An 1836 Russell’s Stomach Bitters Advertisement
17 April 2014 (R•041814)
I found this Russell’s Stomach Bitters advertisement rather interesting for a number of reasons. First, it is rather old, coming from the Burlington Free Press (Vermont) in 1836. An earlier advertisement from 1827 has been reported by Ring & Ham. Second, the bitters comes in a form that “May be Used in Wine or Water”, “One box will tincture one gallon”, “Price 25 cents a box”. Third, look how they spelled, ‘cellebrated’.
Russell also made Russell’s Itch Ointment, Russell’s Vegetable Billious Pills or Family Physic (huh?) and Russell’s Cellebrated (yes, that spelling again) Salt Rheum Ointment. These products originated out of Vermont and were sold in New England and ‘generally’ by druggists throughout United States.
In Bitters Bottles by Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham, this bitters is listed as:
R 131 RUSSELL’S STOMACH BITTERS
Box, containing dry or powdered bitters
Dr. Russell’s Stomach Bitters to be prepared in wine or water, are purely vegetable. A box will tincture a gallon of wine or water. 25 cents a box.
Columbian Centinel, August 25, 1827
1836 Map of Vermont (left) and New Hampshire (right) – David Rumsey Map Collection
