My second post for triangular bitters bottles (see first post: The Triangular O.H.P. Rose’s Peruvian King Bitters) leads me south from Rhode Island (home of the OHP Rose’s Bitters) to Atlantic City for the Hagan’s Dyspepsia Bitters. The bottle reminds me of one of my favorite HBO series Boardwalk Empire which occurs during the prohibition era in Atlantic City. The Hagan’s was produced earlier in Atlantic City from 1865 – 1880.
What is really interesting is that the makers of Hagan’s choose the triangular form for marketing purposes to stand out from all of the other square form bitters. Even their artwork (pictured below) celebrates the triangle geometric shape. The triangle within a triangle typography treatment and look at the triangle in the curtain shape, at the bottom of the angels gown and the shadow on the rug! Maybe I’m seeing too much but I doubt it. Some early subliminal advertising?
Hagan's Dyspepsia Bitters - Meyer Collection
H 5 HAGAN’S BITTERS, Circa 1865 – 1880
HAGAN’S // BITTERS // f //
L…Hagan’s Vegetable Aromatic Dyspepsia Bitters for Restoring Appetite and Curing Dyspepsia. John Hagan & Co., Atlantic City, N.J. Established 1859.
9 7/8 x 3 1/4 (7 5/8) 3/8
Triangular, Amber, LTC, Applied Mouth, Very rare
letterhead invoice advertising Hagan's Dyspepsia Bitters - Meyer Collection
Letterhead: Unused letterhead invoice advertising Hagan’s Dyspepsia Bitters, Atlantic City, New Jersey prior to 1910. These invoices were bought from Mildred Hagan on May 1st, 1976 at the San Diego Bottle Show. She was in her 80’s at that time and billed herself as the last of the family name. Excellent condition.
Note: A labeled example was offered at an auction in New Jersey, but the bottle was damaged during preview.
Meyer example purchased from Ed and Kathy Gray, FOHBC Memphis Expo 2004.
