Extremely rare Senour’s Calisaya Bitters from St. Louis

16 March 2016

Earlier in March. I posted on Daily Dose about a Senour’s Calisaya Bitters saying, “Off to Dallas and then San Antone tomorrow night. Baltimore next week for the big antique bottle show and FOHBC board meeting. Here is another Senour’s Calisaya Bitters that crossed my path today (see below). Obviously with a problem. That makes the one dug last month (see above) and this one, the only examples that I have ever seen.” As you can see, both have issues.

The bottle is about nine inches tall. It has no other damage other than the top. It does have some oxidation from being dug. In a window it is honey amber. On the Senours side it displays nicely. The bottle with the rigaree, I found in an antique mall in Corpus Christi about twenty years ago. The only other one like it I have seen was in a New England bottle auction catalog about ten years ago. The only difference is that this one is a quart and the other was a pint. It is cloudy inside. Pontiled with wide wear band. If you are interested in the Senours what ever feels good to you is fine. Thank you for your reply. If you know anyone that needs custom furniture in the 18th or early 19th century style. This what I do. Have a blessed day.

So the complete Senour’s Calisaya Bitters was dug recently in Memphis, Tennessee. Probably was carried down the Mississippi some 145 years ago or so. You can read about the bottle dig at TheMemphisDiggers.

Listing

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

S 86.5  SENOUR’S CALISAYA BITTERS

Senour’s Calisaya Bitters

The first time I can find mention of Senour’s Calisaya Bitters is in a St. Louis, Missouri newspaper in 1871. January & Biser (Thomas T. January & Charles T. Biser) were wholesale liquor dealers and importers and were the sole proprietors of Senour’s Calisaya Bitters. In 1872, Charles Southerland was in business with January & Biser and his name dominates advertising that year. By 1873 and 1874, you can find most advertising in Texas where I suppose, the Hispanic market was targeted. They must have stopped making the brand in 1873 and shipped the remains to New Orleans and then over to Galveston, Texas. I suspect, someone will eventually dig a bottle in our port cities here in Texas. It is interesting to note that in 1874, Williams Brothers in Dallas, Texas was selling Senour’s Celebrated Calisaya Bitters by Mercer, Agnew & Co., London. Not sure of this London connection.

January & Biser Sole Proprietors for Senour’s Calisaya Bitters – The Lincoln County Herald (St. Louis), Thursday, June 8, 1871

January & Biser Proprietors Senour’s Calisaya Bitters – The Leavenworth Times (Kansas), Thursday, November 2, 1871

Charles Sutherland with January & Biser Sole proprietors of Senour’s Calisaya Bitters – The Galveston Daily News, Sunday, November 24, 1872

Charles Sutherland with January & Biser Sole proprietors of Senour’s Calisaya Bitters – The Galveston Daily News, Sunday, January 19, 1873

Interesting notice saying that Williams Brothers can sell Senour’s Celebrated Calisaya Bitters by Mercer, Agnew & Co., London – The Dallas Daily Herald, Thursday, February 19, 1874