Once part of the Middle Passage Museum inventory, this very remarkable piece of slavery ephemera documents a doctor's medical treatment of a negro slave woman--a very atypical occurrence in the Civil War era South, dated July 15, 1864.

Ready for framing, this unusual piece of history would be a fabulous addition to one's collection of slavery or medical artifacts. It measures approximately 7 inches wide x 1.34 inches high and would look fabulous double-matted in an exquisite frame.

The Middle Passage Museum was the dream of Jim and Mary Anne Petty of Mississippi as well as that of an anonymous Georgian benefactor who had together compiled a collection of slave artifacts numbering over 15,000 pieces and who had hoped to find a permanent site in Mobile, Alabama, for their museum. While they formed a non-profit organization to raise funds for their hoped-for museum, their dream was never realized.

In a 2003 statement, Jim Petty remarked, "The importance of the exhibit of these artifacts is to understand the harshness of what slavery and segregation was all about. The items in the exhibit remind us of the terrible heinousness of slavery. Viewing the collection can be very emotional, but it is a tool through which we can understand, honor and respect a great culture. We want to realize that out of slavery, a great culture emerged, and carried on, and continued to strive for a better life regardless of the adverse conditions that were placed upon them."

Offered is a wonderful, circa 1940s, camphor glass, dental mortar and pestle complete with box and original insert. Prior to the mechanization of the process of mixing dental amalgam, durable mortar and pestles such as this were regularly used to mix dental amalgam by hand. This example is in unused condition!

The pestle measures nearly 4.5 inches long, with the mortar being 1.25" high and 1.75 inches in diameter. Embossed on the base "The L.D. Caulk Company....". This enterprise which began in the late 19th century was a prestigious supplier of high quality dental supplies.

The condition is fine except for wear to the box as seen in the photo. The insert is complete but torn in places and wrinkled.

Measuring 12.5 inches wide by 8 inches high, this vintage, hand-painted on board, 1940's No Smoking sign is most emphatic in its message: "NO SMOKING MEANS NO SMOKING"! Most definitely a conversation piece! Fab visual display! Condition is good with paint wear to edges as seen in photos. Light pencil lines to guide the hand-painting are still visible on the front of the sign. (The left side of sign appears darker in photos than the right side. This is a function of less-than-perfect photography! Coloration and brightness are uniform throughout! No dark or shadowy areas!)

This vintage educational chart was published in 1956 by the Better Vision Institute of 630 5th Avenue, New York, to "promote better understanding of vision and better care of eyes".

Measuring 60 inches wide by 40 inches high, this highly colorful chart is just chock-full of information! Metal hanging grommets placed across the top facilitated display back in the 1950's. This incredibly interesting, double-sided chart highlights the science and history of sight as well as its medical assessment and its effects on one's ability to function productively in society.

The front side of the chart is entitled, "Vision: Master Key to Man's Progress" and highlights the biology and history of sight with a side discussion of optical illusions. The back side is entitled, "Science: Multiplies Eye Power" and discusses the science of vision and its correction featuring the Snellen Vision Chart, an Astigmatism chart and a Color Discrimination chart.

Condition is quite good with excellent color and clarity of print. Foxing is present on the front side side of the chart where the Optical Illusion information is printed. A very small edge tear is evident on the bottom of the chart and is most readily seen in photos when viewing the bottom back side of the chart where the description of Color Discrimination is found. (please see photos)

A fabulous, mid-20th century retrospective on vision as well as 1950's optometry and opthamology! Would be fabulous framed between two pieces of plexi-glass to facilitate display on either side!

Offered is a fabulous, early 1900s, veterinary doctor sign, advertising the practice of a Dr A. A. Bennet. This 18 inch x 11 inch brass sign is a wonderful advertisement piece. The black painted lettering has been cut into the brass sign to give a two dimensional effect.

Veterinary signs of any type are quite scarce! Wonderful patina!

Offered is a neat pair of vintage 1890s, hard rubber, medical syringes. The syringes sport two different tips as seen in the photos and are in very nice condition. The syringes measure 6.25 inches long, and one is marked EUREKA.

World War II era, leather bound, Navy doctor's traveling medicine case with contents. Most of the glass vials retain labels that are marked UPJOHN and some of the vials also retain contents.

The condition is excellent with minor edge wear to the leather case. One vial is missing. Also contained within the interior of the case are a few prescription forms marked "MEDICAL DEPARTMENT U.S. NAVY". Measures 10.5L x 2.5W x 4H.

This splendid example of an antique, pharmacy-tool-of-the-trade is known as a bottle corker. Bottle corkers of this size were often used on larger, durable bottles. This finely-crafted, hardwood example sports a wonderful patina and is in excellent condition. It measures 12.5 inches tall and dates to the 1890s era.

Incredible graphics say it all for this highly unique, female medicine bottle, BonKora, dating from the 1930s - 1940s era.

The bottle measures nearly 7.5 inches high and is complete with original contents. The condition of the bottle is very nice with only minor staining next to the letters in the word, BONKORA. Although the box is damaged, it displays well as it retains the image of the nude female- an interesting conversation piece!

A bit of history: BONKORA was actually advertised as a weight loss treatment in print advertising, although this usage is not stated on the box. With sales in decline in the late 1930s, the BONKORA manufacturer attempted to make their product a bit more interesting by streamlining the original, bulkier silhouette in their advertising and adding a naked lady on the label. While a clever touch, the product’s popularity continued to wan – perhaps due to a combination of the economics of the Great Depression and the increased federal enforcement of earlier-legislated laws prohibiting unsubstantiated wild curative claims for any and all maladies.

Offered for your consideration is a vintage, all-original, framed paper advertisement or sign for the cure of Gonorrhea and Gleet in men. Of interest is the matching 10.5" x 7.5" wood frame with the lightly stamped word "OKAY" on the top. This unusual piece of advertising dates to the early 1900's.

Condition: Mild, unobtrusive wear to the paper. The frame retains 2 early holes used for hanging along with various surface dings and an early slice of wood missing from the right side of frame.

Historically, Pabst's Okay Specifics was cited by the 1906 FDA Act for various violations including failure to mention alcohol content, having no known curative ingredient, etc, resulting in frequent seizure and destruction of the product!

Offered is a wonderful LEECH jar that comes from a doctor's collection in southern CT.

This specimen dates to circa 1900 and is most likely German in origin. The company, PETER VAN SCHAAK & SONS, of Chicago, Illinois, was the American supplier of this type leech jar in the 1890 - 1916 period.

A production number "8" is noted on the inside rim. The jar sports three knobs, or string ties, to secure the lid. Made of white porcelain, this quart-size beauty stands 7.5 inches high x 5.5 inches wide (inclusive of the knobs) and measures just over 4" in diameter.

The condition is excellent with minor wear to the black lettering commensurate with its age.

Medicinal bloodletting is one of the most ancient of medical practices dating back thousands of years, with historical evidence noting its use in ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece. Bloodletting was based on an ancient system of medicine in which blood and other bodily fluids were considered to be "humors", and the proper balance of these "humors" were what maintained health. The concept that bloodletting could restore the "humors" to their proper balance was widely accepted, and the application of leeches to the body was one method of bloodletting that was practiced. By the 19th century, the use of leeches in this practice had reached its zenith, and vessels such as the one offered here were used to store the leeches when not in use.

This a Vintage 1920's "Clear-Sight Spectacle Co." Self Test/Sales Kit with Original Paper Info, Instructions, Tester & Original Box.

Included are: Instruction Sheet, Sheet with choice of glasses available with prices, pictures and list of satisfied customers, greeting letter, Special Notice, Mailing Label, Guarantee, Order Blank, Tester with Original Shipping Box. The Original Shipping Price Shown on the Box is 3¢.

The Tester is made of wood, sports a lens and a tiny metal eye chart. The condition is very fine except for a small scratch to the chart and minor wear to the paper inserts.

Very unusual home eye exam tester!

Offered is a visually-appealing, advertising leech bowl boldly embossed "From The Rexall Store". This two-seam bowl is in excellent condition with various unobtrusive, faint surface scuffs commensurate with an older piece of glass.

The bowl measures 4.25 inches at the mouth, 4 inches tall and is approximately 5 inches at its widest point. It dates to the 1940 era.

This is a wonderful example of a Quack Medical device from the 1930s. Inside the black, cloth-covered, fitted case lies a beautiful massage apparatus complete with all attachments and 36 page instruction booklet.

Measuring about 7" x 4", this "Rolex" brand-labeled device and its three attachments are in very nice condition. The booklet has a copyright date of 1934 and is packed with photos and suggested uses for the massager including treatment of headaches and renewing vigor!

The case measures about 8" x 10" and sports a fabulous interior label. The cord is a bit dry so I opted to not plug it in. (I would expect that this device is functional as all the other electric medical devices from this collection were in working condition. Without plugging it in, I cannot guarantee if it works, so please purchase with this in mind.)

Working or not, this interesting, Quack Medical device is a unique "find" and is ready for your collection.

Offered is a visually appealing advertising leech bowl boldly embossed "From The Rexall Store". The bowl is in excellent condition with a few tiny air bubbles on the top of the mouth which occurred during manufacturing and not from handling or use.

The bowl measures 4.5 inches at the mouth, is 4 inches tall and is approximately 6 inches at its widest point. The glass is of two-seam construction and will make a wonderful addition to your pharmacy display. Dates to the 1940 era.