Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters – Patent Medicine

Posted on 1 February 2012 by Ferdinand Meyer V

My friend and Civil War author, Jim Schmidt (see Civil War Medicine) sent me a link today for an eBay listing for a Baltimore Letterhead dated 1887 for a Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters – Patent Medicine. The listing on eBay reads as follows:

[eBay] Letterhead from Louis Petzold & Co., Proprietors of Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters, dated Baltimore, January 28, 1887 to Chas. Yockel. “A Tonic with Unsurpassed Medicinal Virtues – A Great Remedy for Dyspepsia, Malaria, Weakness, & c. & c.” . Illustration of a classic woman standing on a globe. In one hand she has a shield with “The Great Elixir of Life” and in her other hand is a tassel, attached to a Cupid flying above. Contents refer to changing the patent date from 1884 to 1887. [Chas. Yockel was a manufacturer of glass bottles] Measures approx. 8 1/2″ x 11″. Filing punch holes at top, lower right corner missing, edge discoloration.

Letterhead circa 1887 - Dr. Petzold's Genuine German Bitters - eBay

This got me thinking about Dr. Petzold and some of the bottles and material I possess. I especially wanted to compare my letterhead (see below) with the eBay example.

Letterhead circa 1886 - Dr. Petzold's Genuine German Bitters - Meyer Collection

Note the different logo’s.

Dr. Petzold's Letterhead Art

Dr. Petzold's Genuine German Bitters Logo (Meyer example)

Dr. Petzold's Genuine German Bitters Logo (eBay example)

P 78.5  DR. PETZOLD’S GENUINE GERMAN BITTERS, Circa 1886 – 1895
DR. PETZOLD’S ( au ) / GENUINE / GERMAN / BITTERS / INCPT. 1862 /
lower panel unlettered / // s // PATENTED 1887 // c //
10 1/4 x 4 x 2 1/8
Oval 21 ribs, Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth, Rare
No bevel, sunken panels, unbroken rib over panels

P 78.5 Dr. Petzold's Genuine German Bitters (large size) - Meyer Collection

P 76  DR. PETZOLD’S GENUINE GERMAN BITTERS, Circa 1886 – 1895
DR. PETZOLD’S ( au ) / GENUINE / GERMAN / BITTERS / INCPT. 1862 /
lower panel unlettered // c // // PAT’D 1884 // c //
7 7/8 x 3 1/16 x 1 13/16 (6 3/4) 5/16
Oval 17 ribs, Amber, LTCR, Tooled lip, Scarce
Small bevel, flat panels, unbroken rib over panels

P 76 Dr. Petzold's Genuine German Bitters (small size) - Meyer Collection

P 78.5 & P 76 - Dr. Petzold's Genuine German Bitters (large and small size) - Meyer Collection

Dr. Petzold's Genuine German Bitters Stoneware Jug - Meyer Collection

Dr. Petzold's Genuine German Bitters Trade Card - Meyer Collection

About Ferdinand Meyer V

Ferdinand Meyer V, FOHBC Second Vice President, 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 now a Principal of FMG Design, which is 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. Ferdinand is married to Elizabeth Jane Meyer and lives in Houston, Texas with their daughter and three wonderful grandchildren. The Meyer’s are also very involved in Quarter Horses, Antiques and early United States Postage Stamps.
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One Response to Dr. Petzold’s Genuine German Bitters – Patent Medicine

  1. JimSchmidt says:
    1 February 2012 at 2:16 pm

    Thanks for the shout out, Ferdinand! Great post! Love the bottle photos and that letter is terrific! Was it to a bottle-maker? I’ll always keep my eye out for you! Jim

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