Brown’s Aromatic Bitters – Hannibal, Missouri

Posted on 13 November 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Brown’s Aromatic Bitters – Hannibal Missouri

13 November 2014 (R•111514) (R•111814)

[This post was inspired by Tim Henson from Missouri]

A very suspicious label card I purchased off of eBay for .99 cents a few years ago for Brown’s Aromatic Bitters.

Jim Hagenbuch with Glass Works Auctions sure knows how to tug at the heart-strings (and pull at the purse strings) as when he auctioned off the extremely rare, Brown’s Aromatic Bitters from Hannibal, Missouri in Auction #87 back in October 2009. He wrote under the bottle description, “From the Mississippi River town of Hannibal, Missouri, birthplace of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known to most people as Mark Twain.” Now that is pretty cool, a bottle from Hannibal, Missouri. I wonder if Brown knew Clemens?

Aqua and amber Brown’s Aromatic Bitters from an old bottle book.

Well, I did end up winning the bottle, as Jim’s methods seem to work. The bottle is extremely rare and unlisted in amber. It is 8 3/4″tall, has a smooth base and has an applied double collar mouth. Apparently in 2002, Glass Works Auctions sold an aqua example for $900. You can see my catalog page below with the example. I make an 8 1/2″ x 11″ page for all of my bottles. Digitally stored, printed and inserted in large 3-ring binders.

Brown’s Aromatic Bitters – Meyer Catalog Page

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

B 219 BROWN’S AROMATIC BITTERS

BROWN’S / AROMATIC / BITTERS / HANNIBAL / MO. // c //
L…Brown’s Aromatic Cordial Bitters
8 3/4 x 3 3/8 x 2 (6 1/4)
Oval, Aqua, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare (amber needs to be added)

The new listing by Bill Ham for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

B 219 BROWN’S / AROMATIC / BITTERS / HANNIBAL / MO, // c //
L . . . Brown’s Aromatic Cordial Bitters, Prepared by J. B. Brown, Wholesale and retail Druggist, Hannibal, Mo.
L . . . Brown’s Aromatic Bitters, Prepared by J. B. Brown, Wholesale and Retail Druggists, Hannibal. MO.
8 ¾ x 3 3/8 x 2 (6 ½)
Oval, Aqua and Amber, LTC and DC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare
BAR p23, TMS 50, N&Q, UMB 527, WAT 56

Brown’s Aromatic Bitters, Hannibal, Missouri – Meyer Collection

J.B. Brown, Druggist, Hannibal, Mo. bottle – eBay (Digger Dave’s Bottles and Treasures)

This classic Italianate villa with cupola is the J.B. Brown house, built in 1870. He built 121 South Fifth Street just before the Civil War and 321 North Fourth Street about ten years later.

James Burket Brown

Pontiled and labeled Liniment for Rheumatism by J.B. Brown, Druggist

James Burket Brown was a successful druggist and home builder in Hannibal, Missouri. He life story reads like a Horatio Alger story, you know, “rags to riches” as he was born from a farmer named William Woody Brown (father James Brown and wife Elizabeth Hubbard Brown) who came to Missouri in 1832 from Kanawha County, Virginia. They arrived at the Port of Scipio in Marion County, Missouri, on 6 April 1832 on the Herald, a steamboat, which plied regularly between the south and Galena, Illinois. He brought four sons, James Burket Brown, John Henry Brown, Marion Francis Brown and William Lawrence Brown. They purchased land in Ralls County south of Hannibal and they constructed a home and other buildings of logs. It was here that William Woody Brown died in 1845, along with his parents. The seeds of the other browns were firmly planted.

James worked from a very young age until he and two of his brothers, Marion Brown (who would become a physician in Hannibal) and William L. Brown, decided to go to California during the Gold Rush. They each came home with about $1,000 and they were flush to start new lives in Hannibal. James invested his income by buying out an old drug firm and successfully developed it so that he was able to build his own store and building in 1848 on North Main Street. They were wholesale and retail druggists and dealers in drugs, medicines and chemicals along with perfumery, window glass, glassware and many other fancy items of the day. They were also advertising pure wines and liquors for medicinal purposes. I like that, for medicinal purposes. That way they could sell the Brown’s Aromatic Bitters.

James also served as mayor from 1882 to 1885 and again in 1888 and founded a family that was prominent for several generations.

The Brown family took a strong stand for the Confederacy during the war between the states. The family, fearing acts of plunder by marauding troops, hid articles of value in a small cave which had been created by removal of stone for building purposes. A Confederate flag was made from silk petticoats by Sarah Brown Carstarphen, her mother, Frances Hubbard Brown, and the wives of Dr. Marion F. (Eleanor Virginia Carter) and William L. Brown. In defiance of Union soldiers who were occupying Hannibal, Dr. Marion Brown (Sarah Brown Carstarphen’s brother) displayed this flag on a wire which was extended from his office on North Main Street next to the J.B. Brown drug store. Dr. Brown persisted in saluting it whenever he passed it, in spite of the warnings of his friends. He did not fear being shot for this act, as he was the only doctor left in the vicinity. Finally, realizing that the flag would be confiscated as were other Confederate flags in the town, it was hidden. It was found in 1925 by the owners of the old J. B. Brown home at Fifth and Church Streets. It had been wrapped in paper, and a ball of twine had been wound around it. Bessie Brown placed this historic flag on display in the Mark Twain Museum on Hill Street.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens “Mark Twain” , Born November 30, 1835 in Florida, Missouri

It was reported that James Burket Brown, went to school with Samuel Clemens in the old log house in what is now “the park” in Hannibal.

J.B. Brown retired after sixty years of service in the drug business and turned his business over to his son, Albert S. Brown. He was, for fifty years, in the same building without any change of firm. He died in 1915.

Floral Lotion label. Probably 1910 or so.

Hive Syrup advertising card

Select Date Listings

1827: J.B Brown born in Virginia about 1827.

1832: Brown family arrives in Hannibal, Missouri.

1853: J.B. Brown & Co., Druggists and Apothecaries, City Hotel Building, Hannibal, Missouri advertisement (see below) – Hannibal Daily Journal, Wednesday March 23, 1853

BrownsAd_Hannibal_Daily_Journal_Wed__Mar_23__1853_

J.B. Brown & Co., Druggists and Apothecaries, City Hotel Building, Hannibal, Missouri advertisement – Hannibal Daily Journal Wednesday March 23, 1853

1858: Brown’s Drug Store, J.B. Brown, opens for business

1870: J.B. Brown, age 43, druggist, wife Nancy N. Brown, children, Fanny C., George S., Jefferson B., Albert S. Brown, Anna M. Brown, Hannibal, Missouri – United States Federal Census

1871: J.B. Brown, 217 North Main, wholesale and retail dealer in Drugs, Medicines etc. advertisement (see below) – History of Hannibal and City Directory 1871-72

J. B. Brown advertisement – History of Hannibal and City Directory 1871-72

1884: Honorable J. B. Brown, Mayor of Hannibal, Missouri.

1903-1905: J. (James) B. Brown, Druggist, 219 N Main – Hannibal, Missouri City Directory

1907: Veteran pharmacist, J.B. BROWN retires, Hannibal, Missouri, now eight years of age, after sixty years of service in the drug business, has retired from active work and turned his business over to his son, Albert S. Brown. He was for fifty years in the same building without any change of firm. – Meyer Brothers Druggist, C.F.G. Meyer, 1907

1915: Death James Burnet Brown

Posted in Apothecary, Auction News, Bitters, Holiday, Medicines & Cures | Tagged Aromatic, bitters, Brown's, Burket, Clemens, Druggist & Drugstore, drugs, Hannibal, Henson, J.B. Brown, James, Langhorne, Mark, Medicines, Missouri, retail, Samuel, Tim, Twain, wholesale | 1 Comment

“In Hoc Vinces” – Romaine’s Crimean Bitters

Posted on 12 November 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

“In Hoc Vinces” – Romaine’s Crimean Bitters

12 November 2014 (R•111614)

I have posted before, back in August 2011, on Romaine’s Crimean Bitters when I started the Peachridge Glass web site. At that time I posted my color run (above) and a few picture. Simple and sweet. Read: Nice Romaine’s Crimean Bitters in ABA Auction #53. I have also always wondered about the name of the bitters.

A few days since Newbern was dreadfully alarmed at poster’s placed in conspicuous places over the city, in these mysterious characters: R C B. The Mayor called upon his officials to tear the incendiary document down, which could mean no less, he supposed, than “Rise, Colored Brethren”.

This time around I wanted to talk about the mysterious triangular logo with the initials “R C B” at each point of the triangle. Within the triangle is “In Hoc Vinces” and the number “110” in an oval. “Libertu” is written at the base of the triangle. What did this mean? Some thought, and were quite alarmed, that it meant, “Rise Colored Brethren”. This might explain why many Romaine’s Crimean Bitters advertisements have a blank space where the logo might have been placed.

Newspaper advertising for Romaine’s Crimean Bitters usually took the form of full-page columns touting the bitters with testimonials and other tidbits of medical benefit information. The ads occurred from May 1863 until mid to late 1866 in newspapers like The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, The New York Times, National Republican (Washington, D.C.), Burlington Weekly Free Press (Vermont), Reading Times (Pennsylvania), Vermont Watchman and State Journal (Montpelier, Vermont) and the New York Tribune. About 10% of the advertising included the triangular art and the rest did not. Examples of both are below.

RCB8_Vermont_Watchman_and_State_Journal_Fri__Jun_9__1865_

Full column Romaine’s Crimean Bitters advertisement with the triangular logo on top. – Vermont Watchman and State Journal, Friday, June 9, 1865

Romaines_The_Brooklyn_Daily_Eagle_Wed__May_17__1865_

Full page column advertisement for Romaine’s Crimean Bitters. Notice the conspicuous open area at the top of the ad. Was the triangular logo pulled? – The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Wednesday, May 17 1865

In Hoc Vinces & Symbolism

Stanze_Vaticane_-_Raffaello_-_Apparizione_della_croce

Detail from The Vision of the Cross by assistants of Raphael, depicting the vision of the cross and the Greek writing “Ἐν τούτῳ νίκα” in the sky, before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.

“In hoc vinces” or “In hoc signo vinces” is a Latin phrase meaning “In this sign you will conquer.” It is a translation, or rendering, of the Greek phrase “ἐν τούτῳ νίκα” en touto nika níkaː]), literally meaning “in this conquer.” So take this bitters and conquer your illness. It also relates to something else which we well see further on.

“Libertu”, meaning I suppose, liberate yourself from whatever and all illnesses that Romaine’s Crimean Bitters will cure.

The imagery is the bowl of Hygeia with the serpent of Epidaurus. Hygeia was Aesculapius’s daughter and a Goddess of health (“Hygiene”). Hygeia was often pictured holding a cup with a snake coiled about her body or arm. The medical staff is the Caduceus with the two snakes on the staff that has been adopted in the West as a symbol of medicine (not pharmacy) since the 19th century and has likely stemmed from bowl of Hygiea and the serpent. The staff is depicted with wings and is that of Mercury (Roman) or Hermes (Greek), the messenger of the Gods.

These bitters marketing guys, weren’t holding back any punches. ~~I have no clue what the “110” in an oval means.~~

Marianne Dow states that 110 has to do with Psalms 110:1 and is a Masonic reference. “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

Sample of use of “In hoc signo vinces” in a 1721 Portuguese coin

The Crimean War

The facsimile bank note below, from the Joe Gourd collection, helps illustrate more about the name of this bitters, “The Crimean Bank” is the prominently arched over a fort under attack. “In hoc vinces” is beneath the illustration. There are tepees and rifles at the base of the note flanked by the signature of “Romaine” on the left and “W. Chilton” on the right.

Romaine’s Crimean Bitters facsimile bank note (Note that note is signed by Romaine and Chilton) – Joe Gourd Collection

The Crimean War (October 1853 – February 1856) was a conflict in which Russia lost to an alliance of France, Britain, the Ottoman Empire, and Sardinia. The immediate cause involved the rights of Christian minorities in the Holy Land, which was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. The French promoted the rights of Catholics, while Russia promoted those of the Orthodox Christians. The longer-term causes involved the decline of the Ottoman Empire, and the unwillingness of Britain and France to allow Russia to gain territory and power at Ottoman expense. Russia lost the war and the Ottomans gained a twenty-year respite from Russian pressure. The Christians were granted a degree of official equality and the Orthodox gained control of the Christian churches in dispute. [Wikipedia]

The illustration above, from the Romaine’s Crimean Bitters facsimile bank note, shows what appears appears to be Fort Konstantin and Fort Mihail under attack. During the Crimean War, The Siege of Sevastopol lasted from September 1854 until September 1855. The allies (French, Ottoman, and British) landed at Eupatoria on 14 September 1854, intending to make a triumphal march to Sevastopol, the capital of the Crimea, with 50,000 men. The 35 mile traverse took a year of fighting against the Russians. Major battles along the way were Alma (September 1854), Balaklava (October 1854), Inkerman (November 1854), Tchernaya (August 1855), Redan (September 1855), and, finally, Sevastopol (September 1855). During the siege, the allied navy undertook six bombardments of the capital, on 17 October 1854; and on 9 April, 6 June, 17 June, 17 August, and 5 September 1855. “In hoc vince”, we will conquer.

The tents had me wondering. Indians? The Civil War? No, this illustration, also from the facsimile bank-note, also represents The Siege of Sebastopol. This is Captain Wodehouse’s Battery at Camp Redoubt (see illustration below).

The Siege of Sebastopol. Part of Captain Wodehouse’s Battery from The Illustrated London News, 18 November 1854

Read about another bitters with a Crimean War link: What about this New Orleans Malakoff Bitters?

Bandit Signs and Guerilla Advertising

You all have seen bandit signs before. You know, the little wire and cardboard signs that seemingly appear overnight at intersections and in medians touting a nefarious product, local apartment complex or politician wanting your votes. They are illegal but they happen. Like weeds, you have to be diligent in removing the nasty little things.

Plantation Bitters Stereoscopic Card, America, 1865 – 1875. Black and white photographic image depicting the Flume Gorge at Franconia, New Hampshire with “Plantation / Bitters” painted in big letters on a large boulder. – Meyer Collection

Guerrilla marketing was originally a marketing strategy in which low-cost, unconventional means (including the use of graffiti, sticker bombing, flyer posting, etc.) were used in a (generally) localized fashion to draw attention to an idea, product, or service. Many bitters used this type of advertising, the king being Drake’s Plantation Bitters.

The two notices below explain the incident with the alarming number of small triangular “R C B ” cards posted on trees, fences, and brick walls. Interesting that this made national news. Did it alarm the marketeers? Usually any type of advertising is good to create product awareness and “buzz”.

RCB_The_New_Berne_Times_Thu__Jul_13__1865_

Romaine’s Crimean Bitters – The New Berne Times, Thursday, July 13, 1865

RCB_The_Daily_Kansas_Tribune_Sat__Sep_2__1865_

Romain’s Crimean Bitters “A Great Scare at Newbern, N.C. – The Daily Kansas Tribune, Saturday September 2, 1865

Romaine’s Crimean Bitters

The tall front label reads, “Romaine’s Crimean Bitters Tonic and Alterative”, “Depot Marble Store, No. 22 Walker St., New York”. It is signed “W. Chilton & Co”. The back label, not pictured, contains the medical benefits of the brand. More on Romaine and Chilton later.

“In Hoc Vinces” at the top of the label on a Romaine’s Crimean Bitters. Stephen Fletcher (Skinners) found a collection of bottles in a step back cupboard protected by a roll of chicken wire that was tacked to the face of the cupboard. This is one of the bottles. (from Jeff Noordsy) – Meyer Collection

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Color Runs, Currency, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions | Tagged advertising, Bandit, bank, bitters, Britian, Catholics, Chilton, Christian, Crimean, Empire, france, Gourd, Guerrilla, Hygiea, In Hoc Vinces, Konstantin, lasbel, Libertu, Mihail, New York, Orthodox, Ottoman, Romaine, Romaine's, Russia, Sardinia, Sevastopol, symbols, Walker, war, Wodehouse | 2 Comments

McManman’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters – Milwaukee

Posted on 11 November 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

McManman’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters – Milwaukee

Another Young America Stomach Bitters and Isham’s Stomach Bitters Variation?

11 November 2014

McManman, now that is a peculiar way to spell a version of the name McMahon. Almost a tongue twister. I also bet if we could find a McManman’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters, it would look just like a “Celebrated” Young America Stomach Bitters or the Isham’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters. All overlapped, in some respect or another, in about the same time period in Milwaukee, on East Water Street. All had similar medical claims. All used the word “Celebrated”. This post was prompted by the 1867 newspaper clipping further below that I found last Sunday evening.

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

M 61 McMANMAN’S CELEBRATED STOMACH BITTERS
D. M. McManman Should be John C. McManman
As a sure and certain cure for all diseases of the stomach and bowels, such as flatulency, indigestion, sour stomach, loss of appetite, and nervous stomach. They can be used by all persons and by those of temperate habits.
Patent No. 385 dated March 27, 1869

The new listing by Bill Ham for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

M 61 McMANMAN’S CELEBRATED STOMACH BITTERS, John C. McManman , 239 East Water Street, Milwaukee. As a sure and certain cure for all diseases of the stomach and bowels, such as flatulency, indigestion, sour stomach, loss of appetite, and nervous stomach. They can be used by all persons and by those of temperate habits.

 Patent No. 385 dated March 27, 1869

The Daily Milwaukee News, Tuesday, January 8, 1867

Early Milwaukee on Water Street in 1858. Home of a lot of bitters characters.

The McManman’s brand was advertised almost daily in The Daily Milwaukee News from late 1866 until mid 1868 by John McManman who addressed at 239 East Water Street in Milwaukee. P. Ray Isham of Isham’s Stomach Bitters was selling wines and liquors at 79 East Water Street in Milwaukee earlier in 1856-1858 prior to moving to Water Street in Chicago. I guess he liked being on Water Street wherever he was. Phillip Rindskoph & Brother (Young America Stomach Bitters), wines and liquors, addressed from 1862-1878 at 277 E. Water Street in Milwaukee. Pretty neat how these guys stuck together. They all jumped on the “Bitters” band wagon. Easy jump when you are a liquor dealer.

John C. McManman

From the sparse information that I can find, we can determine that John C. McManman was born in Ireland in 1815. He comes to Milwaukee most likely via a government land grant but that is only conjecture. He works his way from captain to general in the military. He was described as “a generous, good fellow as ever lived, but as full of wind as a bushel of beans, and very conceited about his own ability as a military man. He once made the remark that the world had never produced but three really great military men. The first was Hannibal the Carthagenian, the second was Napoleon Bonaparte, but the name of the third – modesty forbid him to mention. Simultaneously, he was in the wholesale and retail grocery business at 133 E. Water Street and from about 1863 until his death in 1871, he was in the liquor business. His primary seller was the McManman’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters. It just had to look just like the Celebrated Young America Stomach Bitters and the Isham’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters. Someone please find me an example.

Young America Stomach Bitters on the left. Isham’s Stomach Bitters on the right. – Meyer Collection

Select Listings:

1815: John McManman born in Ireland

1847: John McManman, paymaster, Milwaukee County Regimental Staff, Mineral Point, April 26, 1847 – Evening Courier (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), 8 May, 1847

1850: John McManman, merchant, age 35, – 1850 United States Federal Census

1851: Advertisement for “Immense Stock of Groceries”, wholesale and retail, John McManman (see advertisement below) – Milwaukee Daily Sentinel And Gazette, 23 April 1851

Advertisement for “Immense Stock of Groceries”, wholesale and retail, John McManman – Milwaukee Daily Sentinel And Gazette, 23 April 1851

1852: St. Patrick’s Day In The Morning, Major General John McManman – Milwaukee Under the Charter From 1847 to 1853 Inclusive

St. Patrick’s day was celebrated this year by our Irish fellow citizens in general, and by the City Guards, John White, captain, in particular. They were presented with a banner by the mayor upon this occasion, after which, in company with the Hibernian Benevolent Association, they marched to St. Gall’s where they attended high mass, winding up with a supper and ball at Gardiner’s Hall, where Lucas Seaver, Maj-Gen. John McManman, John White, Rev. Mr. Raymond, Sherman M. Booth and a few lesser lights made windy speeches about the American Eagle and what he has done and was yet to do. Oh, but those were the days for military display, and if Gen. McManman was not the greatest military genius of the age, then he was mistaken. He once made the remark that the world had never produced but three really great military men. The first was Hannibal the Carthagenian, the second was Napoleon Bonaparte, but the name of the third — modesty forbid him to mention. He was a generous, good fellow as ever lived, but as full of wind as a bushel of beans, and very conceited about his own ability as a military man. He kept a liquor store for several years and sold a kind of bitters (his own make) that were quite popular. He died December 1, 1871. Peace to his memory.

1854-1856: John McManman, Adjutant General of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, April 1, 1854 to April 1 1856

1863: John C. McManman, liquors, 98 E. Water, r. 313 Jefferson – Milwaukee, Wisconsin City Directory

1865-1866: John C. McManman, liquor dealer, r. 383 Jackson – Milwaukee, Wisconsin City Directory

1867: John C. McManman, mnfr. McManman’s Bitters, 239 E. Water, r. Jackson – Milwaukee, Wisconsin City Directory, 1867

1868: John C. McManman, Bitters Manufacturer, 239 E. Water – Commercial Directory of the Western States

1869: McManman’s Bitters Patent No. 385 dated March 27, 1869 – Bitters Bottles, Ring & Ham

1870: John C. McManman, bitters mnfr. 81 and 83 Detroit, r. 94 2nd – Milwaukee, Wisconsin City Directory, 1870

1871: Death John C. McManman on December 1, 1871

See 239 Water Street Now

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures | Tagged america, bitters, Celebrated, Ireland, Isham, liquor, McManman, Medicine, milwaukee, Stomach, water, Wisconsin, young | 1 Comment

Isham’s Stomach Bitters – Chicago

Posted on 10 November 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Isham’s Stomach Bitters – Chicago

10 November 2014 (R•111114)

The Isham’s Stomach Bitters is an extremely rare bitters that some say may be a western bitters. Even in Ring & Ham is says, “Thought by some to be from San Diego, California. No proof.” I have found some information that puts this brand in Chicago with P. Ray Isham. My example is pictured in this post. It came from American Bottle Auctions, Auction 38, Lot #64 (part-3). Even the auction listing said, “Purportedly a Western bitters”. The bottle is related to Young American Stomach Bitters from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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

I 35 ISHAM’S STOMACH BITTERS

ISHAM’S // STOMACH // BITTERS // f //
9 3/8 x 2 3/45 (7 1/4) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied Mouth, Extremely rare
Thought by some to be from San Diego, California No proof. Needs to be revised to Chicago (see below)

The new listing by Bill Ham for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

I 35 ISHAM’S STOMACH BITTERS

ISHAM’S // STOMACH // BITTERS // f //
9 3/8 x 2 3/45 (7 1/4) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied Mouth, Extremely rare
Entered by Act of Congress in 1864. Manufactured by P. Ray Isham, Chicago, Illinois
The Wisconsin Lumberman, Wednesday, August 3, 1864. Isham’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters. P. Ray Isham, Agent and Prop. 167 South Water Street, Chicago, Illinois
Isham’s Stomach Bitters, P. Ray Isham, proprietor, 167 S. Water, Chicago – Chicago, Illinois City Directory 1865

Isham’s Stomach Bitters – Meyer Collection

Isham’s Stomach Bitters – Meyer Collection

Isham’s Stomach Bitters – Meyer Collection

Isham’s Stomach Bitters – Meyer Collection

Isham’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters label. Entered by Act of Congress in 1864. Manufactured by P.Ray Isham, Chicago, Illinois – Library of Congress

Percy Ray Isham

P. Ray Isham (probably didn’t like Percy) was born in Williston, Vermont and next shows up in Buffalo, New York where he moves to Milwaukee in late 1844 or early 1845. Many settlers came in the late 1830s and early 1840s from the eastern states. Known as “Yankees”, they were attracted by the government’s sale of land at $1.25 per acre.

The first time we see P. Ray in business is with Edwin D. Baker when they call their firm Baker, Isham & Company. They were addressed at 79 East Water Street and imported and sold wines, liquors and cigars. Next it was Isham, Patton and Black. By 1860, Isham is out on his own with Isham & Company. He is promoting and selling Young America Stomach Bitters which was a real surprise to me.

We do see draft records in 1863 for P. Ray Isham but he resurfaces in Chicago in 1864 where he commissions the wonderful art within this post of the flag rider and brand mark for Isham’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters. It seems to be a direct knock-off of the Young America Stomach Bitters which was made by Phillip Rindskoph and Son in Milwaukee. The bottles are almost identical. We see advertisements through 1865 but they stop quickly thereafter. Typical for most extremely rare bitters. Short shelf life.

Young America Stomach Bitters on left. Isham’s Stomach Bitters on right…..Almost identical forms – Meyer Collection

Select Listings:

1824: Percy Ray Isham born on 22 January 1824 in Williston, Vermont.

1844-1845: Percy Ray Isham moves from Buffalo, New York to Milwaukee, Wisconsn.

185o: P. Ray Isham, age 26, living Milwaukee, Ward 3 – 1850 United States Federal Census

1856-1858: Baker & Isham, wines and liquors, 79 East Water Street (see advertisement below) – Milwaukee County Directory Businesses (advertisement Milwaukee City Directory, and Business Advertiser)

Baker & Isham, Wines, Liquors and Cigars, 79 East Water Street – Milwaukee City Directory, and Business Advertiser

1860: P. Ray Isham, liquor dealer, Milwaukee, Wisconsin – 1860 United States Federal Census

1861: Isham & Co., sole Agents Milwaukee, selling the Celebrated Young America Stomach Bitters (see below) – The Daily Milwaukee News, Saturday, September 21, 1861

IshamAd2The_Daily_Milwaukee_News_Sat__Sep_21__1861_ copy

Isham & Co. selling the Celebrated Young America Stomach Bitters – The Daily Milwaukee News, Saturday, September 21, 1861

1862-1878: P. Rindskoph & Brother, Wines and liquors (Phillip and Louis Rindskoph) appeared in Milwaukee, Wisconsin city directories from 1862-1878 at 277 E. Water. There was also a L. Rindskoph & Son, wholesale wines and liquors (Leopold and Samuel Rindskoph) at 266 E. Water during the same years. “P. Rindskoph & Bro.” is also embossed on the Young America Stomach Bitters *Phillip (Phillip RINDSKOPF Born: Mar 16, 1836 in Bohemia Died: Feb 22, 1867 in Milwaukee ward 15, Milwaukee, Wisconsin age 31) *1850 and 1855 to Milwaukee. Family owned brewery, bottling factory. Brothers: Samuel, Elias, Jacob, Max, Siegfried and Philip. Sisters: Caroline, Fanny, Theresa. Loeb Rindskopf (father) was one of the Jewish pioneers in Milwaukee.

1863: P. Ray Isham, Commercial Merchant, born Vermont – U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865

1863: P. R. Isham (Isham & Patten) Commission Merchant, 6 Rees Block – Annual Report of the Trade and Commerce of Milwaukee

1864: Isham’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters label. Entered by Act of Congress in 1864 (see label above). Manufactured by P. Ray Isham, Chicago, Illinois – Library of Congress

1864: P. Ray Isham, agent dealer in wines, liquors, etc., 164 S. Water, Chicago – Chicago, Illinois City Directory

1864: Isham’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters advertisement (see below) – The Wisconsin Lumberman, Wednesday, August 3, 1864

Ishams_The_Wisconsin_Lumberman_Wed__Aug_3__1864_

Isham’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters advertisement- The Wisconsin Lumberman, Wednesday, August 3, 1864

1865: Isham’s Stomach Bitters, P. Ray Isham, proprietor, 167 S. Water, Chicago – Chicago, Illinois City Directory

1870: P. Ray Isham, retired merchant, Chicago, Illinois (now says birth home was New York) – 1870 United States Federal Census

1888: Death P. Ray Isham on 29 October 1888 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, History, Liquor Merchant | Tagged america, Baker, bitters, Celebrated, chicago, illinois, Isham, liquor, Meyer, milwaukee, Patton, Percy, Ray, Rindskoph, square, Stomach, Vermont, Wine, Wisconsin, young | 1 Comment

Reference to an unlisted Mormon Tonic Bitters

Posted on 8 November 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Mormon Temple and Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah, from Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views – Wikipedia

Reference to an unlisted Mormon Tonic Bitters

08 November 2014 (R•040819 – R&H listing)

Made and used by the Mormons of Utah for 46 years

The other day, while patrolling the internet, I came across this listing for Mormon Tonic Bitters from the St. Paul Daily Globe on April 9, 1893. To my knowledge, this is the first bitters with the word “Mormon” that I am aware of. This brand was sold up in St. Paul, Minnesota as confirmed by the second advertisement.

Mormon Tonic Bitters listing – St. Paul Daily Globe, April 9, 1893.

Mormon Tonic Bitters advertisement – St. Paul Daily Globe, June 11, 1893.

I like the marketing copy above. “We guarantee to CURE any of the above diseases. We can’t publish testimonials, as we got 16,000 from 16,000 bottles in 16 weeks.” OK the bottle of Mormon Tonic Bitters cost $1 a-piece. Are they boasting that they got $16,000 or 16,ooo testimonials? Both figures quite astonishing, in 16 weeks no less. Un-huh.

The reference to $250,000 at the top of the advertisement relates to The Great Mormon Remedy Company (limited) from St. Paul, Minnesota which incorporated on November 11, 1892 with $250,000 in Capital Stock. They were gone by the end of 1893. Oh well. I guess drinking a bitters from the Mormons didn’t catch on.

The Great Mormon Remedy Company (Limited) was listed at 321 Wabasha Street in 1893 and 1894 in St. Paul City Directories. Dermont M. Monteith was the President and Treasurer. John J. Cushing, was the Secretary and Manager. Dermont was also a Managing Director at North American Savings, Loan & Building Company. He was born in Colfax, Wisconsin in 1856. The bitters foray was a short-lived, side line venture. I know of no existing bottle.

The new listing by Bill Ham for the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

M 129.5 MORMON TONIC BITTERS, Great Mormon Remedy Company, General Agents, St. Paul, Minn.
St. Paul Daily Globe, June 11, 1893

Wabasha Street circa 1908 – Shorpy

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, History, Medicines & Cures, Remedy, Tonics | Tagged bitters, church, Cushing, Dermont, Lake, Minnesota, Monteith, Mormon, Remedy, salt, St. Paul, Tabernacle, Temple, Tonic, Utah, Wabasha | Leave a comment

So who is Dr. Buzzell?

Posted on 8 November 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

So who is Dr. Buzzell?

08 November 2014

So who is Dr. Buzzell? At first when I found a Dr. Buzzell’s bitters advertisement (below) while working on the Globe Tonic Bitters (Portland, Maine) post, I thought we might have an unlisted bitters. That is not so. Dr. John D. Buzzell’s Vegetable Bilious Bitters was advertised in 1844 and 1845 in Maine and later we have a patent in 1895. What is going on here? Why the big time gap? Why does the Ring & Ham B 279 reference in Bitters Bottles reference a N. Wood, Portland, Maine bottle that is also referenced as W. 147.1? Are you confused? Me too. And who is the guy with the drooping eye at the top of the post?

BuzzellsVegBitters_Bangor_Daily_Whig_and_Courier_Fri__Jul_12__1844_

Dr. John D. Buzzell’s Family Medicines Vegetable Bilious Bitters advertisement – Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, Friday, July 12 1844

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles for the Dr. Buzzell’s Vegetable Bilious Bitters is as follows. Notice the N. Wood Portland Maine bottle illustration used for the brand.

B 279 L … Dr. Buzzell’s Vegetable Bilious Bitters
N. WOOD / PORTLAND / ME // f // f // f //
Prepared and sold wholesale and retail by Nathan Wood
202 Fore St. Portland, Maine
7 1/4 – 7 5/8* x 3 1/4 x 2 1/8 (5 3/8) 7/8
Rectangular, Aqua, LTC and LTCR, Applied mouth; Amber, Olive amber and Olive green, LTC and DLTC, Rough and Metallic pontil mark*Due to variation in neck length

Liberty Standard (Hollowell, Maine) March 13, 1845; Dr. John D. Buzzell’s Vegetable Bilious Bitters

These bitters are a sure cure for loss of appetite, foulness of the stomach, costiveness, dizziness, headache, jaundice, asthma, dropsy, rheumatism, indigestion, dyspepsia, faintness and sinking at the stomach, eruptions on the face and neck and as a purifier of the blood, they stand unequaled

Maine Business Directory, 1867-68
Maine Business Directory 1876

Patent No. 25,295, Vegetable Bitters. Edward N. Bates, Portland, Maine filed July 16, 1894. Used since May 1, 1893.

Patent listing for Old Dr. Buzzell’s Vegetable Bitters, Filed July 16, 1894 – Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, 1895

James M. Buzzell

The key here is understanding that James M. Buzzell (born about 1812) was the son of Reverend John Buzzell (1767-1863). John D. Buzzell’s Family Medicines is referenced on the tall advertisement above from 1844. James came from a family of doctors, he being one of three brothers (Luke, Alvah and James Buzzell) to enter the medical profession. James started his medical career in 1836 and was an eclectic physician and surgeon. The Eclectic movement, was a 19^th-century botanical branch of American medicine that operated from 1825 through 1939. The Eclectics spent more than 114 years studying North American medicinal plants for use in botanical remedies along with other substances and physical therapy practices. James Buzzell was also the proprietor of Buzzell’s Vegetable Tonic Bitters. He must have picked up the recipe from his father, John before Reverend Buzzell found his calling as a man of God. He was also the proprietor of several other tonic medicines, a Vegetable Blood Cordial, a remedy for dyspepsia and as noted, the Tonic Bitters. You could obtain these yourself from Dr. Buzzell, at his office at the corner Pearl aud Federal Streets., where during office hours he was seeing patients.

The Buzzell family would have known Nathan Wood (1812-1877) in Portland, Maine as Wood was an agent for their medicine. James Buzzell and Nathanial Wood were also both born in 1812 in the same area. His name is not at the bottom of the 1844 advertisement above. Probably a year or two, too early. Nathan Wood began as a dealer in Botanic medicines in Portland in 1844 or so and remained in business as Nathan Wood & Son until 1913. Soon after starting the business, he had bottles embossed with his name and they contained a variety of prescriptions with only a label to identify the brand. As you can see from my example below, the bottle contained N. Woods Improved Vegetable Bitters. To demonstrate this, you can see on the 1875 receipt below, an order for 3 1/4 dozen Buzzell’s Bitters for $13. So N. Wood was obviously in a business relationship with James M. Buzzell, albeit down the road time-wise.

A Lible Suit Avoided! The Libeller Exposed….. The Truth Triumphant! Tell Your Neighbors that Nathaniel Wood … Atwood’s Jaudice Bitters Caution. No One Has a Right to Manufacture Atwood’s Genuine Physical Jaundice Bitters … Except Nathan Wood, Portland, Me.

Nathan Wood, 1873

Edward Bates received Patent No. 25,295 for Old Dr. Buzzell’s Vegetable Bitters in Portland, Maine on July 16, 1894. He said it was used since May 1, 1893. That doesn’t make sense. I wonder why he just didn’t say 1844 or so. Certainly goes with the name.

And the guy with the drooping eye at the top of the post? He is Reverend John Buzzell where this all started. He certainly doesn’t have the “Einstein” look used for the trademark for Old Dr. Buzzell’s Vegetable Bitters. If you look close enough, it could be a similar illustration.

[Portland MAINE: Its Representative Business Men and Its Points of Interest, George Fox Bacon, 1891]

JAMES M. BUZZELL, M.D, Physician and Surgeon, also proprietor of a Vegetable Blood Cordial, Dyspeptic Remedy and Tonic Bitters. Office: Corner Pearl and Federal Sts., Portland, Me.

Prominent among the Physicians and Surgeons of this city, stands James M. Buzzell, M.D. His name and reputation are well-known to most people in Portland, for he has been a successful practitioner for more than half a century, having begun his career in 1836. Dr. Buzzell is a native of Parsonsfield, Me., and is the son of Rev. John Buzzell, and comes of a family of Doctors, he being one of three brothers to enter the medical profession. Dr. James M. Buzzell was graduated at Dartmouth College, after which time he spent a number of years teaching. He has occupied the position of Professor or teacher in five different Colleges. His career as physician and surgeon has been one of long-standing and wide experience, aud he has been successful in operations and cures, which from their delicate nature, men of less experience and confidence, have been fearful of trying. That dreadful disease, Cancer, has always been called incurable, and for its advanced stages, no remedy has yet been found. Dr. Buzzell, however, has remedies which for superficial Cancer, are surer than the knife, and for this alone he deserves the thanks of suffering humanity. His remedies for other serious diseases, notably tumors and scrofulous troubles, as well as others of various natures, have proved most efficacious. Dr. Buzzell is the proprietor of several excellent tonic medicines, a Vegetable Blood Cordial, a remedy for dyspepsia and Tonic Bitters. These can be obtained from Dr. Buzzell himself, at his office, corner Pearl aud Federal Sts., where during office hours he is always ready to see patients.

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles for the N. Wood Vegetable Bitters is as follows:

W 147.1 N. WOOD VEGETABLE BITTERS
N. WOOD / PORTLAND / ME
9 5/8 x 3 (6 1/2)
Rectangular (with beveled corners), Yellow olive, Applied mouth, Pontil, Extremely rare

(Similar to W. 147.1 ) N. Woods Vegetable Bitters, Portland, Maine, Label: Dr. Nathan Wood’s Improved Vegetable Bitters (Ex: Sam Greer) – Meyer Collection

(Similar to W. 147.1 ) N. Woods Vegetable Bitters, Portland, Maine, Label: Dr. Nathan Wood’s Improved Vegetable Bitters (Ex: Sam Greer) – Meyer Collection

Nathan Wood & Son receipt (note misspelling on Nathan) for 3 1/4 dozen Buzzell’s Bitters for $13. December 4, 1875

Select Listings:

1812: James M. Buzzell born about 1812 in Deering, Cumberland, Maine. Son of Rev. John Buzzell. Buzzell is a native of Parsonsfield, Maine.

1836: Dr. James M. Buzzell began his career as a physician.

1850: James M. Buzzell, physician, (wife Rebecca) Limerick, Maine – 1850 United States Federal Census

1869-1871: James M. Buzzell, ecl. physician, Gorham – Maine Business Directory

1875: Nathan Wood & Co. selling Buzzell’s Bitters (see receipt)

1884-1885: James M. Buzzell, eclectic physician, 51 then 45 Green – Portland Maine City Directory

1888: James M. Buzzell, eclectic physician, 399 1/2 Congress – Portland Maine City Directory

1889: James M. Buzzell, physician, 155 Federal – Portland Maine City Directory

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions, Tonics | Tagged Bilious, bitters, Botanic, Buzzell, Doctor, Eclectic, family, James, John, Maine, Medicine, Nathan, Portland, Reverend, Vegetable, wood | Leave a comment

Globe Tonic Bitters – Portland, Maine

Posted on 7 November 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Globe Tonic Bitters – Portland, Maine

07 November 2014

Glass Works Auctions has this spectacular example of a fully labeled Globe Tonic Bitters from John W. Perkins & Company in Portland, Maine in the “Christmas Comes Early” Auction #105 that opens this coming Monday, 10 November 2014. Please do not get this mixed up with the figural Globe Bitters by the Byrne Brothers & Company in New York.

John W. Perkins moved to Portland, Maine in 1853 and opened a wholesale drug, paint, and oil establishment in partnership with L.H. Titcomb. The following year, Titcomb retired, and John Perkins’s brother, Benjamin A. Perkins, who had been a member of the firm of Curtis & Perkins (see Curtis & Perkins Wild Cherry Bitters above) of New York, joined the firm which was now called J. W. Perkins & Co. There is quite a bit of material for this druggist but I could find no direct advertising tying the Globe Tonic Bitters directly to John W. Perkins,. That is why these bottle labels are so darn important.

THE GLOBE / TONIC – BITTERS”, (Ring/Ham, G-49), Maine, ca. 1865 – 1875, golden yellow amber semi-cabin, 9 7/8”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth, 99% original labels on both side panels. Paul Hadley Collection. The bottle has a 3/8” by 1/4” ice pick bruise on the inside of the lip that is somewhat masked by the cork closure. A fairly common bottle, but probably very rare with the original labels! – Glass Works Auctions 105

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

G 49 GLOBE TONIC BITTERS

THE GLOBE / TONIC // sp // BITTERS // sp //
John W. Perkins & Co. Sole proprietors Portland, Maine
9 5/8 x 2 3/4 (6 7/8)
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 4 sp, Scarce
Maine Business Directory 1863 – 1868

Globe Tonic Bitters – Meyer Collection

John W. Perkins & the Perkin’s Family

From the Biography of John Warren Perkins Biographical Review, Cumberland County, Maine, Boston Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1896, Pages 482-484

John Warren Perkins, of the firm of John W. Perkins & Co., wholesale druggists and dealers in drugs, paints, oils, and dyestuffs, whose warehouses are at 94 and 96 Commercial Street and 2 and 4 Customhouse Wharf, Portland, Me., was born in Weld, Me., March 17, 1820, son of Dr. Lafayette and Dorcas (Abbott) Perkins.

His grandfather, Colonel William Perkins, was a distinguished officer in the Revolutionary army, and at the close of the war was appointed Commandant of Castle William, now Fort Independence, in Boston Harbor. On March 26, 1786, a son was born to him and his wife; and the event was made the occasion of great rejoicing, in which all the garrison participated. At the proper time the boy was taken to Boston, escorted by a band of music and a squad of soldiers from the fort to King’s Chapel, where he was christened, the Marquis de Lafayette being the godfather and bestowing upon him his name.

Lafayette Perkins was a boy of fourteen when his father died and the family removed from Castle William. He received his early education in Boston, and took up the study of medicine under the tuition of the famous Dr. John C. Warren. Before he received his diploma the War of 1812 broke out, and he was appointed surgeon of the ship “Argus.” The youthful physician became very popular with all on board; and at the close of the war, when the vessel was at anchor in the River Lyde in France, he was presented by her officers with a beautiful dress sword, which is now in the possession of his son, the subject of this sketch.

Dr. Perkins returned to Boston, and was graduated from the Harvard Medical College, August 31, 1814. He commenced practice in Boston, but soon removed to Weld, Me., where he lived twenty-one years, residing on a beautiful farm on the shore of a lake. Though actively engaged in the duties of his profession, he also dealt in real estate, making large sales; and Perkins Plantation was named in honor of him. On March 18, 1836, he removed to Farmington, where his courteous and agreeable manners, together with his skill as a physician, soon won him a large practice and made him a prominent citizen. Some years prior to his death he was obliged to retire from active practice on account of failing health. He died in Farmington, May 9, 1874, in his eighty-ninth year. Dr. Perkins was a member of the convention which met in Portland on the second Monday of October, 1819, for the purpose of framing a constitution for the State of Maine.

The Doctor and his wife, Dorcas Abbott Perkins, were the parents of six children; namely, Charles, John W., Emeline, Benjamin A., George A., and Samuel E. Charles Perkins was cut off in the promise of young manhood, just as he had finished his studies, qualifying to practice as a doctor of dentistry. Benjamin A. is associated in business with his elder brother as one of the firm of J. W. Perkins & Co. George A., who was a missionary in Turkey and a teacher at Robert College, Constantinople, returned to the United States some twenty years ago, and until a short time before his death, which occurred July 15, 1895, was active in evangelical work, preaching in different places in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Samuel E. was a well-known druggist in Bangor some thirty years ago; it is now six or seven years since he died at Farmington.

John Warren Perkins attended the common schools of Weld and Farmington, finishing his studies at the Farmington Academy. He was sixteen years of age when his family removed to Farmington, and in that town in 1840 he took the initial steps in the drug business. In 1853 he removed to Portland and opened a wholesale drug, paint, and oil establishment in company with L. H. Titcomb; and when, in the following year, Mr. Titcomb retired, Mr. Perkins’s brother, Benjamin A., who had been a member of the firm of Curtis & Perkins of New York, took that gentleman’s place, the firm being J. W. Perkins & Co. In 1863 J. A. Titcomb became a member, and on his retirement in 1869 J. Henry Crockett was admitted. W. S. Kyle joined the company in 1880, but retired in 1890; and in January, 1892, Mr. Crockett died. The Perkins brothers with the following new associates – George L. Fogg, Bion R. Lane, and William P. Millay – now constitute the firm. The establishment is one of the largest and best appointed of the kind in New England, and has maintained a high standard of credit during all the time that Mr. John W. Perkins has been its head.

Mr. Perkins has been married twice, and has three children. His first wife, Margaret Hunter, of Farmington, daughter of Thomas and Betsey (Belcher) Hunter, left one son – Edward Warren Perkins, who is in business in Arizona. The second wife, Mrs. Eliza Bellows Perkins, daughter of Charles Bellows, of New Hampshire, is the mother of two daughters: Mary B., wife of James B. Cahoon, of Elmira, N.Y., who was-an ensign in the United States Navy; and Maude E. Perkins, who is yet with her parents.

In politics Mr. Perkins favors the Republican party. He is not an office-seeker, but acceptably filled the position of Postmaster in Farmington four years, from 1849 to 1853. He is prominent in Masonry, and has filled several offices, being at present Past Commander of St. Albans Commandery, Knights Templars, of which he is also a charter member. In religious belief he is a Congregationalist, belonging to the State Street Church, of which his wife is also a member. He has a handsome residence at 328 Spring Street. No man in active business for fifty years can show a better record or stands higher for integrity among his fellow citizens than John W. Perkins, who, enjoying the confidence and esteem of his associates to a remarkable degree, occupies a prominent place among the honored merchants and public men of Portland.

J. W. Perkin’s & Co. advertisement – 1869 Portland, Maine City Directory

Catalogue John W. Perkins & Co., Portland, Me., 1882

J. W. Perkin’s & Co. advertisement – 1885 Portland, Maine City Directory

J. W. Perkin’s & Co. advertisement – 1887 History of the Work of the Board of Trade of Portland, Maine

John W Perkins & Co, 1888 Letterhead. Note 1/2 dozen Burdock Bitters – eBay

1903 canceled John W. Perkin’s advertising cover – Stanley Gibbons

John W. Perkins & Co. Notice – Portland [Me.] Its Representative Business Men and Its Points of Interest By George Fox Bacon, 1891

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, History, Medicines & Cures | Tagged Benjamin, bitters, Curtis, drug, Druggist & Drugstore, Globe, John, Lafayette, Maine, Perkins, Portland, Titcomb, Tonic, wholesale | Leave a comment

Fully labeled Dr. A. S. Hopkins Union Stomach Bitters

Posted on 6 November 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Fully labeled Dr. A. S. Hopkins Union Stomach Bitters

06 November 2014

Glass Works Auctions has this super example of a Dr. A. S. Hopkins Union Stomach Bitters in their “Christmas Comes Early” Auction 105 that opens on 10 November 2014. Just love it. Their description is as follows:

9. “DR. A.S. HOPKINS / UNION STOMACH / BITTERS”, (Ring/Ham, H-179), Connecticut, ca. 1865 – 1875, olive yellow, 9 5/8”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth, 95% or better original labels on three panels. Paul Hadley Collection. The bottle is perfect! Very eye pleasing color, rarely seen with original labels!

What I find interesting here is comparing the label for an H 179 example to a H 180 example. Read: A labeled Dr. Hopkins Union Stomach Bitters. The H 180 variant has HARTFORD CONN. embossed on the bottle (bottom sketch below) along with the DR. A. S. HOPKIN’S UNION STOMACH BITTERS. The H 178 and H 179 variants (top sketch below) do not have HARTFORD CONN. embossed on the bottle.

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

H 179 DR. A. S. HOPKINS UNION STOMACH BITTERS
DR. A. S. HOPKINS / UNION STOMACH / BITTERS // sp // f // sp
Hartford, Connecticut
9 1/2 x 2 3/4 (7 1/8) 3/8
Square, Amber, Yellow Olive, and Green, LTC, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Scarce

H 180 DR. A. S. HOPKINS UNION STOMACH BITTERS

DR. A. S. HOPKINS / UNION STOMACH BITTERS / HARTFORD CONN. // f // sp // f //
L…Union Celebrated Root & Bark Bitters
9 3/4 x 2 3/4 (7) 3/8
Square, Yellow, Amber and Green, LTC, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Scarce

Here is an example of an H 182 label (below) from Bitters Bottles Supplement.

H 182 DR. A. S. HOPKINS UNION STOMACH BITTERS

DR. A. S. HOPKINS / UNION STOMACH BITTERS / F. S. AMIDON, SOLE PROP. / HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A. // f // sp // f //
L…Dr. Hopkins’ Celebrated Union Stomach Bitters, F. S. Amidon, Sucessor to Dr. A.S. Hopkins, Sole Proprietor and Manufacturer, 138 Windsor Avenue, Hartford, Conn. U.S.A.
9 1/2 x 2 3/4 (7 1/8) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Tooled lip, 2 sp, Common

Label for a H 182 Dr. Hopkins’ Celebrated Union Stomach Bitters – F. S. Amidon – Bitters Bottles Supplement

H 178 (left) Dr. A. S. Hopkins Union Stomach Bitters in an yellow olive green (ex: Grapentine). H 180 (right) Dr. A. S. Hopkins Union Stomach Bitters in amber – Meyer Collection

Posted in Auction News, Bitters, Medicines & Cures | Tagged Amidon, auction, bitters, Connecticut, Hartford, Hopkins, labeled, Stomach, Union | Leave a comment

Herzberg’s Bitters & Botanic Bitters by Herzberg Brothers

Posted on 4 November 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Herzberg’s Bitters & Botanic Bitters by Herzberg Brothers

04 November 2014

I haven’t thought about my Botanic Bitters (pictured on right above) until I received the below e-mail from a fellow with a Herzberg’s Bitters cylinder (pictured on left above). The name “Herzberg” is common on both bottles. I wonder if they are related? The e-mail:

Dear Mr. Ferdinand Meyer V,

My name is Harry and I am a novice antique bottle collector. If you could be so kind, I would like to know some information on this 11.5 in tall, amber fifth whiskey style bottle embossed Herzberg’s Bitters. I have been trying to find information on this bottle for some time but have not had any luck. The only thing that I can come up with this that a there is another bottle embossed Botanic Bitters Herzberg Bros. New York but that bottle is completely different from this one. I have been told that this bitters is in the Carlyn Ring & W.C. Ham Bitters Bottle book but I do not have a copy of it. Is this an uncommon bitters bottle? I do not know if this helps but I bought this in southeast PA.

Thank you
Harry

Botanic Bitters (motif of Sphinx) – Meyer Collection

“BOTANIC” / (motif of the Sphinx) / “BITTERS – HERZBERG BROS – NEW YORK”, (B-165), New York, ca. 1865 – 1875, medium amber, 9 3/4″h, smooth base, applied tapered double collar mouth. A pinhead size bruise exists on the top of the lip another is on a back panel edge. An unusual form, with unusual embossing! – Glass Works Auctions

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles for the Herzberg’s Bitters is as follows:

H 104.7 HERGBERG’S BITTERS

HERZBERG’S / BITTERS // c //
11 1/2 x 3 1/4 (5 3/4)
Round, Amber and Yellow, LTCR, Applied mouth, Very rare

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

B 165 BOTANIC BITTERS

BOTANIC ( au ) / motif-sphinx / BITTERS / HERZBERG BROS. // f //
NEW YORK //
10 x 3 1/2 x 2 3/4 (6) 1
Rectangular, Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth, Rare

New York Directory 1877-8 Herzberg Bros. 46 Vesey Street called Botanic Sphinx Bitters. This brand unknown with paper label.

Drug Catalog: 1894 M&R

Trade Mark issued August 1875 to Moritz Hertzberg of New York City for Botanic Aromatic Bitters. As Herzberg name first appeared in the New York City directory in 1877 as producer of Botanic Sphinx Bitters, it is assumed that he produced a bitters with a paper label identity and then switched names adding a sphinx motif by 1877.

Stereoscopic card of the Great Sphinx and Ruins of Temple, Egypt – New York address

Herzberg Family

From the best that I can tell, the father, Heiman Herzberg was born in Germany around 1810 and came to America in the late 1850s with his family, settling in New York City. He was listed as selling “bitters” in 1866 at 72 Broome Street. He had four or five sons, Joseph (1835-), Aaron, (1842-1919), Moritz (1847-) and Leo (1855-). These guys were the Herzberg Brothers and they ran various wholesale and retail liquor stores in New York City from 1869 to 1889 or so. I have a feeling that Emanuel Herzberg (born 1812 in Prussia) was Heiman’s brother. He was a physician in New York City.

Their big seller was Botanic Bitters that had an odd “Sphinx” embossed on the face of the bottle. Moritz Herzberg received a patent in 1875 and they sold the product in New York and surrounding areas from then until 1877 or 1878. The Herzberg’s Bitters cylinder can not be directly tied to the family but I strongly suspect it was a predecessor to the embossed Botanic “Sphinx” Bitters bottle. Note that Harry found the bottle in southeast Pennsylvania which puts it in the area. I have asked for more pictures as I wonder if the bottle is pontiled. There is also a yellow example out there according to Ring & Ham.

Base of Hertberg Bitters – It does not appear to be pontiled as far as I can tell. The grayish substance on the base in one photo seems to just be mineralization. – Harry

Select Listings:

1810: Heiman Herzberg born in Prussia.

1848: Moritz Herzberg, born in Germany about 1848.

1862: Heiman Herzberg Naturalization on January 2, 1862

1862: Heiman (Heiman, Heisman) Herzberg, liquor, 311 Wash’n, h. 72 Broome – Trow’s New York City Directory also Emanuel Herzberg, physician, h 1 Amity – Trow’s New York City Directory *Are they related? *Probably brothers

1864: Heyman (Heiman, Heisman) Herzberg, bitters, h. 72 Broome – Trow’s New York City Directory also Emanuel Herzberg, physician, h 1 Amity – Trow’s New York City Directory

1867: Hyman Herzberg, h 104 Broome, Emanuel Herzberg, physician, h 1 Amity NYC – New York City Directory

1869-1872: Herzberg Brothers, liquor, (Moritz, Joseph and Aaron Herzberg), 70 E. Broadway – New York City Directory

1872: Herzberg Brothers, liquor, (Moritz and Aaron Herzberg), 70 E. Broadway – New York City Directory

1873: Herzberg Brothers, liquors, 207 Hudson, 209 Third and 70 E. Broadway – Goulding’s Business Directory of New York

1873: Moritz Herzberg, wines, 181 Water – Goulding’s Business Directory of New York

1874: Heyman Herzberg, broker, Aaron Herzberg & Erlend Herzberg, liquors, 209 Third and 207 Hudson, Emanuel Herzberg, physician, Moritz Herzberg, wines, 181 Water – New York City Directory

1875: Patent 2,868 for Botanic Aromatic Bitters (see below) by Moritz Herzberg – Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, July 9, 1875

1876: Moritz Herzberg, liquors, 46 Vesey, Aaron Herzberg, liquors, 6 Riverton *Erland Herzberg not listed- New York City Directory

1877: Advertisement for Botanic Bitters (see below), Herzberg Brothers, New York – Lowell, Mass Courier, 1877

Advertisement for Botanic Bitters, Hewrzberg Brothers, New York – Lowell, Mass Courier, 1877

1880: Moritz Herzberg, wholesale liquor dealer, New York City – United States Federal Census

1889: Herzberg & Co. Liquors, 41 Bowery, 11 Delancey and 44 Division (Aaron Herzberg, B Herzberg, wid Heiman, Leo Herzberg, Moritz Herzberg (also M & L Liquors)

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, History, Liquor Merchant, Questions | Tagged Aaron, Aromatic, bitters, Botanic, Brothers, cylinder, Emanuel, Heiman, Herzberg, Joseph, Leo, Moritz, New York, sphinx | 1 Comment

Daily Dose | November 2014

Posted on 1 November 2014 by Ferdinand Meyer V

NOVEMBER | 2 0 1 4

Saturday, 29 November 2014

Moosewood Bitters advertisement from the Boston Post on Monday, December 27, 1875. Wood, Pollard & Company Sole Agents for the United States. This tells me to look north to Canada where I found Moosewood Bitters advertisements in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1869.

Thursday, 27 November 2014 – Turkey Day

Tuesday, 25 November 2014

Early figural indian queens, photo circa 1950s, from the Mike Anderson collection. Note one queen is the Jamestown made bottle. It has a stopper. Photo courtesy Mike Anderson and Jim Bender.

Monday, 24 November 2014

Jim Bender took this picture of a picture of a Simon’s Centennial Bitters (figural bust of Washington) and a Constitution Bitters (figural gazebo) when he visited the great figural collection of Mike Anderson this past weekend. Look for a feature story in the March April edition of Bottles and Extras. The Constitution Bitters could be the oldest figural bitters. This particular example resides in a prominent Denver collection. Two other examples exist, one in New Jersey and one in Houston.

Mama… look at that labeled Dr. Petzolds… Ad from Heckler in the next Bottles and Extras.

Sunday, 23 November 2014

Absolutely no information on this Delhi Kidney & Liver Bitters, put out by Delhi Manufacturing Company in Los Angeles, California. Pic provided by Tim Henson.

Saturday, 22 November 2014

Longest Bitters name ever….? Handbill from the Joe Gourd collection. The Tomato, Sarsaparilla, Blackberry, Dandelion and Wild Cherry, Vegetable Compound Life Invigorating Bitters.

Thursday, 20 November 2014

Sent this e-mail to Bill Ham.

Bill:

There are really two Sarsaparilla and Tomato Bitters. Very much related.

The first, Sarsaparilla and Tomato Bitters by Dr. Truman Stillman at 96 Customhouse street in New Orleans in 1842. Frederick Brown was the New England agent.

The second, is when F. Brown took over the brand in Boston and it was F. Brown Sarsaparilla & Tomato Bitters

See updated post.

http://www.peachridgeglass.com/2014/11/sarsaparilla-tomato-bitters-boston/

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Duffy’s Pure Malt Whiskey post updated with those two excellent Duffy’s lots that close tonight in Norm Hecklers auction. Visit auction.

Cool Sarsaparilla and Tomato Bitters graphics that Chip Cable posted on Facebook.

Monday, 17 November 2014

Please visit Here are those four Texas Bitters post as it has been updated with an UNLISTED Comanche Bitters from Waco, Texas by Thomas B. Gates. Thanks to Corey Stock for lead. No I am not talking about Doc Dangleputty’s Comanche Bitters!

PalookaComancheBitters_The_Evening_Independent_Fri__Dec_6__1946_

Doc Dangleputty’s Comanche Bitters – The Evening Independent (Massillon, Ohio) Friday, December 6, 1946

Sunday, 16 November 2014

Romaine’s Crimean Bitters facsimile bank note added to post that has been updated talking about the symbolism on this note.

Saturday, 15 November 2014

Working on straightening out De Witts Bitters. Post in transition with new 1866 advertisement. Earlier than thought for this bitters. Odd since DeWitt was born in 1855.

Thursday, 13 November 2014

Brrrrrrrr. 35 degress and raining at Peach Ridge this morning. The same front.

Make sure you read Marianne Dow’s take on the symbolism with the “R C B” Romaine’s Crimean Bitters logo. “Rise, Colored Brethren”, “Romaine’s Crimean Bitters” and “Rothschild & Cie Banque” who were the high powers behind so much history, including the Freemasons as well as financing the Crimean War. Fascinating. Her work is posted in the comments section at the bottom of the post.

Monday, 10 November 2014

Look at this cool image used in an advertisement for Young America Stomach Bitters. One of my favorite squares. Post updated.

Sunday, 09 November 2014

MailBox updated. Zingari Bitters post updated.

Saturday, 08 November 2014

If one needed some medical Mary Jane in the 1850s they could see eclectic physician Dr. Buzz.

Interesting Bourbon Whiskey Bitters label on a Greeley’s Bourbon Whiskey barrel.

Also interesting that the SAME Dr. Paetz’s Stomach Bitters is at Glass Works Auctions 105. This bottle sold at North Amerucan Glass in April this year. Hmmmmnn.

Friday, 07 November 2014

Working out of the house today. Had the chimneys cleaned. Eliz out of town until mid next week. Just us dogs, all six. Here is reference to an unlisted Mormon Tonic Bitters. Kind of like saying a Digital Grandfather Clock. Saa Wah? From the St. Paul Daily Globe, April 9, 1893.

Thursday, 06 November 2014

Gawd, can you believe all of the auction announcements! GWA, Heckler, BBR, ABCR and a few others. Just in time to take away some Christmas money I guess. Anyway, updated a few posts today including one for Sol Frank’s Panacea Bitters, Dr. Jacob’s Bitters and the Arabesque Drakes.

Wednesday, 05 November 2014

Mystery picture of the day. Coming soon to an Auction House near you.

Monday, 03 November 2014

Look at all these Dr. A. W. Coleman’s Anti-Dyspeptic and Tonic Bitters from the Rod Vining collection in Alabama. Check that mouth on the aqua example! Post updated.

J. W. Hutchinson’s Tonic Bitters post updated with new info from Alabama collector Rod Vining.

Sunday, 02 November 2014

Look at this sexy picture of three Greeley’s Bourbon Bitters from Jack Stecher.

Updated similar Bourbon Whiskey Bitters post with this fine 1860 advertisement from a Vermont newspaper.

Saturday, 01 November 2014

Updated Greeley’s Bourbon Bitters post.

Posted in Advice, Daily Dose, News | Tagged 2014, Daily, Dose, news, November | Leave a comment

Brown’s Aromatic Bitters – Hannibal Missouri

13 November 2014 (R•111514) (R•111814)

[This post was inspired by Tim Henson from Missouri]

B 219 BROWN’S AROMATIC BITTERS

BROWN’S / AROMATIC / BITTERS / HANNIBAL / MO. // c // L…Brown’s Aromatic Cordial Bitters 8 3/4 x 3 3/8 x 2 (6 1/4) Oval, Aqua, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare (amber needs to be added)

James Burket Brown

Select Date Listings

“In Hoc Vinces” – Romaine’s Crimean Bitters

12 November 2014 (R•111614)

A few days since Newbern was dreadfully alarmed at poster’s placed in conspicuous places over the city, in these mysterious characters: R C B. The Mayor called upon his officials to tear the incendiary document down, which could mean no less, he supposed, than “Rise, Colored Brethren”.

In Hoc Vinces & Symbolism

The Crimean War

Bandit Signs and Guerilla Advertising

Romaine’s Crimean Bitters

McManman’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters – Milwaukee

Another Young America Stomach Bitters and Isham’s Stomach Bitters Variation?

11 November 2014

Patent No. 385 dated March 27, 1869

The Daily Milwaukee News, Tuesday, January 8, 1867

Top of post picture of Milwaukee in 1858

John C. McManman

Select Listings:

See 239 Water Street Now

Isham’s Stomach Bitters – Chicago

10 November 2014 (R•111114)

I 35 ISHAM’S STOMACH BITTERS

ISHAM’S // STOMACH // BITTERS // f // 9 3/8 x 2 3/45 (7 1/4) 3/8 Square, Amber, LTC, Applied Mouth, Extremely rare Thought by some to be from San Diego, California No proof. Needs to be revised to Chicago (see below)

I 35 ISHAM’S STOMACH BITTERS

Percy Ray Isham

Select Listings:

Reference to an unlisted Mormon Tonic Bitters

08 November 2014 (R•040819 – R&H listing)

Made and used by the Mormons of Utah for 46 years

M 129.5 MORMON TONIC BITTERS, Great Mormon Remedy Company, General Agents, St. Paul, Minn. St. Paul Daily Globe, June 11, 1893

So who is Dr. Buzzell?

08 November 2014

Liberty Standard (Hollowell, Maine) March 13, 1845; Dr. John D. Buzzell’s Vegetable Bilious Bitters

These bitters are a sure cure for loss of appetite, foulness of the stomach, costiveness, dizziness, headache, jaundice, asthma, dropsy, rheumatism, indigestion, dyspepsia, faintness and sinking at the stomach, eruptions on the face and neck and as a purifier of the blood, they stand unequaled

Maine Business Directory, 1867-68 Maine Business Directory 1876

Patent No. 25,295, Vegetable Bitters. Edward N. Bates, Portland, Maine filed July 16, 1894. Used since May 1, 1893.

James M. Buzzell

A Lible Suit Avoided! The Libeller Exposed….. The Truth Triumphant! Tell Your Neighbors that Nathaniel Wood … Atwood’s Jaudice Bitters Caution. No One Has a Right to Manufacture Atwood’s Genuine Physical Jaundice Bitters … Except Nathan Wood, Portland, Me.

Nathan Wood, 1873

W 147.1 N. WOOD VEGETABLE BITTERS N. WOOD / PORTLAND / ME 9 5/8 x 3 (6 1/2) Rectangular (with beveled corners), Yellow olive, Applied mouth, Pontil, Extremely rare

Select Listings:

Globe Tonic Bitters – Portland, Maine

07 November 2014

G 49 GLOBE TONIC BITTERS

THE GLOBE / TONIC // sp // BITTERS // sp // John W. Perkins & Co. Sole proprietors Portland, Maine 9 5/8 x 2 3/4 (6 7/8) Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 4 sp, Scarce Maine Business Directory 1863 – 1868

John W. Perkins & the Perkin’s Family

From the Biography of John Warren Perkins Biographical Review, Cumberland County, Maine, Boston Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1896, Pages 482-484

Fully labeled Dr. A. S. Hopkins Union Stomach Bitters

06 November 2014

H 179 DR. A. S. HOPKINS UNION STOMACH BITTERS DR. A. S. HOPKINS / UNION STOMACH / BITTERS // sp // f // sp Hartford, Connecticut 9 1/2 x 2 3/4 (7 1/8) 3/8 Square, Amber, Yellow Olive, and Green, LTC, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Scarce

H 180 DR. A. S. HOPKINS UNION STOMACH BITTERS

DR. A. S. HOPKINS / UNION STOMACH BITTERS / HARTFORD CONN. // f // sp // f // L…Union Celebrated Root & Bark Bitters 9 3/4 x 2 3/4 (7) 3/8 Square, Yellow, Amber and Green, LTC, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Scarce

H 182 DR. A. S. HOPKINS UNION STOMACH BITTERS

Herzberg’s Bitters & Botanic Bitters by Herzberg Brothers

04 November 2014

H 104.7 HERGBERG’S BITTERS

HERZBERG’S / BITTERS // c // 11 1/2 x 3 1/4 (5 3/4) Round, Amber and Yellow, LTCR, Applied mouth, Very rare

B 165 BOTANIC BITTERS

BOTANIC ( au ) / motif-sphinx / BITTERS / HERZBERG BROS. // f // NEW YORK // 10 x 3 1/2 x 2 3/4 (6) 1 Rectangular, Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth, Rare

New York Directory 1877-8 Herzberg Bros. 46 Vesey Street called Botanic Sphinx Bitters. This brand unknown with paper label.

Drug Catalog: 1894 M&R

Herzberg Family

Select Listings:

NOVEMBER | 2 0 1 4

Saturday, 29 November 2014

Thursday, 27 November 2014 – Turkey Day

Tuesday, 25 November 2014

Monday, 24 November 2014

Sunday, 23 November 2014

Saturday, 22 November 2014

Thursday, 20 November 2014

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Monday, 17 November 2014

Sunday, 16 November 2014

Saturday, 15 November 2014

Thursday, 13 November 2014

BROWN’S / AROMATIC / BITTERS / HANNIBAL / MO. // c //
L…Brown’s Aromatic Cordial Bitters
8 3/4 x 3 3/8 x 2 (6 1/4)
Oval, Aqua, LTC, Applied mouth, Extremely rare (amber needs to be added)

 Patent No. 385 dated March 27, 1869

ISHAM’S // STOMACH // BITTERS // f //
9 3/8 x 2 3/45 (7 1/4) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied Mouth, Extremely rare
Thought by some to be from San Diego, California No proof. Needs to be revised to Chicago (see below)

M 129.5 MORMON TONIC BITTERS, Great Mormon Remedy Company, General Agents, St. Paul, Minn.
St. Paul Daily Globe, June 11, 1893

Maine Business Directory, 1867-68
Maine Business Directory 1876

W 147.1 N. WOOD VEGETABLE BITTERS
N. WOOD / PORTLAND / ME
9 5/8 x 3 (6 1/2)
Rectangular (with beveled corners), Yellow olive, Applied mouth, Pontil, Extremely rare

THE GLOBE / TONIC // sp // BITTERS // sp //
John W. Perkins & Co. Sole proprietors Portland, Maine
9 5/8 x 2 3/4 (6 7/8)
Square, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, 4 sp, Scarce
Maine Business Directory 1863 – 1868

H 179 DR. A. S. HOPKINS UNION STOMACH BITTERS
DR. A. S. HOPKINS / UNION STOMACH / BITTERS // sp // f // sp
Hartford, Connecticut
9 1/2 x 2 3/4 (7 1/8) 3/8
Square, Amber, Yellow Olive, and Green, LTC, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Scarce

DR. A. S. HOPKINS / UNION STOMACH BITTERS / HARTFORD CONN. // f // sp // f //
L…Union Celebrated Root & Bark Bitters
9 3/4 x 2 3/4 (7) 3/8
Square, Yellow, Amber and Green, LTC, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Scarce

HERZBERG’S / BITTERS // c //
11 1/2 x 3 1/4 (5 3/4)
Round, Amber and Yellow, LTCR, Applied mouth, Very rare

BOTANIC ( au ) / motif-sphinx / BITTERS / HERZBERG BROS. // f //
NEW YORK //
10 x 3 1/2 x 2 3/4 (6) 1
Rectangular, Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth, Rare