BETTER, Green Roback’s are best!! 

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

Greenbacks

Robacks_GW_lot96

Monday, 07 March 2016

Finally figured out what the A. M., S. 2. embossing on a Constitution Bitters means. “All must surrender to Constitution Bitters.” Ad below from the The Indiana Herald, Wednesday, August 19, 1868.

Read: The Constitution Bitters from Buffalo, NY

CB_The_Indiana_Herald_Wed__Aug_19__1868_

Saturday, o5 March 2016

Nice Dr. B. F. Sherman’s Compound Prickly Ash Bitters sign being auctioned by McMurray Antiques & Auctions.

PricklyAsh_Dan

Tuesday,01 March 2016

SenoursBitters

Off to Dallas and than San Antone tomorrow night. Baltimore next week for the show and FOHBC board meeting. Here is another Senours Calisaya Bitters that crossed my path today (see above). Obviously with a problem. That makes the one dug last month (see below) and this one, the only examples that I have seen.

The bottle is about nine inches tall. It has no other damage other than the top. It does have some oxidation from being dug. In a window it is honey amber. On the Senours side it displays nicely. The bottle with the rigaree, I found in an antique mall in Corpus Christi about twenty years ago. The only other one like it I have seen was in a New England bottle auction catalog about ten years ago. The only difference is that this one is a quart and the other was  a pint. It is cloudy inside. Pontiled with wide wear band. If you are interested in the Senours what ever feels good to you is fine. Thank you for your reply. If you know anyone that needs custom furniture in the 18th or early 19th century style. This what I do. Johnolsonfurniture.com Have a blessed day.

Senour's Calisaya Bitters_s

Posted in Bitters, Daily Dose, Digging and Finding | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

French Aromatique – The Finest Stomach Bitters

Posted on 23 February 2016 by Ferdinand Meyer V

FrenchAromatiqueBitters2_Beatty

French Aromatique – The Finest Stomach Bitters

23 February 2016 (Updated)

Apple-Touch-IconAI get quite a few neat bitters emails from Gary Beatty (North Port, Florida) that always get me thinking and admiring. Let’s take a moment to look at his French Aromatique Stomach Bitters with the backwards “Q”. I have an example too that I picked up on eBay in 2006 from bitters guru Mark Warne. Here is Gary’s email below and pictures (top of post).

Hi Ferd, here is a FRENCH AROMATIQUE  THE FINEST STOMACH BITTERS in aqua. It is 7 1/4 by 3 1/8 by 2 3/4 by 5 1/4 with an applied ring top. I showed it to the late Dick Watson and he had heard of it, but never seen one. Ring & Ham have it listed as F 85 and Very Rare, which is 6 to 15 examples. I don’t know what city it is from but Dick was sure it was American. Does anyone out there know or have a label or newspaper advertisement? Best Regards, Gary Beatty

Hey Ferd, just for the heck of it… this is my other passion. Gary

BritishShowRacer1

[PRG] Gary, since the file is named British Show Racer I see that you fancy, fancy pigeons too. Interesting reading about them.

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

F 85

F 85  FRENCH AROMATIQUE BITTERS
FRENCH / AROMATIQUE / THE FINEST / STOMACH BITTERS // f // f // f //
7 1/4 x 3 1/8 x 2 3/4 (5 1/4)
Rectangular, Aqua, CM and DC, Tooled lip and Applied mouth, Very rare
Note: Q is backwards
F85_Meyer

French Aromatique Bitters – Meyer Collection

This is a tough one to figure out without a label or advertising. The bottle kind of reminds me of a Dr. Mampe’s Herb Stomach Bitters from Oshkosh, Wisconsin which also comes in aqua. Maybe even a Normandy Herb and Root Bitters from Louisville, Kentucky that usual comes in ranges of yellow amber. Both are pictured below. Dig that horseshoe on the Normandy’s. Without a doubt though, you get that German bottle feeling.

MampesOshkosh_Meyer

Dr. Mampe’s Herb Stomach Bitters – Meyer Collection

N 038 (Normandy_A)

Normandy Herb & Root Stomach Bitters – Meyer Collection (ex: Grapentine Collection)

Searching online, I see a couple of clues in the form of newspaper advertisements. You can see below that a druggist named William O. Posey was selling “Bitters Aromatique” to the large French population in New Orleans in 1877. The ad is even in French. Maybe a labeled version might prove, or disprove this. This may want to be listed in Bitters Bottles Supplement 2.

FA_The_Opelousas_Courier_Sat__Nov_17__1877_

William O. Posey was selling “Bitters Aromatique” to the large French population in New Orleans – The Opelousas Courier, Saturday, November 17, 1877

Also Steinwender & Sellner were selling a lot of French liquors and wines in St. Louis in 1891. One product was Lappe’s Aromatic Bitters. This could be unlisted or related to Lappe’s Stomach Bitters (L 27) listed in Bitters Bottles.

Lappe's_St__Louis_Post_Dispatch_Fri__Aug_14__1891_

Lappe’s Aromatic Bitters being sold by Steinwender & Sellner – St. Louis Post Dispatch, Friday, August 14, 1891

I’ll keep looking and see if the readers have anything to add.

UPDATE

Ferdinand,

Saw your write-up about the Aromatique bitters bottle…seems like these were typically sold in these squat bottles. Attached are some photos (see below) of a bottle embossed “T. H. Lappe / Apotheker / Neudietendorf / Thuringen” and labeled for Aromatique Feinster Magenliqueur (or something to that effect) that is advertised on the side as the finest stomach bitters. I’ve seen the bottles before without labels and wondered how so many got into the United States, but there is a note on the front label that says “Sole Agents United States & Canada / Runk Unger & Co. 50 Park Place New York”, so it looks like it was marketed here in the US.

Nonetheless, thought you might be interested in seeing these. This is the only labeled example I have seen and it struck me how similar in shape it was to the French Aromatique Bitters you posted about.

Best Regards,

Brandon DeWolfe, P.E.

Lappe1

T. H. Lappe Feinster Magenliqueur (front label and embossed back) – Brandon DeWolfe

Lappe2

T. H. Lappe Feinster Magenliqueur (side labels) – Brandon DeWolfe

Posted in Bitters, Medicines & Cures, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment