Daily Dose | October 2015

Posted on 2 October 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

October  |  2 0 1 5

Friday, 30 October 2015

Wakefield’s Strengthening Bitters from Bloomington Illinois posted by James Viguerie over at Bitters Bottles on Facebook.

WakefieldsBitters1

Wednesday, 28 October 2015

Cascarilla2

Here is a CASCARILLA BITTERS CO. KANSAS CITY, MO. // WILD CHERRY TONIC. It’s not super rare but you don’t see them to often. (Frank Wicker – Facebook)

Cascarilla1

Tuesday, 27 October 2015

Clover Bitters

Ferdinand, Saw this label-only bitters in a shop a few days ago (see attached). I’ve seen one other labeled example over the years but it was on a bottle that was embossed “Clover Medicine Co.” and the label was in much worse shape. Nonetheless, just thought I would share. Best Regards,

Brandon DeWolfe, P.E.
Houston, Texas

Sunday, 25 October 2015

Andrews_Bangor_Daily_Whig_and_Courier_Fri__Jul_24__1846_

Raining Still. Closing in on 8 inches here at Peach ridge. Here is reference to a very old and unlisted Andrew’s Indian Vegetable Wine Bitters from Maine. Found it while working on a Dr. Solomon’s Indian Bitters post. Ad from Bangor Daily Whig and Courier on Friday, July 24, 1846.

Saturday, 24 October 2015

HydesHomeMadeStomachBitters

Hyde’s Home-Made Bitters scan of photograph taken from a 1974 The Sun Magazine (Baltimore, Maryland) article “Bottled History at Hampton“. All bottles in the article were found in the basement of the Hampton Mansion near where I grew up. This bitters is unlisted.

Friday, 23 October 2015

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Hunyadi Janos Saxlehneršs Bitterquelle – with swastika

The formal emblem of the Nazi Party was a German eagle perched above a swastika with wings spread. The bold and clean graphic of this image symbolised the rigid order of Hilter’s regime.

Hi Ferdinand,

I just read your article all about the Bitterquelle bottle, very interesting indeed. I wonder if you have come across a bottle of Bitterquelle that has had a label overlaid as in the image attached? A friend was in  the armed forces in Europe in 1945 and said that he got it out of a house in cologne. Many thanks for any help you might be able to give. Kind regards.

Dirk – London UK

Read: Everything’s better with bitterquelle. . .

Thursday, 22 October 2015

Most bitters collectors are familiar with Oxygenated Bitters cataloged as O 99 and O 100. I have three examples myself. When you see an advertisement for Green’s Oxygenated Bitters, it is the predecessor of the “O” listings. The ad below references a Green’s Oxygenated Bitters (R/H G 106 L) sold by Seth S. Hance at 106 Baltimore Street from The (Baltimore) Sun, Wednesday, March 10, 1858. We are talking about George B. Green here. A labeled bitters first.

Read: Oxygenated Bitters – A Sovereign Remedy

Greens OxyBitters_The_Sun_Wed__Mar_10__1858_

Wednesday, 21 October 2015

A nice picture (I cropped in PhotoShop) of a Dr. Bopp’s Hamburger Stomach Bitters jug posted by Steve Ketcham of The Redwing Collectors Society. Steve add’s “Just acquired this keeper! Half-gallon, bottom signed.” Ring & Ham note a 1 gallon and 2 gallon in Bitters Bottles?

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

B 161.6 METZGER, ZIEN & CO / DISTILLERS / ST. PAUL, MINN. / SOLE AGENTS FOR THE U. S, FOR / DR. BOPP’S HAMBURGER STOMACH BITTERS // c //
2 gallon jug, 1 gallon jug, and 1/2 gallon jug sizes
Red wing pottery, grey handled jug, black lettering opposite handle
All jugs similar in appearance

BoppsHamburgerStomachBittersFerdinand, here is a Dr. Boveedod’s Bitters sign. It is listed in the Ring Ham Supplement
Book. I think this is a variant sign. Its much bigger than listed. See ebay Listing – Frank Wicker

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

Advertisement
D 81 Dr. J. Bovee Dod’s Imperial Remedy and Wine Bitters
13 3/4 x 19 1/4

Read: Dr. J. Boveedods Imperial Wine Bitters

BoveedodsEbay

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Glass Works Auctions The ‘Colors of Fall’ Potpourri Auction ended last night. A few interesting bitters made an appearance. I like this labeled Curacoa Bitters. Read: Dr. Von Hopf’s Curacoa or Curaco (or Curacao) Bitters

084

Here is an unlisted bitters that I trust Bill will pick up for Bitters Bottles Supplement 2.

CadizBitters

Lot #17: Bitters Decanter, ‘Cadiz / Bitters’ (inside a wreath), (unlisted), American, ca. 1880 – 1890, clear glass, bell form, copper wheel cut lettering and wreath, cut and polished side of lip, shoulder and side of base flutes, 8 1/8”h, polished pontil, tooled mouth.

Monday, 19 October 2015

Frank Wicker tipped me of to this crate end item on ebay. Appears to be unlisted. Yale’s New Hope Tonic Bitters. See Listing Some basic searches for more information are fruitless.

From Bill Ham for upcoming Bitters Bottles Supplrment 2…

Wooden box end
Y 0.7  YALES NEW-HOPE TONIC BITTERS
11 x 10 1/2

YalesNewHopeBittersCrateLid

Sunday, 18 October 2015 (updated 19 October)

C.A. Bowen’s Old Indian Root Bitters. Looks like another unlisted bitters. “Hi Ferd, this is a label only bitters from my hometown of Gallipolis, Ohio. Have you seen it before?” – Heath Jenkins

Charles Allen Bowen was born on July 11, 1886 in Ohio. His father was James Bowen who was born in Virginia. His mother was Josephine Bowen, born in Ohio. His spouse was Bertha G. Bowen. In 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Federal Census’ he was was listed as a manufacturer of medicines on Vinton Street and then 2nd Avenue in Gallipolis, Ohio. He died on December 6, 1959 in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California. His wife was listed as a “Patent Medicine Saleslady” in 1940.

See BB SUPPLEMENT p 14: B 173.5 L . . . C. A. Bowen’s Old Indian Root Bitters, (indian Chief in full head-dress) Indian Root Bitters Co. Gallipolis, Ohio

Bowen's Indian Root

Saturday, 17 October 2015

HoustonBottleDiscovery

Bottles found recently at the 1616 West Dallas residential project construction site in Houston on edge of downtown. I’ll head over there and check it out!

Friday, 16 October 2015

An unlisted, partially labeled, Kryder’s Celebrated German Bitters. Manufactured by C. H. Kryder, King Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Nolt Collection – Conestoga Auction Company. Read: Dr. Stoever’s Bitters – Lancaster & Philadelphia

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

K 83.5 L . . . Kryder’s Celebrated German Bitters, Manufactured by C. H. Kryder, King Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Square, Amber, LTC
See S 199

Kryder'sGermanBitters_Nolt

Thursday, 15 October 2015

Advertisement for the famous “Kansas City Queen“.

KC_Queen_Atchison_Daily_Patriot_Wed__Dec_24__1879_

Advertisement for Indian Herb Bitters by Dr. Stark – Atchison Daily Patriot, December 24, 1879

Tuesday, 13 October 2015

An interesting advertisement for Dr. Taylor’s Olive Branch Bitters from the Reading Times, Thursday, November 19, 1868. Sold by J. K. Taylor & Company. The Ring & Ham listings below. A 12″ tall rectangular bottle?

T 10L … Dr. Taylor’s Olive Branch Bitters
J. K. Taylor & Co. Depot No. 413 Market Street, Philadelphia
12 x 2 3/4 (5 1/4)
Rectangular, Amber, LTCR
Label: [Advertisement] A mild agreeable tonic stimulant stomachic and carminative bitters. Extracted entirely from herbs and roots highly beneficial in dyspepsia, general debility and loss of appetite and an excellent corrective for persons suffering from disorders of the bowels.

Taylors Olive Branch Bitters_Reading_Times_Thu__Nov_19__1868_-2

Reference to a unlisted bitters. Spanish Cocktail Bitters put out by Huey & Christ in Philadelphia around 1897.

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Dr. Stoever’s Bitters advertisement, Huey & Christ – Lebanon Daily News, Saturday, July 3, 1897

Monday, 12 October 2015

NationalBloodBitters_Nolt

Another unlisted bitters that was in the Conestoga Auction Company auction this past Saturday of the Nolt Collection of Whiskey Memorabilia. The National Blood and Stomach Bitters. The auction house description:

J.A. Miller & Co. Inc., 56 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA. Paper Label Druggist Bottle. Label reads “National Blood and Stomach Bitters,” 6 1/2″ Condition: Good, with label loss.

Sunday, 11 October 2015

An unlisted bitters that I came across while researching John Rohrer in Lancaster, Pennsylvania City Directories. From 1867, Watkins’ Celebrated Bitters.

WatkinsCelebratedBittersAd_1867

Another killer unlisted bitters that was in the Conestoga Auction Company auction yesterday of the Nolt Collection of Whiskey Memorabilia. The Surgeon Haller’s Canteen Bitters sold for $10,000 plus 21% auction house premium. The auction house description:

 VERY RARE A.A. Myers, Amber Bottle, Lancaster, PA. Embossed on Three sides with Paper Label on Fourth Side. Paper Label reads, “Surgeon Haller’s Canteen Bitters” with Two Long Rifles and Hanging Canteen. Embossing on Three Sides reads , ” Canteen Bitters, Lancaster, PA” and an “AAM” monogram with Crossed Rifles. Condition: Very Fine, with minor loss on label.

LaberledCanteenBitters_Conestoga_Nolt

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

C 34.1 CANTEEN BITTERS // AAM monogram with two crossed rifles with hanging canteen // LANCASTER, PA // f //
L . . . Surgeon Haller’s Canteen Bitters, A. A. Myers
Square, Amber, LTCR, Applied mouth, 3 sp, Extremely rare

Saturday, 10 October 2015

KaufmanFrag

Fragment of a very rare Kauffman’s Stomach Bitters from Lancaster, PA. Also watching this today at Conestoga Auctions. Read: Dr. B. H. Kauffman Stomach Bitters – Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Friday, 09 October 2015

CanteenBitters_Green

Watching the really cool green Canteen Bitters. Come to Papa. Unlisted example in amber too at Conestoga Auctions. Read: Canteen Bitters – John Hart & Co. – Lancaster PA

CanteenBitters_Amber

Friday, 02 October 2015

CooperRelaxing

Nice fall day here in Houston. Working out of Peachridge. Sitting outside with Cooper, my wounded hero. He is getting better every day since he was hit by a car. Coco is in front and Remington is next to Cooper in his harness. He can not walk yet. Walking a dog the size of a bear, using harness handles is a challenge.

Watching the Heckler 128 Auction. Some lots are still open for callbacks. View Auction

Posted in Daily Dose, News | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A question regarding Capuziner Bitters

Posted on 1 October 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Capuziner_Clipped

A question regarding Capuziner Bitters

01 October 2015
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Capuziner Bitters (second from left) along with similar colored bottles. – Chris Eib collection

Apple-Touch-IconAIncoming e-mail communication with pictures from Chris Eib regarding Hutching’s Dyspepsia Bitters, Drake’s Plantation Bitters and Capuziner Bitters. Some rather nice pictures of some cool bottles too to support the e-mail.

HutchingsEbay

Hutching’s Dyspepsia Bitters – eBay (Chris Eib)

[CI] Hi Ferdinand, how are you? Since I know you like bitters, I just thought I would point this one (Hutching’s Dyspepsia Bitters) out to you that I have on ebay right now. There’s a chance that you already have one of these, but since they’re rare with the open pontil, there’s also a chance that you don’t. Take care and have a great day. See eBay Listing Best regards, Chris

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Hutching’s Dyspepsia Bitters – Meyer Collection

[PRG] Nice example. I have one but always thanks. You never know.

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Drake’s Plantation Bitters. Three green drakes including my teal not pictured. One newer pink rose not pictured. – Meyer Collection

[CI] Well, I would have been a bit surprised if you didn’t already have one. I was looking around on Rick’s Bottle Room the other day and saw the great line-up of Drake’s (Plantation Bitters) you have (see above). A fantastic grouping to put it mildly. Such brilliant colors!!

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Capuziner Bitters in olive-green – Chris Eib collection

Ferdinand, I’m sure that at some point, you must have seen one of these bottles before, and as far as I’m aware, it was a label only bitters. When I bought it, the tag on it stated that it’s a Capuziner Bitters, but I think it’s supposed to start off with a “K” instead of a “C”. However, I tried to research it a bit further, but I was unable to find any photos of this bottle on-line. I encounter these on occasion but I certainly wouldn’t rate them as common. Maybe you can shed some light on this one? I saw in one of the posts on your site, there’s a photo of a grouping of bitters dose glasses with a Kapuziner shot glass in the center (see below). Do you have any other photos of this bottle and what, if any. information do you have on it? Thanks Ferdinand.

Take care and have a great day.

Regards, Chris

Read: Advertising Bitters Dose (Shot) Glasses in Glass Works Auction #97

BittersShotGlasses_123

Lot 123: (Lot of 7) Etched and Embossed Stemmed Bitters Dose Glasses, (3) ‘Dr. Capias Herb Bitters’, a ‘Polo Club Bitters’, (2) ‘Kapuziner Kloster Bitters’ and a “QUININE BITTERS”, American, ca. 1890 – 1910, all are clear glass, 3″ to 3 1/4″h, tooled rims, all are in perfect condition. The Polo Club is from the Charles Gardner Collection. – Glass Works Auction #97

Capuziner Bitters with a case gin in olive-green – Chris Eib collection

[PRG] Chris. Thanks for the compliment. Added a number of super Drakes to my collection the past few years as that photo is old. Will look into your question. – Ferdinand

Chris, super bottle pictures in extraordinary olive-green colors. All of your pictures are just fantastic. This does look to be a Capuziner Stomach Bitters from Peoria, Illinois in an olive-green coloration. I find the following picture of an amber labeled example in my archives. I’ll look into Ring & Ham when I can get back to my books. The center picture is a is a labeled Kapuziner Kloster Bitters from Chicago. This might be the “K” you are thinking of.

Capuziner Stomach Bitters

A labeled, amber, Capuziner Stomach Bitters (left), The center bottles is a Kapuziner Kloster Bitters, Sandorn’s Kidney and Liver Bitters – Glass Works Auctions

Posted in Advice, Bitters, Collectors & Collections, eBay, Medicines & Cures, Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Rarity in Connecticut Glass

Posted on 30 September 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Westford1

A Rarity in Connecticut Glass

30 September 2015

Apple-Touch-IconAIncoming e-mail and pictures of a killer Sheaf of Wheat – “Westford Glass Co” Pictorial Flask, Westford Glass Works, Westford, Connecticut, 1860-1872. Photographs are so nice! Just a reminder, that we are open to all suggestions for a post. Please step up and share your news and finds.

Dear Ferdinand:

A while back I had asked if it would be OK to send a few pictures on my new Westford flask for the gallery on your site. While I don’t believe the bottle reaches “killer” status at your site, it’s still a pretty rare thing. In fact, Mark Vuono had e-mailed me and said that he is aware of only five pontiled examples in existence.

Anyway, please see attached pictures and feel free to attach my name to them. Also, if you decide to post them, I really wanted to be sure and give credit to the photographer. The credit might read: A Rarity in Connecticut Glass – Douglas Gagne (Photography by Cynthia Russo) or something along those lines.

Thanks again for your consideration – hope to actually meet one day!

Best regards,
Doug

Westford2

Westford3

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

S. S. Smith just Dug

Posted on 30 September 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

SSSmithJrCo1

S. S. Smith just Dug

30 September 2015

Apple-Touch-IconANow here is one of my favorite bottles. Great semi-cabin form and color. Maybe not a bitters but one that I have in my collection. It looks like a pretty decent example that was just dug.

Read: S.S. SMITH. JR & CO / CINCINNATI. O. – A Semi-Cabin in Sapphire

Hello Ferd,

Thought you may like to see this whiskey we just dug over the weekend. I found this at the 3 ½ foot level sitting on a wooden brace along the wall of a huge privy… that was the good news… the bad news (well actually good news) is that this privy was 8 foot by 8 foot by at least 10 feet deep, but only two of us were digging and it was full of water at the 4 foot level with an ash/rock mixture that felt like concrete when pulling, so we had to cover this one up. We are assuming that this bottle was a floater and similar age bottles are down in the use layer. Wish us luck!

Thanks,

Jeff (Jeffrey J. Mihalik)

SmithJeff1

Read More: Dr. John Bull and Louisville at that time

Posted in Digging and Finding, Medicines & Cures, News, Whiskey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An exciting Oswego Bitters find…for just 75 cents

Posted on 25 September 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

O93_OswegoMeyer

An exciting Oswego Bitters find…for just 75 cents 

25 September 2015

OSTest

Apple-Touch-IconAThe top Oswego Bitters image is from my collection. Three views. If you look carefully you can see 25 cents (cent symbol) embossed on the front. The amber, oval, flask is 7″ tall. It has a tooled lip. The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

O 93Drawing

O 93  OSWEGO BITTERS
OSWEGO BITTERS ( au ) / motif star 25 star // c //
L. Austen’s Swa-Geh or Oswego Bitters
W. J. Austen & Co. Manufacturers Oswego, New York
7 x 3 x 1 1/2 (5 1/4)
Olive, Amber and yellow olive, NSC, Tooled lip, Scarce
Label: The cheapest and most efficacious medicine in the world.
Drug Catalogs: 1883 and 1891 Schieffelin, 1894 M&R
Trade Mark to William H. Burt of Oswego, New York,
February 1884. He bought Austen’s Swa-Geh Bitters from
W. J. Austen & Co. in 1882. SwaGeh is an Oswego Indian word.
See: L…Austen’s Oswego Bitters.

Recently Bill Ham was contacted by John Golley with a new, unrecorded example of a larger Oswego Bitters coming in at 9 3/4″ tall with the “OSWEGO BITTERS” backwards! It also has an applied mouth. Obviously an earlier example. The new listing by Bill Ham within the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2:

O 93.3_Drawing

O.93.3  OSWEGO BITTERS
OSWEGO BITTERS (in arch) / (star) 75 (cent symbol) (star) // c //
9 3/4 x 3 7/8 (7 1/2)
Oval-flask, Amber, DC, Applied mouth, 1 sp, Extremely rare
Embossing is up-side-down with some letters reversed

Here are two images below that I cleaned up in Photoshop (took out the background) that John sent to Bill.

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New Oswego Bitters example with reversed embossing – John Golley

I have been carrying around this wonderful picture from Glass Works Auctions of a labeled Oswego Bitters from Oswego, New York.

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Labeled Austen’s Oswego Bitters (center) – Glass Works Auctions

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Labeled Austen’s Oswego Bitters (reverse center) – Glass Works Auctions

It is interesting, when you Google “Oswego Bitters” you pull up information about a cemetery and ghosts. The product name most likely is a double entendre. Here is an example:

Oswego Bitters: This former burial ground has been interning the dead here since the 1700s, when Oswego Bitter was settled northwest of the village of Camillus. The area’s name probably refers to herbs farmers from Oswego County harvested there in the 1800s, which came to be known as Oswego bitter or Oswego tea.  The cemetery’s surrounded by the Fletcher farm. The homestead is across the Bennett Corners Road. One of the neighbors reported a light in the cemetery and watch it for about 20 minutes. The light sort of moved around slowly, and then it dissipated.  This glow had a roundish, oval shape and maybe was 2 feet along and about the same off the ground. It moved back and forth, but up close, didn’t seem to light anything around it.   One resident has reported seeing the light four times over several years. – Syracuse Hauntings

OswegoBookHere is a poor image (all I could find) of a sixteen-page booklet produced to market Austen’s Oswego Bitters in 1882. It contains a short story entitled, “The Witch-Woman’s Revenge; or, the Golden Secret of the Oswego.” It is about Winona, a beautiful Indian girl, who is forbidden by her mother (the “witch-woman”) to marry the son of the man who killed her father. These bitters guys used all kinds of angles to sell their product. Indians were a common theme.

 

OswegoBitters_Dunkirk_Evening_Observer_Thu__Jan_17__1884_

Oswego Bitters advertisement – Dunkirk Evening Observer, Thursday, January 17, 1884

Read about another bitters from Oswego, New York: Standing Proud – Poor Man’s Family Bitters – Oswego, NY

Read: Looking at Austen’s Forest Flower Cologne Ephemera

Posted in Bitters, Errors, Medicines & Cures, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Warner’s Label Fraud?

Posted on 23 September 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

Warner'sFraud

Warner’s Label Fraud?

23 September 2015

Apple-Touch-IconAA series of e-mails from noted collector and researcher Michael Seeliger from Brooklyn, Wisconsin. The person he references is not a member of the FOHBC. After review, I am red flagging.

RedFlag

[E-mail #1] I have been e-mailing a person (Richard Curry in Cincinnati, Ohio) who has answered an advertisement I had in either of the (bottle) magazines. He answered in a generic e-mail asking if I was still looking for unusual items. When I said I was interested in Warner’s with labels etc. he came back with an e-mail that he had one that was unique because of the pristine label. He sent pictures of a green Frankfurt SC. Nice bottle but no label. Then when I asked, he produced a beautiful labeled picture. He wanted $900 for it. I thought about it and said it was too rich for my blood I was thinking more in the $550 range but it was nice and thanks, “can I use the picture for my new book?” He said no, only if I bought the bottle which he was now willing to sell for $550, because he needed cash. To make a long story short, he wanted a MoneyGram and would not tell me where he was located. I said Bill Mitchell and I are were going to Lexington and then to Richmond, Virginia on our way to Florida next week and we could stop by and pick it up.

Now I have seen more than one Warner’s in my life and I thought I had seen the label before on the Warner’s Safe Cure Blog site. I went on and low and behold, surprise, surprise, all 4 of the pictures he sent me were on the blog site. The bottle was sold to Dan Cowman on eBay for $2,275 three years ago (the stain on label was the dead give away). Unless Dan sold this extremely nice bottle cheap or it has been stolen, this is obviously a scam being done on collectors from ads in the AB&GC or the Federation magazine. I don’t advertise elsewhere. I did not go through with the scam and plan on asking him to send the bottle first which I know he will not or cannot do. If he does then it may be stolen. I need to check with Dan’s wife about the possible sale of that bottle by Dan earlier. How can we get the word out? I will provide details if necessary.

Michael Seeliger
Brooklyn, Wisconsin

[E-mail #2 from MS] This is how the emails went after the offer. Kind of suspicious.

Alright Michael,

Address is confirmed for shipping. The $550 shipped to Brooklyn Wisconsin is deal..Below is the information you need.

Name: Richard Curry
Address: Central Parkway,Cincinnati, Ohio 45225
Amount to Send: $550 (Price shipped)

Once payment is completed, you can email the below information to enable me receive and confirm payment.

Reference number:
Sender’s Name:

I’ll email a UPS tracking number once payment is received and confirmed.

Many thanks,

Richard Curry

[E-mail #3 from MS] Here are the pictures he forwarded of the bottle he had for sale. (See top of post)

[Steve Jackson – Warner’s Safe Cure Blog] Mike and I spoke about this over the weekend. The seller clearly lifted photos of this bottle from my Warner’s Safe Cure Blog and sent them to Mike. I believe I got the photos from the original seller in Hungary and the bottle was purchased by Dan Cowman. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Caveat emptor for sure.

Posted in Advice, Collectors & Collections, Medicines & Cures, News, Scams & Frauds | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blue Gum Bitters – Stockton, California

Posted on 13 September 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

BlueGumBitters2

Blue Gum Bitters

A nice takeaway from the 2015 Downieville Antique Bottle Show

13 September 2015

Apple-Touch-IconAFrank Ritz pulled me aside at the 2015 Downieville Antique Bottle Show to show me some bitters that he brought for sale. Most were pretty difficult to find squares that I already had examples of. As he pulled each example from a box, a fine example of the case gin shaped Blue Gum Bitters was a surprise. It will now proudly join my collection. The western guys seem quite impressed with this brand and bottle.

BlueGumBitters1

Quick show photograph of the Blue Gum Bitters, embossed “B. G. B.” with a Tilley’s Summum Bonum Bitters glass shard that Bill Ham gave to me.

Read: Tilley’s Summum Bonum Bitters – West Haverstraw, N.Y.

So how do we know that B.G.B stands for Blue Gum Bitters? Well, we need to look at Bitters Bottles and then Bitters Bottles Supplement by Carlyn Ring and Bill Ham. The supplement was updated to note a clear example with the amber. The original book has the illustration and a killer label that is represented below. Here is a compilation listing from both books:

B 126

B 126  L … Blue Gum Bitters
B.G.B. // f // f // f //
9 x 2 1/8 (6 1/2) 3/8
Square case gin, Amber and Clear with amethysts tint, LTC, Tooled lip
Blue Gum tree is another name for Eucalyptus tree. A Western brand.
B 126L bl

Label (black and white reverse) from Bitters Bottles

When I look over at Western Bitters News I see a post about a dug Blue Gum Bitters. Pretty cool.

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Dug Blue Gum Bitters – Courtesy Western Bitters News

I also see that one sold on eBay this year.

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Blue Gum Bitters that sold on eBay

UT

Two men demonstrate the girth of a 25-year-old eucalyptus tree on the L. J. Rose ranch in Rosemead, circa 1900. Courtesy of the Title Insurance and Trust / C.C. Pierce Photography Collection, USC Libraries.

Blue Gum Bitters Co.

All I can find is reference for Blue Gum Bitters and a Blue Gum Bitters Co. in Stockton, California from about 1886 to 1890. It was usually being displayed at some type of exhibition like “Two cases of Blue Gum Bitters at the Industrial Exhibition of the Mechanics’ Institute”. One listing notes a B. A. Hester as the exhibitor in Stockton, California. Historical city directory information gives us a Basil Alfred Hester from England who was the Keeper at the State Insane Asylum for many years. Did he also put out Blue Gum Bitters? Probably not. I’ll keep working on this one.

MechanicsInstitute July2010_1

1879 Fourteenth Industrial Exhibition, Mechanics Institute card detail

Support:

1886: The Blue Gum Bitters Co., Two cases of Blue Gum Bitters – Industrial Exhibition of the Mechanics’ Institute of the City of San Francisco, Exhibitors
1887: Article Exhibited: Blue Gum Bitters, Exhibitor: B.A. Hester, P.O. Address: Stockton – Appendix to the Journals of the Senate and Assembly … of the Legislature of the State of California
1887: Hester, Basil A., keeper State Insane Asylum, res 419 Channel –
1888: Blue Gum Bitters, Blum Bum Bitters Co., Stockton, California – Report of the California State Agricultural Society, Agricultural Exhibitors
1889: Brothers Harry and Tom Sheehan sole agents for Blue Gum Bitters notice (see below).
BGB_Oakland_Tribune_Fri__Feb_1__1889_

Brothers Harry and Tom Sheehan sole agents for Blue Gum Bitters notice – Oakland Tribune, Friday, February 1, 1889

1896: Blue Gum Bitters Co. listing (see below).
BGB_Oakland_Tribune_Mon__May_4__1896_

Blue Gum Bitters Co. listing – Oakland Tribune, Monday, May 4, 1896

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

Dr. W. B. Fuller’s Anti-Dyspeptic Bitters – Uniontown, Penn.

Posted on 11 September 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

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Fuller_Regrut_R

Dr. W. B. Fuller’s Anti-Dyspeptic Bitters – Uniontown, Penn.

11 September 2015

Apple-Touch-IconAAlways nice to get information that inspires some research on a bitters brand that I am unfamiliar with. In this case the Dr. W. B. Fuller’s Anti-Dyspeptic Bitters from Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Andy Regrut sent in the following e-mail with the advertising trade card pictured at the top of this post.

Hi Ferd, Talked to you at the Baltimore show about this bitters trade card. Never seen a bottle in my forty-five years of collecting. My guess is the bottle was labeled. – Andy

When we are looking at advertising trade cards I next go to bitters ephemera authority Joe Gourd in Chicago to see if he is holding any paper. As usual, he was as you can see from the fine trade cards below that he provided for support.

Ferd, Here you go. The cards are all stock cards used to advertise a variety of products. However, Fullers 08 (last card in series) is interesting because of the use of a technique called trompe l’oeil. It is a design intended to create the illusion of a three-dimensional object. Looking forward to see what you uncover about Fuller in your post. Regards…………. Joe

Fullers 01A

Fullers 01B

Fullers 02

Fullers 03

Fullers 03 back

Fullers 04

Fullers 04 back

Fullers 05

Fullers 05 back

Fullers 06A

Fullers 06B

Fullers 07

Fullers 08 back

Fullers 08

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows. Kind of minimal. No bottle recorded. I suppose Bill will update slightly in the forthcoming Bitters Bottles Supplement 2.

F 94  DR. W. B. FULLER’S ANTI-DYSPEPTIC BITTERS
Prepared by Dr. W. B. Fuller, Uniontown, Pennsylvania

Dr. Smith Fuller and Dr. William B. Fuller

Most of the time when you see” W.” as the first initial you start with “William” in your search efforts. This worked again when I searched William B. Fuller in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Uniontown is a city in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, located 46 miles southeast of Pittsburgh and now part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. Popularly known as Beesontown, “The Town of Union” was founded by Henry Beeson on July 4, 1776, coincidentally the same date the United States Declaration of Independence was ratified.

uniontown pacard

The Fuller family seemed to have lived in and around Uniontown for a century or two. Our Dr. Smith Fuller, the father, was born in Somerset County Pennsylvania in 1818. By 1843, Dr. Fuller was partnered with C. B. Snyder and William Quail in a new drug business in the western room of the Downer building. This firm lasted only about eighteen months in this room. Dr. Fuller then embarked in the drug business on Morgantown street. We can next place him in Uniontown by 1849. His son William B. Fuller, was born in 1850.

On November 6, 1867, at the opening of Broadway, Dr. Smith Fuller purchased some property and converted the residence part into a business room, and Daniel Huston, the veteran merchant tailor was the first to occupy the new room. He moved his store to here in 1868, and styled his place of business “The Gold Mine,” and here remained in business until 1881, when he sold out to John Lynch & Co., and retired permanently from business.

Dr. Fuller next built a frame house where he lived for some time with his wife and son William. Dr. Fuller next erected a small, one-story frame building on his lot which he used as an office in the latter part of his medical practice.

We first see William B. Fuller as a clerk in a drug store, at 19 years old, probably with his father as noted on an 1870 United States Federal Census. They were living in Uniontown West Ward, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. His mother was Jane R. Fuller (42), also brothers Frank M. Fuller (15) and Smith Fuller (13). In the 1880 United States Federal Census he was listed as a druggist. His advertisements said he had a laboratory. Interesting, I can find no record of this training to be a physician.

Dr. W. B. Fuller said his bitters product was a purely vegetable compound. One testimony on back of one of the advertising trade cards above says that a fellow took three bottles of Fuller’s Anti-Dyspeptic Bitters because he suffered from stomach troubles which so deranged his liver that his face became yellow as saffron, his urine was the color of soot, he also had no appetite, and if he ate, he would throw it out of his stomach which looked as green as grass. Amazing stuff.

William B. Fuller would die in 1895 so the bitters was probable made between 1880 and 1895. Most likely a labeled bottle. Ironically he died of liver disease which his bitters we said to cure. He also put out Dr. W. B. Fuller’s Neuralgia Powders which was a permanent cure for nerve pain.

Fuller_Pittsburgh_Daily_Post_Sun__Jun_30__1895_

Select Listings:

1818: Birth of Smith Patrick Fuller in Pennsylvania, Somerset County, Pennsylvania
1843: Dr. Smith Fuller, with C. B. Snyder as a partner and William Quail as clerk, started in the drug business in the western room of the Downer building in 1843. This firm lasted only about eighteen months in this room. Dr. Fuller embarking in the drug business on Morgantown street, as related elsewhere. – A History of Uniontown
1849: Dr. William Fuller was the son of Dr. Smith Fuller. They were in Uniontown PA by 1849.
1850: Dr William B. Fuller [of Dr Smith Fuller] by 2d wife, B. Apr 17, 1850 Died 1895.
1867: Dr. Smith Fuller purchased this property November 6, 1867, at the opening of Broadway, and converted the residence part into a business room, and Daniel Huston, the veteran merchant tailor was the first to occupy the new room. He moved his store to here in 1868, and styled his place of business ” The Gold Mine,” and here remained in business until 1881, when he sold out to John Lynch & Co., and retired permanently from business. Mr. Huston came to Uniontown in 1830, and was continuously in business for fifty-one years. Mr. Huston devoted his time industriously to his business and acquired a competency of this world’s goods. – A History of Uniontown
A frame house was built next east of Searights for a home for Dr. William Fuller, son of Dr. Smith Fuller. Here he lived for some time. David Freedberg bought this property and added many and valuable improvements and made it his home. Dr. Fuller erected a small, one-story frame building on his lot which he used as an office in the latter part of his medical practice. This building was removed to the rear of the lot. A brick residence was erected on this lot which was occupied for a time by Hugh L. Rankin, and later by Miss Lizzie Fuller who owned it and the frame before mentioned. – A History of Uniontown
1870: William Fuller, age 19, clerk in drug store, living Uniontown West Ward, Fayette County, Penn., Fathers name Smith Fuller (52), Mothers name Jane R. Fuller (42), also brothers Frank M. Fuller (15) and Smith Fuller (13) – United States Federal Census
1880: William Fuller, age 30, druggist, born abt 1850 in Pennsylvania, living Uniontown, Fayette County, Penn., Fathers name Smith Fuller (61), Mothers name Jane R. Fuller (53), wife Louisa W. Fuller (25), also brothers Frank M. Fuller (27) and Smith Fuller (22) – United States Federal Census
Benjamin Campbell purchased the interest of Dr. Ewing, and the firm again became Campbell & Co. In about two years Benjamin bought out the interest of his father. Dr. Hugh Campbell, and conducted the business under his own name and ownership, and in about two years he sold to Louis E. Beall and John C. Breading, who conducted the business as Beall & Breading. Beall retired, and Breading ran the business alone until February, 1876, when he sold out to Altha L. Moser and Joseph Kidwell Ritenour. Ritenour severed his connection with this firm ill 1880, when he purchased the drug store of Dr. Smith Fuller & Son on Broadway, and Moser continued the business on the ” Round Corner ” until 1883, when he removed his stock to the first room in the new opera house. – A History of Uniontown
1895: Death of William B. Fuller. 28 June 1895. -Pittsburgh Daily Post, Sunday, June 30, 1895
William B. Fuller, birth 1851, Fayette co., PA, Father’s name: Smith Fuller, Sr., Mother’s name: Jane Beggs, Date of Death: After 1889, Other: Physician. – Pennsylvania Vital Records
1892: Death of Dr. Smith Fuller. 15 April 1892.
Posted in Advertising, Bitters, Druggist & Drugstore, History, Medicines & Cures, Trade Cards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Prairie & Plantation Bitters – Cincinnati, O

Posted on 6 September 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

prairie_1

Prairie & Plantation Bitters – C. Frank & Co. Cincinnati. O

06 September 2015

Apple-Touch-IconAAs I noted yesterday in my “The Two Other Plantation Bitters” post, I have been watching the ‘new on the scene’ Prairie and Plantation Bitters figural cabin for many months. It is now represented within the Heckler Premier Auction 128. The bottle is also embossed “C. Frank & Co., Cincinnati, O”. We’ve come across his name before in a post, but I did not make the connection with the Prairie and Plantation Bitters. Read: Cincinnati Bitters Spotting – A cross reference of directories

prairie_2

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

P 132drawing

P 132  PRAIRIE & PLANTATION BITTERS
// s // motif 5 pointed star / PRAIRIE (au) / & / PLANTATION (au) / BITTERS // motif 5 pointed star / f / f // motif – 5 pointed star //
9 3/4 x 3 (6 1/8)
Square cabin, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Metallic pontil mark, Extremely rare
Logs alternate wide and narrow 5/8 and 3/8
Lettered sides have 3 logs over label panels
Unlettered sides have 12 logs

Charles Frank

Looking in Cincinnati city directories, we can start to paint a picture about Charles Frank that eventually leads us to the famous Frank’s RedHot Sauce which is pretty darn cool.

Charles Frank was born in Germany around 1831. He had a brother Leo who was born a few years later. Eventually they would travel to United States, probably arriving in New York City, get their citizenship and then head to the great city of Cincinnati, Ohio with its large German population.

We see Charles Frank first in the Williams Cincinnati Directory in 1856 as an agent for a  confectionary company at 141 W. Pearl. He quickly shifts his business attention to liquors at the same address in 1857. In 1860, we can place Charles Frank with a partner, L. Meyer, making and selling bitters at 141 W. Pearl Street. This would be the kind of bitters that skirted taxes and was loaded with alcohol.

This would be the earliest that the Prairie and Plantation Bitters is produced as Charles Frank & Company does not start appearing in records until 1862. Remember C. Frank & Co. is embossed on the bottle. It is interesting to note that Patrick Henry Drake did not start advertising his figural cabin, Drake’s Plantation Bitters until 1862 though there are forms for that bottle that predate the embossed brand most bitters collectors are familiar with. We can also place Charles Frank in New York City in the 1860s. He would also reside there in the early 1870s.

In 1860, his brother Leo M. Frank, was a partner with Franklin & Frank who were wholesale dealers in watches, clocks and  jewelry located at 48 Main Street, corner of 2nd in Cincinnati. The bitters and liquor sales opportunity with his brother Charles must have been strong as the two brothers join forces and from 1862 until at least the middle 1890s are major importers and wholesale dealers in wines, liquors, bourbon and rye whiskies at 15 Sycamore, still under the business name of Charles Frank & Company.

An 1880 United States Federal Census states that Charles Frank is 49 years old and is a wholesale liquor dealer in Cincinnati, Ohio. His wife Amelia (Binger) Frank is 39 years old. They have 6 children; Fannie, 14, Jacob, 13, Martha, 3, Alfred, 2, Emil, 1, Leo, 1 month and 3 servants. A nice family. Business must have been good.

Charles Frank would die on 1 October 1890 though his brother Leo would carry the business on. They were distillers then and the business was still called Charles Frank & Company.

Jacob Frank

JF_Pepper

The expanding consumer market provided numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs to find a niche for their products. In 1896, Jacob Frank ended his career as a traveling salesman, he was probably selling liquor for his father, and founded the Frank Tea and Spice Co. along with his brothers Emil. The business was located on East Second Street in Cincinnati, Ohio, near the banks of the Ohio River.

Frank1896

Frank_The_Cincinnati_Enquirer_Sun__Sep_14__1919_

The company introduced small, shelf-size, packages of whole and ground spices for customers, replacing bulk merchandise. As their market expanded, so too did their offerings; ranging from teas and spices to peanut butter and olives. They also made Jumbo Peanut Butter. The advertisement above from the Sunday edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer in 1919 looks like they were using young girls on the night shift. That wouldn’t fly today.

SpiceDrawers

 

Jumbo Peanut Butter

One of their most famous inventions was Frank’s RedHot Sauce, a cayenne pepper sauce that was the secret ingredient for the first ever Buffalo Wings, made in Buffalo, New York in 1964. The rich heritage of Frank’s RedHot dates back to 1918 when pepper farmer Adam Estilette partnered with Jacob Frank in New Iberia, Louisiana, to create a sauce perfectly spiced with the rich flavor of cayenne peppers. Two years later, in 1920, the first bottle of Frank’s RedHot Sauce emerged from Estilette’s pickling plant.

FranksRedHot

Women’s Day advertisement in April 1951

The product is still around.

history_product_image

Select Listings:

1831: Birth Charles Frank in Prussia.
1834: Leo M. Frank born about 1834 in Germany – 1910 United States Federal Census
1856: Charles Frank, agt. confect. company, 141 W. Pearl –  Williams Cincinnati Directory
1857: Charles Frank, liquors, 141 W. Pearl –  Williams Cincinnati Directory
1860: Charles Frank & Company (Charles Frank and L. Meyer), bitters manufacturers, 141 W. Pearl – Williams Cincinnati Directory
1860: Franklin & Frank (Henry Franklin and Leo M. Frank), Wh. Dealers in watches, clocks, jewelry, 48 Main, c. of 2d – Williams Cincinnati Directory
1862-1863: Charles Frank & Company (Charles Frank and Leo Frank), liquors, 38 W. Court – Cincinnati Directory
1865-1869: Chas Frank & Co. (C. F. & L. M. F), dealers in wines & liquors, 54 E. 3d – Cincinnati Directory
1870-1879: Charles Frank & Co. (Chas F. & L. M. F), Importers and Wholesale Dealers in Wines, Liquors, Bourbon and Rye Whiskies, 15 Sycamore – Cincinnati Directory
1870-1872: Charles M. Frank, (Chas. F. & Co.) res New York City – Cincinnati Directory 
1880: Charles Frank, age 49, Wholesale Liquor Dealer, Cincinnati, Ohio, wife Amelia (Binger) Frank, 39, children, Fannie, 14, Jacob, 13, Martha, 3, Alfred, 2, Emil, 1, Leo, 1 month, father and mother from Prussia – United States Federal Census
1883: Charles Frank & Co., distillers, 15 Sycamore – Cincinnati Directory
1886: Charles Frank & Co., (Leo M. Frank) distillers, 15 Sycamore – Cincinnati Directory
1890: Charles Frank death on 1 October 1890 in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio
1896: Charles Frank & Co., distillers, 119 Sycamore – Cincinnati Directory
1896: In expanding consumer market provided numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs to find a niche for their products. In 1896, Jacob Frank ended his career as a traveling salesman and founded the Frank Tea and Spice Co. along with his brothers Emil and Charles. Located on East Second Street in Cincinnati, Ohio, the company introduced small, shelf-size, packages of whole and ground spices for customers, replacing bulk merchandise. As their market expanded, so too did their offerings; ranging from teas and spices to peanut butter and olives. One of their most famous inventions was Frank’s RedHot, a cayenne pepper sauce that was the secret ingredient for the first ever Buffalo Wings, made in Buffalo, New York in 1964. – Frankly Speaking: Fifty Years of Progress (1896-1946) (Cincinnati: Frank Tea and Spice Co.), 1946.
Hot Sauce and Peanut Butter
1918: Frank’s RedHot – The rich heritage of Frank’s RedHot dates back to 1918 when pepper farmer Adam Estilette partnered with Jacob Frank in New Iberia, Louisiana, to create a sauce perfectly spiced with the rich flavor of cayenne peppers. Two years later, in 1920, the first bottle of Frank’s RedHot Sauce emerged from Estilette’s pickling plant.
19o0: Jacob Frank, age 33, birth abt 1868, merchant – United States Federal Census
1910: Jacob Frank, age 42, birth abt 1868, merchant spice mills – United States Federal Census
1930: Jacob Frank, age 62, birth abt 1868, president Tea and Spice industry – United States Federal Census
Posted in Advertising, Auction News, Bitters, History, Liquor Merchant, Pepper Sauce, Sauce, Spirits, Tea | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Two Other Plantation Bitters

Posted on 5 September 2015 by Ferdinand Meyer V

BothPlantations

The two other Plantation Bitters + another

05 September 2015

Apple-Touch-IconAJust about all of us are familiar with the Drake’s Plantations Bitters figural log cabin bottle. Besides Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters, you probably see more Drake’s at shows, at auctions and online than any other bitters. Both the Hostetters and Drake’s are great bottles as there are just so many variants and colors. Some of us even specialize in collecting these bottles such as Brian Shultis with the Drakes and Richard Siri and James Campiglia with the Hostetters, to name a few. Turning my neck I count 23 different colored Drake’s on one window bank at the house. Heck, I have even posted about the Drakes at least a dozen times as you can see below!

Read: Log Cabin Series – Drake’s Plantation Bitters

Read: Information on the Drake’s Plantation Bitters Variants

Read: Will the real Drake’s Please Stand Up?

Read: The unembossed Drake’s Style Bottle

Read: Drake’s Plantation Bitters and other Reproductions out in the market

Read: Drake’s Plantation Bitters Label Question

Read: Drakes Plantation Bitters on 1874 Stereoview Mock Medical Scene

Read: A Quite Different Un-embossed Drakes

Read: Determining bottle color standards with Peachridge 6-Log Drakes

Read: The “Blue-Green” Drakes Mystery

Read: I brought a few of my Drakes to the Houston Show

Read: What is an Arabesque Drakes Plantation Bitters?

Read: Drakes Plantation Bitters – Encased Postage

Read: One of the Crudest Drakes You Will Ever See

Read: Froggy adds a Pink Drakes to his line-up!

This post is to remind us of two more EXTREME variants. Both have made appearances this year and are shaking up the bitters world.

The first variant to show up is the P 108 – PLANTATION BITTERS which does not have the “DRAKE’S” embossing. It is also rectangular rather than square. I have handled one example in California last year and seen a second example at the 2015 Baltimore Antique Bottle Show with Jim Hagenbuch. The third example resides in a private collection in Oregon. It is pictured below.

P108_PlantationBitters_BBS

P 108 – Plantation Bitters – Bitters Bottles Supplement

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

P 108  PLANTATION BITTERS
// s // XX / PLANTATION / BITTERS / 1862 // 3 tiers of thatching // PAN’T. / SECURED / 1863 // 3 tiers of thatching //
9 1/2 x 3 x 2 3/8
Rectangular, Amber, LTC, 6 logs over label panels, Extremely rare
Drake patented a rectangular 15 log bottle in 1862.

HecklerPrairieAd

The second Plantation Bitters to show up this year is the PRAIRIE & PLANTATION BITTERS put out C. Frank & Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. This figural cabin is square and it is oh so rare. Like I have NEVER seen an example. One was found in a house earlier in the year as I received an e-mail but before I could respond, it ended up with Norm Heckler and is presently represented in his Premier Auction 128. The bottle is distinguished by a 5 pointed star, the metallic pontil, the alternating log sizes and the C. Frank & Co. embossing.

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

P 132drawing

P 132  PRAIRIE & PLANTATION BITTERS
// s // motif 5 pointed star / PRAIRIE (au) / & / PLANTATION (au) / BITTERS // motif 5 pointed star / f / f // motif – 5 pointed star //
9 3/4 x 3 (6 1/8)
Square cabin, Amber, LTC, Applied mouth, Metallic pontil mark, Extremely rare
Logs alternate wide and narrow 5/8 and 3/8
Lettered sides have 3 logs over label panels
Unlettered sides have 12 logs
prairie_1

“Prairie / & / Plantation / Bitters” – “C. Frank / & Co / Cincinnati / O.” Figural Bitters Bottle, America, 1845-1860. Square tall log cabin form, bright yellow amber, applied sloping collared mouth – large 1 7/8 inch dia. iron pontil scar, ht. 10 1/4 inches. – Heckler Premier Auction 128

prairie_2

“Prairie / & / Plantation / Bitters” – “C. Frank / & Co / Cincinnati / O.” Figural Bitters Bottle, America, 1845-1860. Square tall log cabin form, bright yellow amber, applied sloping collared mouth – large 1 7/8 inch dia. iron pontil scar, ht. 10 1/4 inches. – Heckler Premier Auction 128

Lou Holis just reminder me of another Plantation Bitters, that being the O 14 square OK Pantation Bitters. I haver never seen an example though I have quite a few of the triangular OK Plantations.

Read: OK Plantation Bitters – the “Big Boys”

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

O 14drawing

O 14  OK PLANTATION BITTERS
// s // OK / PLANTATION/ BITTERS
9 7/8 x 3 (5 3/4)
Square, Puce, LTC, Extremely rare
17 logs including the base, 6 logs over the label panels
Posted in Advice, Auction News, Bitters, Digging and Finding, Figural Bottles, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment