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.

Excelsior Stomach Bitters – Drs. Ault and McGavern – St. John, Iowa

Posted on 1 January 2019 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Excelsior Stomach Bitters – Drs. Ault and McGavern St. John, Iowa 01 January 2019 I recently received, reviewed and responded to a couple of emails and newspaper clippings from Mark Wiseman, a well-known antique bottle collector from Iowa that included … Continue reading →

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

Dr. Thomas A. Hurley’s Stomach Bitters – Louisville

Posted on 29 December 2018 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. Thomas A. Hurley’s Stomach Bitters – Louisville 29 December 2018 The Hurley’s Stomach Bitters bottle is rated extremely rare and is from Louisville, Kentucky. My example is pictured at the top of this post. There is actually a variant … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Apothecary, Bitters, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures, Sarsaparilla | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The 1948 Prince Cantacuzène Collection of Early American Bottles and Flasks

Posted on 28 December 2018 by Ferdinand Meyer V

The 1948 Prince Cantacuzène Collection of Early American Bottles and Flasks 28 December 2018 Chris Hartz sent me and some fellow collectors the following email regarding the 1948 Prince Mikhail Cantacuzène (pictured above) collection of early American bottles and flasks. … Continue reading →

Posted in Auction News, Collectors & Collections, Early American Glass, Historical Flasks, History, Publications, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Riddle, Fuller & Co. selling Celebrated California Bitters?

Posted on 27 December 2018 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Riddle, Fuller & Co. selling Celebrated California Bitters? Council Bluffs, Iowa 27 December 2018 I recently received a couple of emails and newspaper clippings from Mark Wiseman, a experienced bottle collector from Iowa that included advertisements for unlisted bitters including Adler’s … Continue reading →

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

R.C. Ridgway & Co. Lady’s Leg – Philadelphia

Posted on 24 December 2018 by Ferdinand Meyer V

R.C. Ridgway & Co. Lady’s Leg – Philadelphia 24 December 2018 I received the email below and pictures of an exciting new find from Robert Biro that I thought I would share. I was curious who R.C. Ridgway was? It … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitters, Digging and Finding, History, Spirits, Wine & Champagne | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Use Dr. Henley’s Celebrated California IXL Bitters

Posted on 21 December 2018 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Use Dr. Henley’s Celebrated California IXL Bitters 21 December 2018 Dr. William Henley is associated with a wide variety of products ranging from bitters to various types of patent medicines. His bitters bottles, typically round cylinders, are highly prized collectibles … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Article Publications, Bitters, Color Runs, Druggist & Drugstore, Ephemera, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Tonics, Trade Cards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr. Smith’s Magic Bitters – Council Bluffs, Iowa

Posted on 9 December 2018 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Dr. Smith’s Magic Bitters John Brown Adkins – Council Bluffs, Iowa 09 December 2018 I recently received an email and newspaper clipping from Mark Wiseman about an unlisted Dr. Smith’s Magic Bitters. He found the ad below in The Council Bluffs … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitters, Civil War, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures, Remedy, Tonics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kohn & Adler’s Bitters – Rock Island, Illinois

Posted on 8 December 2018 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Kohn & Adler’s Bitters Rock Island, Illinois 08 December 2018 I recently received an email and 1866 newspaper clipping from Mark Wiseman about an unlisted Adler’s Celebrated Anti-Cholera Bitters which led me to do a search for “Adler” information. This … Continue reading →

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

Adler’s Celebrated Anti-Cholera Bitters – St. Joe

Posted on 6 December 2018 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Adler’s Celebrated Anti-Cholera Bitters Simon Adler | St. Joe & St. Louis 06 December 2018 I recently received and email and 1866 newspaper clipping (below) from Mark Wiseman about an unlisted Adler’s Celebrated Anti-Cholera Bitters put out by S. Adler … Continue reading →

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

Pond’s Bitters “Makes You Go Some”

Posted on 28 November 2018 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Pond’s Bitters “Makes You Go Some” 28 November 2018 (R•120418) The story here is about three related Chicago-sold bitters. The first is Lash’s Bitters from California which inspired Rex Bitters and Pond’s Bitters, the subject of this post. Pond’s Bitters was … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Apothecary, Bitters, Druggist & Drugstore, Ephemera, History, Liquor Merchant, Medicines & Cures, Spirits, Tonics, Trade Cards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment