The Celestial Dr. Planett’s Bitters
03 May 2012 (R•101514)
Pam and Randy Selenak (Orange, California) recently returned from this wonderful Key West Vacation where they immersed themselves with bottles found in dives along the coast. Read further: Island Alex – A Man With A Passion. During a phone call during their trip, Pam asked me about a Dr. Planett’s Bitters that Alex had found. I said it was a great bottle and wondered what it was doing down in the Keys. I guess it thrown over a ship at some point. Anyway, Pam just informed me that the bottle was purchased from Alex and will be joining them in California. A short trip I suppose for such a celestial bottle. Congratulation Pam and Randy. I suggest getting Marty Hall to clean it or just leave it alone it is so beautiful. Coincidentally, I purchased my super example of a Dr. Planett’s (see pictures below) from Marty Hall 5 years ago exactly. Marty was able to buy it from a collection where it has resided for 30 years. Again a short period for our celestial friend. I would hope my bottle detective friends might help me get some more information on this bottle.
“Alex intrigued me with his collecting of bottles by diving in the Key West waters”.
P 107 DR PLANETT’S BITTERS, Circa 1850’s
DR PLANETT’S / BITTERS // f // f // f //
9 3/4 x 3 1/4 (7 1/8) 1/2
Square, Aqua, LTC, Applied mouth, Metallic pontil mark, Very rare
The Journal & Eagle (Preoccupies, N.Y.) July 20, 1850,
Newspaper advertisement: Create a healthy action throughout the body, restore the appetite, equalize the circulation, give tone and energy to the system, a create a power of resistance to disease in all its form, rarely to be obtained. They will perform a speedy and permanent cure of dyspepsia, ingestion, flatulency, general debility, liver complaint, and all the train of symptoms commonly called nervous affections. Headache will be immediately relieved by the use of this invaluable compound, which is purely vegetable, and is adopted to all ages and conditions. Females will find this delicate and palatable preparation, a combination of tonic, alternative, and apparent qualities, peculiarly adapted to their systems. The specific action that this article has on the liver and digestive organs, renders it complete antidote for fever and ague and bilious and typhus fevers.
Dr. Planett’s Bitters – Meyer Collection
Dr. Planett’s Bitters – Meyer Collection
Dr. Planett’s Bitters – Meyer Collection
Dr. Planett’s Bitters – American Glass Gallery Auction #13
Ferd,
I also had an aqua colored, metallic pontil marked Dr. Planett’s Bitters bottle that I purchased at the 1992 FOHBC Expo show in Toledo, OH. Very whittled and a twin example to yours. A neat bottle for sure.
Hey Ferd,
That bottle was actually bought from Bob in Key West. He was diving in the harbor, I believe he said in 2002, and found it then. I can’t wait to see it again. It has so much character and hammered with whittle. I’m not sure I want to clean it. The patina is beautiful.
Pam
Great examples of a great name in a Bitters. I find it thought-provoking that all examples that I’m aware of are iron pontiled, yet some of the dates of testimony + newspaper ad go to 1850. Raises that old question of what period the IRON pontil was actually used. Has anyone heard of a rough/open pontil Planett’s?