Top 25 Kentucky’s Rarest Bitters Bottles

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Apple-Touch-IconAIn honor of and in preparation for the upcoming FOHBC 2014 National Antique Bottle Show in Lexington, Kentucky, I thought it would be nice to look at the Top 25 Kentucky’s Rarest Bitters Bottles. I will try to add pictures if I have actual examples, file pictures or if I can obtain pictures. Please help if you have images of any of these great bottles. We can only hope that some of these examples will make an appearance in the regional display exhibit at the Lexington National Show. Info

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Kentucky’s Top 25 Rarest Bitters Bottles

Compiled by Paul Van Vactor, Sheldon Baugh and Steve Keith

20 May 2014 (R•011719)

Compiling top 25 lists is a favorite with sports fans, but there’s no rule against doing the same for a state’s antique bottles. So we got together and the following lists are what we came up with. Not all of them are bottles. Enjoy.

TOP 25 of Kentucky’s Rarest Bitters Bottles:

See list for Top 25 Kentucky Rarest Bottles


1. Large olive green lady’s leg, measuring approximately 12 by 3.5 inches and embossed Universe Bitters / Manufactured by / Aug. Horstmann / Sole Agent / F.J. Schaefer / 231 Market St. / Louisville, Ky.

UniverseBitters


2. Amber triangular-shaped bitters bottle with embossed ribs on the sides. Embossed PASQUIER’S / FRENCH BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. Read: F. Pasquier’s French Hygienic Bitters – Louisville

PasquiersClipped_10


3. Amber octagonal lady’s leg bitters bottle embossed RIVAUD’S / COCKTAIL / BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. Smooth base.


4. Amber square bitters embossed RIVAUD’S IMPERIAL BITTERS / VICTOR RIVAUD / LOUISVILLE, KY. Smooth base. Read: Victor Rivaud’s Imperial Bitters | Louisville

RivaudsClipped1x


5. Amber square bottle with roofed shoulder embossed DR. M. SMITH’S / STOMACH / BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. Smooth base.


6. Round amber seal bottle embossed on seal BERNHEIM BROS. / & URI / LOUISVILLE / KY. Embossed horizontally below seal ULBRIGHT / RELIABLE / IMPORT CO. / TINCTURE / OF / CENTAURY / BITTERS. Also, embossed vertically on sides: BLOOD PURIFIER / STOMACH TONIC.


7. Green rectangular bottle with smooth base approximately 9.5 x 3 3/8 x 2 3/8 inches. Embossed O’MARRAS / FENIAN BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. / J.B. WILDER & CO.


8. Rectangular aqua bottle embossed DR. J.L. FLEECE’S / FEMALE BITTERS / LEBANON, KY. Smooth base.


9. Square amber bottle embossed COURTNEY’S / DIXIANA BITTERS / COURTNEY MEDICINE CO. / OWENSBORO, KY. Smooth base. (see below)

CourtneysDixianaBitters_10


10. Square amber bottle embossed HAVIS’ IRON BITTERS / THE WILLIAMSBURG DRUG CO. / WILLIAMSBURG, KY. Smooth base.


11. Square clear bottle with hobnail corners embossed WILDER’S BOURBON BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. Roofed shoulders.


12. Amber lady’s leg bottle approximately 11 5/16 by 3 3/8 inches and embossed SCHROEDER’S / SPICE BITTERS. Approximately 70 bottles were found in the wreck of the steamboat Bertrand.


13. Green square bottle with label: SCHROEDER’S STOMACH BITTERS. Bottle is embossed J.H. SCHROEDER / 28 WALL STREET / LOUISVILLE, KY. Measures approximately 10 x 3.25 inches, found on the wreck of the steamboat Bertrand.


14. Square bottle (green and amber examples) embossed DR. JOHN BULL’S / COMPOUND / CEDRON BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. (see below, 2 variants)

B254_DrJohnBulls_Meyer

JohnBullsCedronBittersSemiCabin


15. Square amber bottle 10.5 x 2 3/4 inches embossed R.L. EGERTON’S / STOMACH BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. (see below)

Egertons


16. Aqua to very light green E. CAMPBELL’S / STOMACH BITTERS / CREELSBORO, KY.


17. Amber DR. JAS. FOLEY’S TONIC BITTERS / J.T.S. BROWN / LOUISVILLE, KY.


18. Square aqua bottle with roofed shoulders embossed DR. JAS. GRAVES / TONIC BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. (see below)

G96_Graves&Son


19. Square aqua bottle with roofed shoulders embossed GRAVES & SON / TONIC BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. Probably has an embossed star.


20. Square amber bottle with roofed shoulders embossed A. HOFFELD’S / LIVER BITTERS / LOUISVILLE CHEMICAL / MANUFACTURING CO. / LOUISVILLE, KY. (see below)

H132_HoffeldsBitters_Meyer


21. Square amber bottle embossed THOMAS A. HURLEY’S / STOMACH BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. (see below two different examples)

H214_HurleysBitters_Meyer

HurleysBittersVariant


22. Clear rectangular bottle measuring approximately 8 by 2 7/8 by 1.25 inches and embossed QUININE / TONIC BITTERS / MANF. BY / Q.T.B. CHEMICAL CO. / LEXINGTON, KY. / U.S.A. Has initials Q.T.B. on side panels. Bottle also comes in a smaller size with the same embossing.

QuinineTonicBitters


23. Like No. 22, but shorter in size.


24. Amber sample-sized bottle with lady’s leg measuring approximately 4 inches in height and embossed SCHROEDER’S / BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. / AND CINCINNATI. Embossed rooster on bottle.


25. Amber bottle with bulged neck and four smooth sides embossed E. BULL’S / LUXURY BITTERS / LOUISVILLE, KY. (see below)

B256_BullsLuxury)


Credits:
1. Carlyn Ring Collection – Glass Works Auctions Sale 2. Private Collection 4. Anonymous Collection 5. Jerry Phelps 9. Anonymous Collection 14. Meyer Collection (top) and Anonymous Collection (bottom) 15. Meyer Collection 18. Meyer Collection 20. Meyer Collection 21. Meyer Collection (top) and Anonymous Collection (bottom) 22. Anonymous Collection 25. Meyer Collection

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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