Four Really Nice Inks featured in American Glass Gallery Auction 8

Posted on 13 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

INKS continue to be in the news with some stunners in the latest American Glass Gallery Auction 8 which is now online. A few babies that really caught my attention are highlighted below.

“J – & I – E – M” Turtle Ink, America, 1865 – 1890. Clear medium blue green with a teal tone, cylindrical with domed shoulders and offset neck, sheared mouth – smooth base, ht. 1 5/8”, near mint; (two shallow sliver-type flakes at the side of the neck below the fine horizontal rim and a little interior residue that would likely easily wash out, otherwise perfect). Similar to C#627. Outstanding color, beautiful example.

“J - & I – E – M” Turtle Ink - American Glass Gallery Auction 8 - Lot 68

Pattern Molded Inkwell, twenty vertical ribs, probably America, 1825 – 1845. Brilliant clear olive with a bright yellowish almost lime tone, outstanding reddish striations swirling from the neck through the base, square, sheared mouth, blowpipe pontil scar, ht. 1 3/8”, near mint; (a tiny pinpoint bit of roughness and a small 1/16” flake on the edge of sheared mouth, otherwise pristine). C#1116. An extremely rare, possibly unique pattern molded ink. The color and striations are exceptional! Provenance: Ex. William Covill Collection.

Pattern Molded Inkwell - American Glass Gallery Auction 8 - Lot 69

Pattern Molded Inkwell - American Glass Gallery Auction 8 - Lot 69

Pattern Molded Inkwell - American Glass Gallery Auction 8 - Lot 69

“Estes – N.Y. – Ink”, America, 1847 – 1860. Brilliant olive yellow, 8-sided umbrella form, inward rolled mouth, blowpipe pontil scar, ht. 3 1/8”, near mint; (a little faint exterior wear, otherwise perfect). Similar to C#117. A very scarce mold, exceptional, absolutely stunning color! In addition, the glass is highly whittled and filled with tiny seed bubbles giving it plenty of character and eye appeal. Provenance: Ex. Bob Mebane collection (#591), and pictured on the cover of the Mebane catalog. As noted in the text of the Mebane catalog, the description states, “one of the best”, and we would have to agree!

“Estes – N.Y. – Ink” American Glass Gallery Auction 8 - Lot 70

“Estes – N.Y. – Ink” American Glass Gallery Auction 8 - Lot 70

“Estes – N.Y. – Ink” American Glass Gallery Auction 8 - Lot 70

Umbrella Ink, America, 1840 – 1860. Brilliant medium to deep cobalt blue, 8-sided umbrella form, sheared and inward rolled mouth – delicate blowpipe pontil scar, ht. 2 ½”, near mint; (just a touch of expected light exterior wear). Form similar to C#129. Gorgeous color and clarity, nice whittled wavy glass, a beautiful example! Read more about this great little ink, and the young collector who had the great fortune of finding it, in the May issue of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector! As noted in AB&GC, this fantastic little ink bottle was dug by a young collector in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, this past year. Amazingly, the bottle only needed a light cleaning by hand with soap and water and has never been tumbled! A clean, bright example that could easily pass for an attic find!

Umbrella Ink - American Glass Gallery Auction 8 - Lot 72

Umbrella Ink - American Glass Gallery Auction 8 - Lot 72

Umbrella Ink - American Glass Gallery Auction 8 - Lot 72

More Peachridge Glass INK posts of late:

Read More: Two simply stunning inks in drop dead colors

Read More: Small Inkwell Bottles Page

Read More: The “Star of Baltimore”

Read More: More on Harrison’s Columbian Inks

Posted in Auction News, Collectors & Collections, Inks, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Charter Oak Historical Flask

Posted on 12 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

John Pastor, pictured with Liz Maxbauer above, had this great little flask called a Charter Oak at the 2012 Baltimore Bottle Show (Read further: A Salute to the 2012 Baltimore Antique Bottle Show) this past March. It was part of a preview series of bottles for their upcoming American Glass Gallery Auction 8, which is occurring now and is online (visit auction).

Sandor Fuss (Denver, Colorado) took me over to the Pastor | American Glass Gallery booth and showed me this exquisite little gem. I typically like the larger quart and pint sized historical flasks but have to admit, good things can come in smaller sizes. This flask is drop dead gorgeous!

Sandor Fuss holding the Charter Oak (eagle side) at the 2012 Baltimore Bottle Show

GII-60 - Eagle – “Liberty” / Oak Tree Historical Flask as reviewed at the 2012 Baltimore Bottle Show - American Glass Gallery

Seeing the bottle again online refreshed my memory of the Baltimore moment and made me want to develop this post and find out a little more on the Charter Oak.

[Wikipedia] The Charter Oak was an unusually large white oak tree growing, from around the 12th or 13th century until 1856, on what the English colonists named Wyllys Hyll, in Hartford, Connecticut. According to tradition, Connecticut’s Royal Charter of 1662 was hidden within the hollow of the tree to thwart its confiscation by the English governor-general. The oak became a symbol of American independence and is commemorated on the Connecticut State Quarter.

1908 Postcard showing the Charter Oak Hartford, CT

The American Glass Gallery Auction #8 description:

Eagle – Liberty / Oak Tree Historical Flask, America, 1825 – 1835. Bright yellow green, sheared mouth – pontil scar, half pint, very near mint; (a small flake or bit of roughness on one of the raised beads near the base, on the reverse, otherwise attic mint). GII-60. A scarce mold in an extremely rare and desirable color with only one other example known to exist in a similar shade. An exceptional little flask with great eye appeal!

GII-60 - Eagle – “Liberty” / Oak Tree Historical Flask - American Glass Gallery

GII-60 - Eagle – “Liberty” / Oak Tree Historical Flask - American Glass Gallery

Here are two more examples of this beautiful flask in aqua.

EAGLE - "LIBERTY" / OAK TREE, (McK# GII-60), aquamarine, pontil scar, half-pint, sheared and fire polished mouth, a mint flask with some expected wear at the high points. American, 1820-1840, scarce. This desirable little Charter Oak flask is a better than normal example of its type with good mold detailing and some glass crudity. Although it is not known with certainty where it was blown, we are of the opinion that this is a Pittsburgh made flask - Jeff and Holly Noordsy

EAGLE - "LIBERTY" / OAK TREE, (McK# GII-60), aquamarine, pontil scar, half-pint, sheared and fire polished mouth, a mint flask with some expected wear at the high points. American, 1820-1840, scarce. This desirable little Charter Oak flask is a better than normal example of its type with good mold detailing and some glass crudity. Although it is not known with certainty where it was blown, we are of the opinion that this is a Pittsburgh made flask - Jeff and Holly Noordsy

GII-60, CHARTER OAK LIBERTY, Eagle, Half Pint, Great Aquamarine, Historical Flask - eBay

GII-60, CHARTER OAK LIBERTY, Eagle, Half Pint, Great Aquamarine, Historical Flask - eBay

GII-60, CHARTER OAK LIBERTY, Eagle, Half Pint, Great Aquamarine, Historical Flask - eBay

Posted in Auction News, Bottle Shows, Early American Glass, eBay, Flasks, Historical Flasks, History, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr. I. Newton’s Anti-Bilious Bitters – Norwich, Vermont

Posted on 12 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. I. Newton’s Anti-Bilious Bitters – Norwich, Vermont

Israel Newton (1763 – 1856)

12 May 2012 (R•092818)

Michael George posted a really nice picture (see above) of a Dr. I. Newton’s Anti-Bilious Bitters package directions with an I. Newton’s Panacea Purifier of the Blood bottle, both from Norwich, Vermont which prompted a search for information.

Israel Newton

Israel Newton was born in Colchester, Connecticut on 28 May 1763 to James Newton III and Hannah Downs. Israel married Lucy Child (1760–1831) and had nine children including Calvin Newton (1787–1789), James Newton (1789–1798), Persis Newton (1791–1841), Lucy Newton (1793–1828), George Newton (1795–1841), Lodema Newton (1797–1831), Hannah Newton (1799–1838), Maria Newton (1805–1823) and Calvin Porter Newton (1805–1850).

In 1765, pioneers spent their first long winter on the banks of the Connecticut River in the section of wilderness that would become the town of Norwich, Vermont. These settlers and their families fought hard to turn the rough terrain into a thriving farming and manufacturing community that would soon boast 20 school districts and a prominent military academy. Although winters were harsh and the demands of daily chores were never ending, the residents of Norwich still found time to lead full and varied lives. The manufacturing and military communities are gone now, but that fascinating past will come alive in these remarkable images of Norwich families at work and at play. (Images America – Norwich, October 26, 1998 by Margaret Cheney McNally and Francis L. Niles

Israel Newton lived and operated out of Norwich, Vermont for over 70 years and as his newspaper advertising in 1805 states, he was the inventor of well known medical preparations such as Newton’s Essence of Peppermint, Patent Effence of Tanfly, Tooth Ache Tincture and Eye Water which he sold in small glass vials. His early bitters, in the same 1805 advertising were Elixir of Health (stomach bitters pills) and Lady’s and Gentlemen’s Cordial Bitters. His Elixir of Health pills were put-up in boxes and meant to be dissolved in rum.

He said his medicines were from his Botanic garden and that he used various kinds of Medical Roots and Herbs in their preparation. For payment for his wholesale and retail business, he would offer generous terms of credit and take “neat flock in the month of May and beef in the month of October” and that “English Goods will be received for exchange”.

Read: Dr. Newton’s Jaundice Bitters Pill Box

He apparently was a self-educated physician who was gifted with medicinal skills and was known far and wide for his patent medicines that sold extensively for many years throughout New England, New York and Pennsylvania. In the preface of a small personal notebook he wrote that he’d been engaged in medicinal research for 25 years but “I did not attend the practice of medicine”, and “for several yeas I kept an apothecary shope.”

In 1814 newspaper advertising he was selling Dr. Newton’s Genuine Essence of Wormwood and Essence of Hemlock where you would get vials of the medicine and put 20 to 40 drops in a mixture of molasses and spirits so you could “Bath your stomach in it”. By 1832, his son Calvin P. Newton had succeeded his father and was selling Dr. Newton’s Jaundice Wine Bitters. Eventually the bitters pills would be substituted with embossed bottles of the same, probably around 1846 which makes this one of America’s oldest embossed bitters bottles.

Newton held many town offices, and in 1814 represented the town in the general assembly. He was a prominent member of the Congregational church, of which he was one of the deacons for about twenty-five years, beginning in 1812. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and the last of those soldiers to die in Norwich.

Besides his medicines, which were valuable, Newton was an inventor and also built church organs. He was gifted with rare mechanical skill, which he exhibited in many ways to the benefit of mankind. Israel Newton passed away on 16 January 1856 in Norwich at seventy-three years of age.

Dr. I. Newton’s Anti-Bilious Bitters, much improved of late. A pleasant cordial stomach bitter, prepared under the particular direction of I. Newton, Norwich, VT. They are also for sale in Boston, New York and Philadelphia, and by the druggists generally… Israel Newton.

Lot: 90 “I. Newton’s / Panacea / Purifier / Of The / Blood / Norwich, VT.” Medicine Bottle, probably a Stoddard glasshouse, Stoddard, New Hampshire, 1846-1860. Cylindrical with eight indented panels, medium yellow olive, applied sloping collared mouth – pontil scar, ht. 7 1/8 inches; (1/8 inch flake from lower panel edge, two shallow flakes from base edge the largest being 3/16 inch). AAM pg. 381 Generally fine condition. Strong embossing. Rare. Estimate: $6,000 – $12,000 Minimum bid: $3,000 Price Realized: $6,435 – Heckler Auction #118

Lot: 90 “I. Newton’s / Panacea / Purifier / Of The / Blood / Norwich, VT.” Medicine Bottle, probably a Stoddard glasshouse, Stoddard, New Hampshire, 1846-1860. Cylindrical with eight indented panels, medium yellow olive, applied sloping collared mouth – pontil scar, ht. 7 1/8 inches; (1/8 inch flake from lower panel edge, two shallow flakes from base edge the largest being 3/16 inch). AAM pg. 381 Generally fine condition. Strong embossing. Rare. Estimate: $6,000 – $12,000 Minimum bid: $3,000 Price Realized: $6,435 – Heckler Auction #118

Lot 1: “I. NEWTON’S – PANACEA – PURIFIER – OF THE – BLOOD – NERWICH, VT.”, (Odell, pg. 264), Vermont, ca. 1835 – 1845, yellowish ‘old’ amber, 7 1/2”h, pontil scarred base, applied double collar mouth. Pristine perfect condition, good glass whittle, plenty of seed bubbles and no trace of wear! This is the very rare variant with the misspelled Nerwich instead of Norwich embossing. Winning Bid: $ 13,000 (21 Bids) Estimate: $ 7,000 – $ 9,000 – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #124

Lot 1: “I. NEWTON’S – PANACEA – PURIFIER – OF THE – BLOOD – NERWICH, VT.”, (Odell, pg. 264), Vermont, ca. 1835 – 1845, yellowish ‘old’ amber, 7 1/2”h, pontil scarred base, applied double collar mouth. Pristine perfect condition, good glass whittle, plenty of seed bubbles and no trace of wear! This is the very rare variant with the misspelled Nerwich instead of Norwich embossing. Winning Bid: $ 13,000 (21 Bids) Estimate: $ 7,000 – $ 9,000 – Glass Works Auctions | Auction #124

I believe both of these products to have been produced at the nearby Keene Marlboro Glass Factory. Advertisements from the local 1838 newspaper describe the embossed bottles. Stoddard was not in operation at that time. – Michael George

Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham in Bitters Bottles also note a N 25, I. NEWTON’S JAUNDICE BITTERS NORWICH, VT bottle that I do not possess. I am looking for a good example to go with some of my collateral pieces.

N 24  NEWTON’S ANTI-BILIOUS BITTERS
1 doz. / I. NEWTON’S / ANTI-BILIOUS / BITTERS. /
Prepared by Calvin P. Newton Successor to I. Newton, and Only Proprietor
Norwich, Vermont
4 x 3
Round, paper box with lid and label
Label: A Pleasant Cordial Stomach Bitter. The handbill states that “It is principally designed as a medicine of sovereign efficacy in the whole class of bilious affections, dyspepsia, hypochondriasis and histeria. Its use may also very judiciously be extended to most nervous disorders, worms, diarrhoea, disorders of the mesenteric glands, many disorders peculiar to females, asthma, catarrah, and intermittent fevers”.

1846 Newton’s Anti-Bilious Bitters Handbill – Meyer Collection

Norwich, Vermont: January, 1846, 12″ x 17 3/4″. Intended to be packaged with boxes containing medication. Sheet contains four handbills with description and directions for use of bitters and 4 bottle labels. The “prophylactic power” of the concoction is extolled.

c. 1846 Bitters – Label & Handbill – Printers Sheet for Dr. I. Newton’s Anti-Bilious Bitters – Meyer Collection

Original four labels for Dr. I. Newton’s Anti-Bilious Bitters. Four each of the front and the back labels for bottled bitters. Uncut. Approx: 18 x 12 inches.

Dr. I. Newton’s anti-bilious bitters, much improved of late: a pleasant cordial stomach bitter, prepared under the particular direction of I. Newton, Norwich, Vt by Newton, Israel, Publication date 1846

Aqua Dr. Newton’s Jaundice Bitters, ex. Ken Aldrich Collection. – Jeff Noordsy

Select Listings:

1763: Israel Newton was born in Colchester, Connecticut on 28 May 1763 to James Newton and Hannah Downs.
1786: Israel Newton weds Lucy Child 0n 23 April 1786 in Norwich, Vermont.
1789: A news item in the Vermont Journal, published in Windsor on 15 August 1789, mentions that Israel Newton of Norwich, Vermont had “Invented an entirely new and expeditious way of making silver plated buttons”.
1798: Israel Newton was the builder of an organ in the Episcopal Church, Claremont, New Hampshire 1798 – The History of the Organ in the United States By Orpha Ochse
1805: Israel Newton Newspaper Advertisement (below) “To Be Sold”, Vials of Newton’s Essence of Peppermint, Patent Effence of Tanfly, Tooth Ache Tincture, Eye Water and two bitters, Elixir of Health (stomach bitters pills) and Lady’s and Gentlemen’s Cordial Bitters – Green Mountain Patriot, Tuesday, February 26, 1805

1814: Israel Newton represented the Norwich in the general assembly. At a town meeting held on March 25, 1814, it was “Voted that the town willing to have an organ put into the meeting house.”
1814: Dr. Israel Newton’s Valuable Family Medicines Newspaper Advertisement (below) for Dr. Newton’s Genuine Essence of Wormwood and Essence of Hemlock – The Advertiser, Friday, June 3, 1814

1832: Dr. Newton’s Jaundice Wine Bitters Newspaper Advertisement (below), preparedly C.P. Newton, succesor to Dr. Israel Newton, price 25 cts per box. – New York Northern Light

1839: Book: I. Newton’s Panacea. A Great Purifier of the Blood, Norwich, Vt., Israel Newton
1840: Israel Newton, Home in 1840 Norwich, Windsor, Vermont – United States Fedeal Census
1846: Flyer (above): Dr. I. Newton’s anti-bilious bitters, much improved of late: a pleasant cordial stomach bitter, prepared under the particular direction of I. Newton, Norwich, Vt by Newton, Israel, Publication date 1846 – NIH, US Library of Medicine
1847: Notice (below): J.C Bingham has a few bottles of Newton’s Jaundice Bitters for sale at reduced prices – The St Johnsbury Caledonian, Saturday, April 3, 1847

1850: Israel Newton, Physician, Age: 87, Birth Year: abt 1763, Birthplace: Connecticut, Home in 1850: Norwich, Windsor, Vermont – United States Fedeal Census
1856: Patent: Israel Newton, Norwich, Vt. (Feb. 28), Essence of Tansy – A History of American Manufactures from 1608 to 1860, Edwin Troxell Freedley and Edward Young
1856: Israel Newton died on 16 January 1856 in Norwich, Vermont. Buried at the Meeting House Hill Cemetery, Norwich, Vermont.

1863: Dr. Newton’s Jaundice Bitters Newspaper Advertisement (below). In use for 30 years. – New York Northern Light – Daily Whig

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Ephemera, History, Medicines & Cures, Publications | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

N. Jenkins N.O Rheumatism & Gout Annihilator

Posted on 11 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

N.O means New Orleans

Tim Henson forwarded me an email and pictures of an interesting bottle that I have not seen before. I love the ‘Rheumatism & Gout Annihilator’ part. New Orleans bottles are always fun to look at. There is a fantastic example of a DR. HYDE’S SOUTHERN STOMACH BITTERS from New Orleans in the current American Glass Gallery | Auction #8. The Hyde’s reminds me of the famous New Orleans DR. DE ANDRIES SARSAPARILLA BITTERS. Both the Hyde’s and the De Andres are pictured further below. All three of these bottles have similarities. Tim’s email…

Hi Ferd,

Here is a very interesting amber square that so far I haven’t seen or heard of another. I was wondering if possibly you or any other collectors have seen this particular bottle before? A great southern medicine in a bitters or tonic form and from New Orleans. Embossed in three sunken panels N. Jenkins N.O Rheumatism & Gout Annihilator. Nice applied top and the panel is sunken in considerably on the N. Jenkins N.O side. There is no period after the O in the New Orleans abbreviation. The base has a cool embossed star that is slightly sunken and wavy too. I’d love to know more about this bottle if anyone had any information!

Tim Henson

N. JENKINS N.O. RHEUMATISM & GOUT ANNIHILATOR - Tim Henson

N. JENKINS N.O. RHEUMATISM & GOUT ANNIHILATOR - Tim Henson

N. JENKINS N.O. RHEUMATISM & GOUT ANNIHILATOR - Tim Henson

N. JENKINS N.O. RHEUMATISM & GOUT ANNIHILATOR - Tim Henson

Advertisment for Jenkins from April 17, 1878 Galveston Daily News - Jim Schmidt

Advertisement from The Louisiana Democrat - May 8, 1878 - Jim Schmidt

American Glass Gallery Auction 8 catalog cover. The Dr. Hyde's is pictured on the cover.

DR. E.C. HYDE'S – SOUTHERN STOMACH BITTERS – NEW ORLEANS, America, 1860 – 1870. Golden amber, rectangular with domed shoulders and fancy columned corners, applied sloping collared mouth – smooth base, ht. 8 7/8”, R/H #H222. An extremely rare bitters, possibly the only known example in undamaged condition. The form is similar to a building with columns. Originally discovered in a box of bottles at a yard sale in Terre Haute, Indiana (with its original cork and corkscrew!) - American Glass Gallery Auction #8 - ex: Jeff Burkhardt

DR DE ANDRIES SARSAPARILLA BITTERS | E.E. RUSHA NEW ORLEANS - Meyer Collection

Read More: Crescent Bitters from Crescent City

Read More: Steinfeld’s French Cognac Bitters Unearthed in NOLA

Read More: Dr. E. C. Hydes Southern Stomach Bitters – New Orleans

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Coca-Cola Hutch story from Alabama

Posted on 10 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Sometimes I get emails and posts on my Peachridge Glass facebook page with little more than just a photograph, which happened in this case. It parked for a day or so until I really looked at the rather nice photograph and smiled. The only caption was:

“A picture of the best bottle I ever dug then sold and bought a bitters. I love my hobby”

I asked the sender, a Dennis Humphrey from Northport, Alabama; “Dennis…so what Bitters bottle did you purchase?”. Dennis replied…

“I purchased an open pontil, amber W & Co pineapple in a medium amber”

Read more about pineapple bitters: Pineapple Bitters – The Different Variants

I then asked Dennis for the story and received the following…

My diggin’ buddy from Cullman, Alabama called and told me some people are finding bottles in Ensley, Alabama and tried to tell me how to get there. I called another buddy of mine, a mister Bobby McGraw and we lit out to find this spot. I told him they had found some broken Coke hutches and that if we dug together and if we found one, we would sell it and buy us a good Bitters or Saratoga bottle, that’s what he likes.

Bobby is what I call a closet collector. He gets something and it doesn’t see the light of day again. We got to Ensley and after looking around, we couldn’t find the place. We asked a black man if he knew of a deserted neighborhood that had a yellow house on the edge with some dogs in a fenced in area and the guy took us to the place and it looked like fox holes dug every where. We got our diggin utensils out and dug a test hole finding nothing. Some more people showed up and we asked where are the Coke hutches? They said they had found some in another area close to where we were digging.

A Coke hutch from Alabama is a good bottle all day long. Bobby and I opened up a hole and started digging and promptly found this Coke hutch from Birmingham Alabama. Talk about some hoopin and hollering, we done it. The bottle had one vertical flash in the neck and hardly any case wear. I put it on EBay and the hammer went down at $1,550. Coke Hutches are maybe the best bottles you could hope to find in Alabama with a Bessemer Coke Hutch going from 4 to 5 thousand dollars. I just wish I could have traded it for a Dr. A. W. Coleman’s Anti-Dyspeptic and Tonic Bitters, which is on my wish list.

[PRG] What a nice story. There is so much depth and enthusiasm everywhere I look in our antique bottle and glass hobby. Thanks for sharing Dennis and good luck with your digs and may you find the Coleman’s you note. Send me a picture of your pineapple so I can add to the post.

W & Co Pineapple Bitters that Dennis purchased with the Coca-Cola sale on eBay – Dennis Humphrey

Read more on Coca-Cola on Peachridge Glass:

I Bet None of You All Have Been to this Bottle Museum Yet!

1915 Coca-Cola Prototype Bottle and Concept Sketch

The Coca-Cola Bottle Collectors Club

Pair of DR. A.W. COLEMAN’S ANTI DYSPEPTIC AND TONIC BITTERS from a Florida collector

From Mobile, Alabama, DR. A.W. COLEMAN’S ANTI DYSPEPTIC AND TONIC BITTERS – Meyer Collection

Posted in Bitters, Cola, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, Facebook, Figural Bottles, Hutches, Soda Bottles, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More on Harrison’s Columbian Inks

Posted on 9 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

When it rains ‘ink’ it Pours!

09 May 2012

The Aprils (that is John April and Charles Aprill (2 l’s) have continued to dominate the airways with their phenomenal INK posts of late. It has really been hard for me to keep up with the quality bottles and pictures that have been wowing so many people on facebook.

1853 Harrison’s Columbian Perfumery & Ink Advertisement

I am pausing here today to capture, nest and present some incredible April | Aprill photographs for HARRISON’S COLUMBIAN INKS.

I personally like grouping these photographs as it allows me to compare bottles, lip treatment, sizes, embossings etc. and add support images if possible. Just look at the Harrison’s examples below and decide for yourself, that these two gentlemen deserve a moment of applause for sharing such great pieces. In most cases, these Columbian’s are extremely rare and desirable ink bottles.

Read More: Two simply stunning inks in drop dead colors

Read More: Small Inkwell Bottles Page

Read More: The “Star of Baltimore”

HARRISON’S COLUMBIAN INKS, cylinders on left, panels on right. 9 in all. The two small paneled Harrison’s are just fine. Not as common as the cylinders. Mebane had the larger. He never did get a good tiny one. The half gallon is ex: Charles Gardner collection. The three 12 panel inks on the right are scarce. Harrison really did use very pretty bottles – Charles Aprill

Gorgeous green, 4″ tall, open pontil HARRISON’S COLUMBIAN INK – John April

Two large gallon inks embossed HARRISON’S COLUMBIAN INK. Look at the expanded mouth example and the scale next to the two National Bitters (Ear of Corn figurals) – Mitchell Collection

Three small paneled HARRISON’S COLUMBIAN INKS in different colors – John April

Two small paneled HARRISON’S COLUMBIAN INK’s. Not as common as the cylinders – Charles Aprill

Gallon HARRISON’S COLUMBIAN INK – Sandor Fuss Collection

Two extremely rare, HARRISON’S COLUMBIAN INK’s with near complete labels – Charles Aprill

HARRISON’S COLUMBIAN INK, cylindrical, 7 1/4″ high, medium blueish green, extremely rare and possibly unique in this color – GreatAntiqueBottles.com

Extremely rare, HARRISON’S COLUMBIAN INK, brilliant sapphire blue, octagonal, pontil scar, 1 7/16″H, inwardly rolled mouth, a mint bottle with somewhat weakened embossed lettering. American, probably blown at the Whitney Glass Works, Glassboro, NJ, C. 1850, extremely rare color – Jeff & Holly Noordsy

Gallon HARRISON’S COLUMBIAN INK – Mike Newman Collection

Rare HARRISON’S COLUMBIAN – INK, medium green, octagonal, tubular pontil scar, 1 5/8″ H, inwardly rolled mouth, American, C. 1850, rare color. Blown from green Jersey bottle glass, this delightful little ink is a super example of a very tough to find bottle. Typically blown in pale shades of aquamarine, this colored example is quite uncommon and undeniably beautiful – Jeff and Holly Noordsy

Gallon HARRISON’S COLUMBIAN INK – OldBottleCollector.com

Range of HARRISON’S COLUMBIAN INKs in aqua. Note labeled examples on ends. Mitchell Collection

5″ Harrison paneled master & 4 1/2″ cylinder – Charles Aprill

4 1/2″ o.p. Harrison’s – John April

Posted in Collectors & Collections, Facebook, Inks, News, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Both Blue Fish Together Again – at least online!

Posted on 9 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

It is kind of a gray-blue rainy day here in Newport News, Virginia. What a nice time to post some blue fish bottles. Charles Aprill posted his blue fish last night on facebook. We talked three or so years ago about his example and I wrote about it in the FOHBC Bottles and Extras. Here both blue fish bottles appear on the same page!

“The bottle was being used to feed Liniment to a horse”. 

Blue Fish Bitters - Aprill Collection

Spread 2 - Exploration & Documentation

Read: Glass Passion and Color Part II : Exploration and Color

*as reprinted from The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors (FOHBC) Bottles & Extra Magazine. November-December 2009.

Download PDF: Article_2

[Excerpt from article] As you may be aware, I was fortunate enough to obtain the classic Cobalt Blue Fish Bitters recently in a private transaction. This bottle came from the Don Keating collection thru an intermediary. This addition to my collection was very public and I believe created much positive publicity because I chose to be open and display the bottle on my table at the Pomona National FOHBC Show this past August.

With the publicity generated, this opened the doors for gathering information about this bottle. Through discussions and e-mails I have been able to gather the following valuable information to digest:

1) During the recent FOHBC Show, a trusted collector shared that this same bottle was discovered many years ago in Waupaca, Wisconsin on a farm. The bottle was being used to feed Liniment to a horse. A bottle collector discovered this and purchased the bottle for $500.00 and flipped it for $1,000.00. During the open Bitters Forum at the show, other collectors shared stories of the next series of owners.

2) The elusive owner of the only other known Blue Fish bitters contacted me and confirmed that their bottle lip is offset, ie. R/H F46. The owner looked at it again at my request and in good light and with a magnifying glass confirmed that there is no ‘The Fish Bitters’ embossing on the gills. Their bottle has a sheared lip. They further stated that their bottle ‘came from Elvin Moody (Ohio) many years ago’ and that ‘he had purchased it at a Skinner’s auction in Bolton Mass. in the mid 80′s’ he believed.

3) From another e-mail, ‘That fish appeared at the 1976 EXPO in St. Louis. I recall that the rumor then was that it had been purchased for the princely sum of $5,000.00. The good old days’.

Cobalt Blue Fish Bitters - Meyer Collection

Read More: World Famous Cobalt Blue “The Fish” Bitters

Posted in Article Publications, Bitters, Bottles and Extras, Collectors & Collections, Figural Bottles, FOHBC News | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Western Bitters Survey 2012

Posted on 8 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Western Bitters Survey 2012

THE TOP 20 WESTERN BITTERS

08 May 2012

Apple-Touch-IconAThe western Bitters collectors, which is a strong, passionate group, have reactivated their desire to determine the TOP 20 WESTERN BITTERS. This task was done some years ago apparently.

This is somewhat of a challenge without defining qualifications such as:

What is a western Bitters?

Are we talking about a specific Bitters brand?

Should the word Bitters be on the bottle? on the label?

Are we talking about Bitters molds too?

Historical significance?

Eye appeal?

Desirability?

Rarity?

Voting pre-qualification?

Should points be used?

Extra points if the bottle has California, San Francisco etc embossed on bottle?

I suppose, in the end, this all has to weigh in when you cast your vote. Without a doubt, the major qualification should be that ‘the bottle was made at a Western (California) glass works’ such as Pacific Glass Works or San Francisco Glass Works.

Here is the post (see below) from Dale Mlasko from Oregon, that got me involved as I hold many nice western Bitters myself. I tried not to post mostly green bottles. The bottles are anonymous though many of us can determine the owners. I thought about making all bottle pictures black and white but that was painfully difficult to do. I also am asking for better pictures if they are available and looking for a Dr. Hauseman’s German Bitters (flask) picture or actual bottle!

Please send me an email of your top 20 for RANKING compilation or post on this site or Western Bitters News. I suggest we announce at the FOHBC 2012 Reno EXPO.

[from Western Bitters News]

Recently I was reviewing older posts on this blog, and came across the “Western Bitters Survey”. I also noticed that this survey was compiled without the internet, and prior to the forum Western Bitters News. Being mainly western bitters focused in my collecting, and the apparent increase in the popularity in these gorgeous and historically significant bottles, I thought that perhaps this survey of the top 20 western bitters could be tabulated by anyone who has the ability to post their top 20. Just thought it would be interesting…Dale R. Mlasko

For what it’s worth, here is mine…

    1. Cassin’s Grape Brandy Bitters (Cassin,s)
    2. California Bitters | Frisch
    3. G.A. Simon’s
    4. Dr. Wonser’s Indian Root Bitters
    5. Oregon Chittum Bitters (square)
    6. Lacour’s
    7. Chalmer’s Catawba
    8. California Wine Bitters | M. Keller
    9. Old Man’s Stomach Bitters
    10. Dr. Miller’s Ratafia
    11. Widemann & Chappas
    12. Salutaris Bitters ( shoulder embossed)
    13. Dr. Boerhaave’s
    14. Alex Von Humboldts
    15. Dr. Hauseman’s German Bitters( flask)
    16. Dr. Hauseman’s German Bitters( square)
    17. E.G. Lyon’s
    18. V. Squarza
    19. Rosenbaum’s (small)
    20. Wormser Bros. Barrel

Some bitters are great, but just not in the “western” way…Bryant’s, Catawba, etc. Dale

AT & Co (Asher Taylor & Company)

AT & Co (embossed monogram in oval on shoulder), Very interesting neck design. BITTERS not embossed on bottle. Assumed Bitters product. Colors range from amber to olive amber and yellows. Exciting color runs possible. AT stands for Asher S. Taylor. Not listed in Carlyn Ring and W.C Ham’s Bitters Bottles or Bitters Bottles Supplement.

AFRICAN STOMACH BITTERS

AFRICAN STOMACH BITTERS, R/H numbers A15, A16 and A18. Also embossed SPRUANCE STANLEY & CO on A16 and A18. A San Francisco product. Round, amber bottle. Look for crude examples with applied top.

ALPINE HERB BITTERS | T.T. & Co. (motif in monogram)

ALPINE HERB BITTERS (motif shield with monogram TT&CO), R/H A37. Square, amber bottle. Look for examples with an applied top.

DR. BOERHAAVE’S STOMACH BITTERS

DR. BOERHAAVE’S STOMACH BITTERS, R/H B133. Square, amber, yellow-olive and green. Extremely rare. Siegfried & Philip Wertheimber & Louis Waterman, San Francisco.

CALIFORNIA BITTERS | MANUFACTURED BY J.G. FRISCH | SAN FRANCISCO

CALIFORNIA BITTERS R/H C12. Tapered, amber rectangle. One complete example known. Broken and re-assembled examples exist.

CALIFORNIA WINE BITTERS | M. KELLER LOS ANGELES |  M.K. (monogram)

CALIFORNIA WINE BITTERS, R/H C24. Round cylinder that comes in exciting shades of green. A Los Angeles Bitters. Label reads M. Keller’s Celebrated Los Angeles Wine Bitters

CASSIN’S GRAPE BRANDY BITTERS

CASSIN’S GRAPE BRANDY BITTERS, F.P. Cassin, San Francisco, California. base viola shape, sensuous bottle. R/H C78 and C79. Great colors and color range possibilities. Two primary different molds.

CHALMER”S CATAWBA WINE BITTERS | SUTTERS OLD MILL | TRADEMARK

CHALMER’S CATAWBA WINE BITTERS R/H C119 (C119.5 missing SUTTERS OLD MILL). One example known of C119.5. Good looking, round, aqua cylinder with motif-oval with cabin in woods. Look for character. SPRUANCE STANLEY & CO PROPRIETORS

GRAND PRIZE BITTERS

GRAD PRIZE BIOTTERS, L…Dr. Cooper’s Celebrated Grand Prize Bitters, R/H G89, Louis Taussig Co, Sole Agents, San Francisco, California

DR. THOS. HALL’S CALIFORNIA PEPSIN WINE BITTERS

DR THOS HALL’S CALIFORNIA PEPSIN WINE BITTERS, R/H H11, Square, amber. Look for examples with applied top.

DR. HARVEY’S BLOOD BITTERS

DR HARVEY’S BLOOD BITTERS. R/H H67. Rectangular, rounded amber bottle with sunken panels. Thought from Salinas or Fresno, California.

DR. HAUSEMAN’S GERMAN BITTERS

DR. HAUSEMAN’S GERMAN BITTERS, R/H H70, Extremely rare, amber square. Looking for picture of flask with the same name.

DR. HENLEY’S EYE OPENER

DR. HENLEY’S EYE OPENER, Extremely rare cylindrical quart. Very limited production. Not listed in R/H

DR. HENLEY’S WILD GRAPE ROOT IXL BITTERS

DR.HENLEY’S WILD GRAPE ROOT IXL BITTERS, R/H H85. One of a series of Dr. Henley round cylinders with various embossings.

LACOUR’S BITTERS SARSAPARIPHERE

LACOUR’S BITTERS SARSAPARIPHERE, R/H L3, Three distinct variants. Round, lighthouse patterned favorite among collectors, Nice color range for runs.

E.G. LYONS & CO. MANUFACTURERS SANF CO.

E.G. LYONS & CO. MANUFACTURERS SANF. CO., not embossed BITTERS. Very rare square. Not listed in Ring & Ham. Backward ‘N’. Good color range.

DR. MILLER’S RATAFIA DAMIANA | SIEBE BROS. & PLAGEMANN S.F. | SOLE AGENTS PACIFIC COAST

DR. MILLER’S RATAFIA (motif of pegasus) DAMIANA SIEBE BROS. & PLAGEMANN S.F. SOLE AGENTS PACIFIC COAST, R/H M90, round, amber, whiskey shape. Bottle embossed with a sphinx.

O.K. BITTERS

O.K. BITTERS, Extremely rare, cylindrical quart. An unsuccessful product for Dr. Henley.

OLD MAN’S STOMACH BITTERS | MARCUS SASS

OLD MAN’S STOMACH BITTERS / MARCUS SASS, R/H O42. Extremely rare, amber square. Possibly one complete known example.

OREGON CHITTUM BITTERS | DR. G.W. BROWN’S

OREGON CHITTUM BITTERS | DR. G.W. BROWN’S, recent find, only know example, unlisted. Amber square.

ORIZABA BITTERS |  J. MARISTANY JR.

ORIZABA BITTERS | J. MARISTANY JR., R/H O88, odd shaped amber rectangular Bitters. Extremely rare.

PERUVIAN BITTERS (motif monogram in shield W&K)

PERUVIAN BITTERS (motif monogram in shield W&K), J.C. Wilmerding and Calvin W. Kellogg, San Francisco, California. R/H P66, Amber square. Look for applied top examples. Typically in amber, there are known examples in clear, aqua and SCA.

Dr. Place’s CUNDURANGO Bitters

L…Dr. Place’s Cundurango Bitters, embossed CUNDURANGO two sides. R/H P106, Geo. W. Chesley & Co., Sacramento, California. Square comes in interesting shades of amber, green and aqua. Possibilities for color run.

DR. RENZ’S HERB BITTERS

DR. RENZ’S HERB BITTERS, R/H R36-R38. Large and small letter variants. Great color range. Very popular square Bitters.

ROSENBAUMS BITTERS | N.B. JACOBS & Co.| SAN FRANCISCO

ROSENBAUM’S BITTERS, Very rare square listed as R93 and R94 (Typographic differences). Color groups possible.

SALUTARIS S.F. BITTERS | BYRNE & CASTREE

SALUTARIS S.F. BITTERS, Extremely rare, round lady’s leg. Green. Shoulder and base embossed.

G.A. SIMON’S MEDICATED AROMATIC BITTERS

G.A SIMON’S MEDICATED AROMATIC BITTTERS, R/H S112, Extremely rare square. Amber, puce and yellowish green. Only a few undamaged specimens.

STOCKTON’S PORT WINE BITTERS

STOCKTON’S PORT WINE BITTERS (motif monogram SW TRADE MARK), popular amber, rectangular bottle. R/H S198

V. SQUARZA

V. SQUARZA (Vincent Squarza), Presumed Bitters not listed in R/H. Cobalt blue pint, applied square collar. Labeled Bitters. No many known examples.

ALEX VON HUMBOLDT’S STOMACH BITTERS

ALEX VON HUMBOLDT’S STOMACH BITTERS, Very rare square, R/H V31.Hazlett & Miller, agents for the United States. Nice color possibilities with amber, yellow, green and yellow olive.

J.WALKER | V.B.

L…Dr. Walker’s California Vinegar Bitters. A rather common bottle but still a favorite with collectors. Nice color range possibilities. Base embossed. Not embossed BITTERS.. R/H W11

E. WIDEMANN & J. CHAPPAS

E. WIDEMAN & J. CHAPPAS, Spelled incorrectly. Assumed Bitters. Maker of ALPINE HERB BITTERS. Round cylinder. Shoulder embossed. Good colors in the less than 10 complete specimens known.

DR. WONSER’S U.S.A. INDIAN ROOT BITTERS

DR. WONSER’S U.S.A. INDIAN ROOT BITTERS, W146, Strong, round bottle with ornate fluting on shoulder and rings on neck. Great color possibilities. Highly popular and collectible.

DR. WONSER’S BITTERS U.S.A.

DR. WONSER’S BITTERS U.S.A., square, aqua version of the popular Dr. Wonser’s Bitters. Very rare, Aqua. R/H W145.

WORMSER BROS. | SAN FRANCISCO

WORMSER BROS (motif bullseye) SAN FRANCISCO, popular western barrel. Usually in amber, yellow and green (extremely rare). R/H W162.5

YERBA BUENA BITTERS, S.F. CAL

YERBA BUENA BITTERS | S.F. CAL, popular flask usually in amber, aqua and green. Extremely rare. R/H Y3-Y4.

 

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Jeff & Holly Noordsy Glass on display at the Philadelphia Antiques Show

Posted on 7 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Jeff & Holly Noordsy (visit their web site) posted photos from their booth at the 2012 Philadelphia Antiques Show. What an extraordinary layout and sense for dramatic appeal. The Noordsy’s always do things right whether it is for an indoor Antique Bottle Show or Antique Show or outdoor display such as the Annual Heckler Columbus Day Hayfield Event. Jeff did post, “the show was crazy busy and the hours were unbearably long. Did make some nice sales though”.

[PRG] I actually feel like I am in Winterthur when I look at this.

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The McKearin Historical Flask Groups

Posted on 5 May 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

I have created a list of the McKearin Historical Flask Groups. This chart will help in identifying the major flask groupings. I also keep the BLASKE COLLECTION, The Edmund & Jayne Blaske Collection of American Historical Flasks handy for reference.

The McKearin Historical Flask Groups

Group I – Portrait Flasks

Numbers 1 through 61 are Washington Flasks, 
Numbers 62 through 79a include Adams, Harrison, Jackson and Taylor, 
Numbers 80 through 93 are Lafayette, Numbers 94 through 98 are Franklin, 
Numbers 99 through 107a are Jenny Lind. Other portrait flasks are listed in molds 111 through 131

Group II – American Eagle Flasks

There are 144 molds in American Eagle flask group

Group III – Cornucopia Flasks

There are 18 Cornucopia molds in this flask group

Group IV – Masonic Flasks

There are 43 molds in the Masonic flask group

Group V – Railroad Flasks

There are 12 Railroad flasks in this group

Group VI – Baltimore Monument Flasks

There are 7 flask molds for the Baltimore Monuments

Group VII – Cabin bottles

There are 6 molds in this Cabin flask group

Tom Haunton officially extended this group and added molds as documented in his book, Tippecanoe and EG Booz, Too

Group VIII – Sunburst Flasks

There are 30 flasks in the Sunburst group

Group IX – Scroll or Violin Flasks

There are 52 in the Scroll group

Group X – Miscellaneous Flasks

33 flasks include Good Game, Sloop, Murdock & Cassel, Summer/Winter, Jared Spencer, American System, Stoddard Flag among others.

This was the final group as documented in American Glass. The following groups were added with the publication of American Bottles and Flasks and Their Ancestry:

Group XI – Pike’s Peak Flasks

There are 54 molds in the Pike’s Peak flask group

Group XII – Shield and Clasped Hands

There are 43 molds listed in this group

There are several unlisted flasks known

Group XIII – Pictorial Flasks from the 1850 to 1880 Period

The group includes over 90 flasks including Flora Temple, Horseman/Hound, Sheaf of Wheat, Baltimore Glass Works/Anchor and others.

Group XIV – Traveler’s Companion Flasks

The are 9 flasks in the Traveler’s Companion Group

Group XV – “Lettered” Flasks

There are 28 mold in the Lettered flask group

These are mostly flasks with embossing indicating a particular glass works.

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