Author Archives: Ferdinand Meyer V

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, Inc., 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. Ferdinand 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 gardening (Peachridge Gardens), antiques (Peachridge Collections), and early United States postage stamps. Ferdinand is the past three-term president of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, a long-time board member, FOHBC 2021 Hall of Fame, and one of the founding members of the FOHBC Virtual Museum.

Dr. Jaffe’s Celebrated Cinchona Bitters Trademark Letter

Posted on 12 October 2017 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. Jaffe’s Celebrated Cinchona Bitters Trademark Letter 12 October 2017 I came across this 1880 Dr. Jaffe’s Celebrated Cinchona Bitters advertisement above while searching for support material for another post. The brand was advertised, using pretty much the same small … Continue reading →

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Dr. Van Dyke’s Holland Bitters and the Headless Man

Posted on 10 October 2017 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. Van Dyke’s Holland Bitters and the Headless Man 10 October 2017 My friend Gary Beatty forwarded the above picture and email below of possibly an unlisted variant of a Dr. Van Dyke’s Holland Bitters bottle from St. Louis, Missouri. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, eBay, Ephemera, Gin, History, Medicines & Cures, Questions, Tax Stamps, Trade Cards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Dose | October • December 2 0 1 7

Posted on 9 October 2017 by Ferdinand Meyer V

October • December  |  2 0 1 7 24 December 2017 | Sunday I like this Drake’s Plantation Bitters lot from the last Glass Works Auctions Auction 117 . 21 December 2017 | Thursday A nice advertising trade card for Fitzpatrick’s 50 Cent Stomach … Continue reading →

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A Haven’s Tonic Bitters I recently picked up from an Arkansas collector

Posted on 7 October 2017 by Ferdinand Meyer V

A Haven’s Tonic Bitters I recently picked up from an Arkansas collector 07 October 2017 Here is an email and bottle images below from fellow bitters collector and friend Gary Beatty down central Florida way. I’m a bit suspicious that … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Apothecary, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Questions, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The donated bottle display that I spoke of at the national show

Posted on 17 August 2017 by Ferdinand Meyer V

The donated bottle display that I spoke of at the national show 17 August 2017 Hi Ferdinand: These photo’s are of the permanent display that I assembled for the East Hartford Public Library with the help of many collectors on … Continue reading →

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Dr. Maton’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters

Posted on 17 July 2017 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. Maton’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters Reinfried & Lesher – Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17 July 2017 I decided to pull the trigger on the damaged Dr. Maton’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters on eBay as it is just so darn rare and I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Cordial, History, Medicines & Cures, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The back story to Saving the Fizz

Posted on 8 July 2017 by Ferdinand Meyer V

How an interest that started almost 50 years ago manifested into a book on patent bottle closures The back story to Saving the Fizz 09 July 2017 My name is David Jones, a name that has always brought some comment … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Advice, Bottling Works, Collectors & Collections, History, Hutches, Mineral Water, News, Patents, Publications, Soda Bottles, Soda Water, Soft Drinks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Dose | July • September 2 0 1 7

Posted on 1 July 2017 by Ferdinand Meyer V

July • September  |  2 0 1 7 15 August 2017 Ferd, here is the provenance on the Elk Bitters. It was found about a month ago at a farm auction at Smithville, MO. It was simply laying in a bucket on a farm … Continue reading →

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Two incredibly tall G. N. Morison Wholesale Druggist Ads

Posted on 26 June 2017 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Two incredibly tall G. N. Morison Wholesale Druggist Ads 26 June 2017 I’ve written about George Noble Morison of New Orleans before, specifically his extremely rare G. N. Morison’s Invigorating Bitters. Here are two really interesting vertical advertisements from Morison who was … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr. Herrick’s Standard Family Medicine

Posted on 25 June 2017 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. Herrick’s Standard Family Medicine Herrick’s Strengthening Bitters and Herrick’s Vegetable Tonic Bitters 24 June 2017 Within this post is reference to two early bitters from 1846 and 1847 that seem to be unlisted. The Strengthening Bitters and Vegetable Tonic … Continue reading →

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