Dr. J. Boveedods Imperial Wine Bitters

Dr. J. Bovee Dods’ Imperial Wine Bitters

25 April 2012 (R•072014) (R•122314)

Apple-Touch-IconAJohn Bovee Dods (1795 – 1872) was a spiritualist and former clergyman. He settled in Brooklyn, New York in 1850, and remained there until his death. His Imperial Wine Bitters were advertised in newspapers around the country from 1859 to 1861, first making an appearance for sale in December 1858. They sold for a $1 dollar a bottle or 6 bottles for $5 dollars.

From Civil War authority Jim Schmidt (Spring, Texas) (see Civil war Medicine (and Writing):

was “mining” some 1861 Galveston papers this evening and came across some bitters ads…

Wow, what was this New York bitters doing in a Galveston, Texas newspaper? The Dr. Bovee Dod’s is a great big, gorgeous aqua bottle that gets lost in Carlyn Ring and W.C. Hams Bitters Bottles and Supplement books because it was incorrectly given a ‘D’ designation for Doctor, I suppose. Some think it is unlisted. It is however a D 80 index.

I like when I get information like this because it allows me to connect it with a bottle and hopefully an example I own (see pictures below). Notice how the advertisement spells Bovee Dods’. It is also neat that the advertisement confirms the Ring and Ham Charles Widdifield & Co. NY address but also includes a G.A. Behrman, Galveston as Sole Agent for Texas.

BoveedodsSign

 Dr. John Bovee Dods

D 80  DR. BOVEE DODS’ IMPERIAL WINE BITTERS, Circa 1855 – 1865,
DR. J. BOVEEDODS // IMPERIAL / WINE BITTERS // NEW YORK // sp //
Charles Widdifield & Co.   Proprietors   78 William Street
10 x 3 3/4 x 2 1/4 (8) 3/8
Rectilinear, Aqua, DC, Applied mouth, 4 sp, Rare
New York Daily Times 1859, A delicious beverage and cures sore throat, consumption, paralysis, indigestion and pyles. Works like a charm!

“A delicious beverage and cures sore throat, consumption, paralysis, indigestion and pyles. Works like a charm!”

“Dr. J. Bovee Dods’ Imperial Remedy and Imperial Wine Bitters for safety, speedily, and effectually restoring the system to health, and preventing disease.”

DR. BOVEE DODS’ IMPERIAL WINE BITTERS – Meyer Collection

DR. BOVEE DODS’ IMPERIAL WINE BITTERS – Meyer Collection

BoveeDods_The_Plymouth_Weekly_Democrat_Thu__Sep_26__1861_-2

Dr. J. Boveedod’s Imperial Wine Bitters advertisement – The Plymouth Weekly Democrat, Thursday, September 26, 1861

Credit: Dr. J. Bovee Dod’s Sign from Henry Tankersley

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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