H.P. Herb Wild Cherry Bitters – Another Roped Corner Fancy Gent

H.P. Herb Wild Cherry Bitters -Another Roped Corner Fancy Gent

28 December 2011 (R•060314)

H.P. Herb Wild Cherry Bitters Typography Embossing Detail – Meyer Collection

Apple-Touch-IconAI am nearing the conclusion of writing about Roped Corner squares (at least in my bitters collection). Of course, some new bottle addition could change this statement, but as of this moment, this series is limited and includes the previously written about Bakers Orange Grove Bitters, National Tonic Bitters, Russian Imperial Tonic Bitters, Dr. Wheelers Tonic Sherry Wine Bitters and Rohrer’s Expectoral Wild Cherry Tonic.

I realize the Rohrer’s is a ‘stretch’ from being a square but none-the-less, the roped motif dominates this bottle form as it does the other noted bottles. With that said, it is only fair now to look at the very well known and popular H.P Herb Wild Cherry Bitters from Reading, Pennsylvania. This square, figural ‘cabin’ form comes in two (2) different mold (larger and smaller) sizes and were blown in delicious colors that may come as a surprise. The embossed tree is also very pleasing and graphic and reminds of a tree emboss you might see on a LQC Wishart’s Pine Tree Tar Cordial bottle.

L.Q.C. Wishart’s Pine Tar Tree Cordial – Meyer Collection

H.P. Herb Wild Cherry Bitters Tree Embossing Detail – Meyer Collection

The first group of pictures is the Ring/Ham H 93 bottle which is the larger of the two (2) molds at 10″. The amber is the common color but the yellow olive is the one you want to obtain if you get a chance. Of coarse I own both because I like runs of color and bottle juxtaposition.

H 93  H.P. HERB BITTERS, Circa 1880 – 1885
H.P. HERB / WILD / CHERRY / BITTERS / READING / PA // f // WILD CHERRY ( au ) / motif cherry tree / BITTERS // f // // s // BITTERS // BITTERS // BITTERS // BITTERS //
L… Herb’s Pure Compound Wild Cherry Bark Bitters
10 x 3 (6)
Square – cabin, LTCR, Applied mouth and Tooled lip, Roped corners, Amber – Common, Yellow olive –  Very Rare

R/H H 93 H.P. Herb Wild Cherry Bitters in Amber – Meyer Collection

R/H H 93 H.P. Herb Wild Cherry Bitters in Yellow Olive – Meyer Collection

R/H H 93 H.P. Herb Wild Cherry Bitters in Amber & Yellow Olive – Meyer Collection

LabeledHP_Herb_GWA102

Partially labeled R/H H 93 H.P. Herb Wild Cherry Bitters in Amber – Glass Works Auctions | Auction 102

This second group of pictures is the Ring/Ham H 94 bottle which is the smaller of the two (2) molds at 8 7/8″. Surprisingly, the amber is the very rare color and the green is noted just as rare.

H 94  H.P HERB WILD CHERRY BITTERS, Circa 1880 – 1890
H.P HERB / WILD / CHERRY / BITTERS / READING / PA // f // WILD CHERRY ( au ) / motif cherry tree / BITTERS // f //  // s // BITTERS // BITTERS // BITTERS // BITTERS //
L…H.P. Herb Wild Cherry Bark Bitters
8 3/4 x 3 1/4 x 3 (5 1/2)
Square, cabin, LTCR, Tooled lip, Roped corners, Amber – Very Rare; Green – Rare

R/H H 94 H.P. Herb Wild Cherry Bitters in Amber – Meyer Collection

R/H H 93 H.P. Herb Wild Cherry Bitters in Green – Meyer Collection

Read: Roped Squares – Bakers Orange Grove Bitters

Read: Roped Squares – National Tonic Bitters

Read: Roped Squares – Russian Imperial Tonic Bitters

Read: Roped Squares – Dr. Wheeler’s Tonic Sherry Wine Bitters

About Ferdinand Meyer V

Ferdinand Meyer V is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and has a BFA in Fine Art and Graphic Design from the Kansas City Art Institute and School of Design. Ferdinand is the founding Principal of FMG Design, a nationally recognized design consultation firm. Ferdinand is a passionate collector of American historical glass specializing in bitters bottles, color runs and related classic figural bottles. He is married to Elizabeth Jane Meyer and lives in Houston, Texas with their daughter and three wonderful grandchildren. The Meyers are also very involved in Quarter Horses, antiques and early United States postage stamps. Ferdinand is the past 6-year President of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors and is one of the founding members of the FOHBC Virtual Museum.
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One Response to H.P. Herb Wild Cherry Bitters – Another Roped Corner Fancy Gent

  1. Froggy says:

    Beautiful grouping of HP HERBS Ferdinand! Perhaps my favorite “roper” because of the embossed TREE(Am a tree-hugger). I too have the large variant in olive yellow; Ted Krist has a great yellow one (Ex- David Sidelinger). I wonder if there are other colors known in this mold?

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