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.

Watkins’ Celebrated & Invigorating Bitters, John R. Watkin’s, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Posted on 9 April 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Watkins’ Celebrated & Invigorating Bitters John R. Watkin’s – Lancaster, Pennsylvania 09 April 2019 I’ve had tucked away and stored in a digital folder, the upper-most advertisement for John R. Watkins, Agent, Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Foreign and Domestic Wines … Continue reading →

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The Cherokee Medicine Company – Galveston, Texas

Posted on 7 April 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

The Cherokee Medicine Company Galveston, Texas Is this Lueder “Louis” Koester? 07 April 2019 (Koester jug added late the same day) Advanced Texas bottle collector Brad Seigler recently sent me a picture of an aqua square embossed The Cherokee Medicine … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Bottling Works, Collectors & Collections, Digging and Finding, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Questions, Sarsaparilla, Stoneware | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S.A. Hospital Department bottles

Posted on 31 March 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

U.S. Army Hospital Department bottles 31 March 2019 I’ve always wanted to create a gallery of U.S. Army Hospital Department bottles. The molds, colors and use during the Civil War and later years epitomizes the history and stunning glass in our … Continue reading →

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Dr. D. Smith’s Wild Cherry Tonic Bitters

Posted on 28 March 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. D. Smith’s Wild Cherry Tonic Bitters 28 March 2019 Bill Ham emailed me with a new bitters listing regarding a bottle on eBay that closed last night. See Listing He already assigned the bottle a catalog number which is … Continue reading →

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William J. Reading – Key West, Florida

Posted on 24 March 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

William J. Reading and his Coffin Flask Key West, Florida 24 March 2019 I like these little pocket or coffin flasks especially when they have interesting locales embossed on the bottles such as this W. J. READING, KEY WEST, FLA. … Continue reading →

Posted in Digging and Finding, Flasks, History, Liquor Merchant, Questions, Tobacco | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reed Brothers – Dealers in Drugs & School Books

Posted on 7 March 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Reed Brothers – Dealers in Drugs & School Books Reed’s Celebrated Overland Bitters 07 March 2019 I like that, …”Dealers in Drugs & School Books” and also “Proprietors of Reed’s Celebrated Overland Bitters.” Here is another super tough, extremely rare … Continue reading →

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Nicholas Longworth – Catawba Wine Bitters

Posted on 2 March 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Nicholas Longworth – Catawba Wine Bitters Cincinnati, Ohio 02 March 2019 Nicholas Longworth was an influential figure in the early history of American wine, producing sparkling Catawba wine from grapes grown in his Ohio River Valley vineyard on hills north … Continue reading →

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Missouri IXL Bitters – Isidor Bush

Posted on 27 February 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Missouri IXL Bitters – Isidor Bush 27 February 2019 Isidor Bush (or in Europe, Busch) has his name on the extremely rare Missouri IXL Bitters bottle which to me is quite amazing. I’ve only personally seen this bottle once and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitters, Civil War, Digging and Finding, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Publications, Questions, Wine & Champagne | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Garry Owen Strengthening Bitters – Ball, Lyons & Co.

Posted on 24 February 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Garry Owen Strengthening Bitters Ball, Lyons & Co. and I. L. Lyons & Co., New Orleans 24 February 2019 Did you know that Garry Owen Strengthening Bitters was named after an Irish tune for drinking and a quickstep dance? The … Continue reading →

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Khoosh Bitters – The Great Tonic of the Age

Posted on 22 February 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Khoosh Bitters The Great Tonic of the Age – The King of Bitters 22 February 2019 Not much attention is paid to Khoosh Bitters here in the United States as it is an English brand. I certainly understand collecting bottles … Continue reading →

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