Catalog: Archives (250)

This beautiful mahogany wood, glass encased pharmacy beam balance scale dates to the 1900-1920s era. It is in very nice condition with the wood case exhibiting a warm colored original patina. The brass scale weighing mechanism is in working order and the sliding front glass panel lifts smoothly. Marked “Made in Germany – Schaar”.

The case measures 16"H x 16"W x8”D. Displays wonderfully!

Offered for your consideration is an outstanding and rarely found, circa late 19th century, black and gray painted wooden UNDERTAKERS sign!

The sign measures approximately 6’ long x 12" wide and is double sided. It is in very nice overall condition except for areas of paint loss, some crackling and general wear expected of a vintage sign, noted especially to one side. There is also a very subtle bow to the sign, but this does not take away from its most unusual appeal. There are 2 metal brackets, one on each side, which were originally used for mounting upon a building exterior.

A highly unusual and macabre offering for those who collect funerary pieces!

This stately, titled, English Staffordshire figure of a seated Uncle Tom and Little Eva was produced circa 1855. Inspired by Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1853 publication of her controversial “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, the figure depicts the gentle Uncle Tom bouncing his little mistress, Miss Eva, on his knee.

The figure is decorated in underglaze black, measures 9 inches high, and is in perfect condition with the exception of expected and appropriate superficial crackling to the glaze, and a shallow and very tight, early hairline to the back of the figure at its base. It is titled “Uncle Tom & Eva” on the front base.

An very exceptional piece of Black Memorabilia for the discriminating collector.

Offered is a fabulous and scarce, 19thC, tin, CANNABIS, apothecary storage container with hand-painted, gold gilt label and a decorative and stylized floral, front embellishment. The label is likely one-of-a-kind, ordered by an early pharmacist!

The tin sports an early and original, hand-painted, mustard-colored surface, and it measures approximately 7 inches high x 4 inches wide x 5 inches deep (front to back including the distinctive front floral embellishment).

Structurally, the canister is a solidly crafted container, with a slanted, well-fitting, hinged cover that snaps into place when closed. The right top portion of container is slightly bent, and the finish shows modest wear and paint loss. The condition is commensurate with a 19th century well-loved and well-used, dispensary antique.

I am pleased to offer this latest acquisition direct from a pharmacy collection in Delafield, Wisconsin. This lovely 19th century hand blown clear glass apothecary show globe is a rarity indeed!. The condition of the glass is wonderful with no chips or cracks noted with only minor faint interior water remnants seen. The sculptured finial has some unobtrusive scratches noted.

There are 3 pieces to the 33 inch show globe with the base being molded to the bottom globe, the decorative middle section and the finial. The base has an open pontil mark and all stoppers are ground glass which fit perfectly.

A similar example can be found in SCHIEFFELEINS 1883 catalogue and is listed as a “Pineapple Show Globe”.

An original 1940s photograph showing the globe on display in the front window of Delafields pharmacy is included. C.J. Cather, R. Ph., was the proud pharmacist owner of this great drugstore display.

A point of clarification: the hand-blown finial ends in a solid ground stopper- very, very rare- thus, it cannot be filled with color water. However, both the bottom and middle globes can each be filled with a different color liquid if so desired.

A great find indeed!

Offered for sale is a wonderful 19th century brass and wood English Apothecary Balance Scale. This lovely balance retains its original patina on both the wooden base and brass scales.

The arm is marked "T.O.Co. J. HALL & SON-Makers-Birmingham" and "Class 1 - To Weigh 1 lb."

The scale measures 16"L x 8"W at the wood base and 16 inches high. The condition appears original with only minor distortion to the wood base.

Once part of the Middle Passage Museum benefactor's inventory, these authentic and extraordinarily RARE, Slave Ship shackles have been de-accessioned from the personal collection of the museum's anonymous Georgia benefactor who is cited below.

These iron, hand-forged, 19th century slave ship shackles were purchased back in the early 1960’s out of a family estate in New Orleans, Louisiana, whose 18th and 19th century ancestors were involved in the slave trade. The shackles remain all-original and untouched with fifteen very heavy chain links that vary in size, measuring a total of 40 inches in length when positioned in a straight line. The cuff size is enormous with diameter measurements of 4.75 and 4.25 inches each; the heft and weight of each cuff is quite impressive. This very weighty set was designed to immobilize when the two circular links were attached to another locking shackle on the interior wall of the ship. An utterly horrible, tangible testament to the malevolence of slavery.

The anonymous museum benefactor from Georgia kept this particular set aside from those items he had planned to donate to the Middle Passage Museum due to the rarity in opportunity of acquiring slave ship shackles---the only set he acquired in his many years of collecting which began in the early 1950's before the collectible field of Black Americana was popular or even socially or politically acceptable.

Also currently offered for sale and priced separately are a rarely found, 19thC Slave Rattle Shackle out of the Charleston, South Carolina area and a set of early 19th century, child/young adolescent - size, Slave Crab Rattle Shackles. Please type the word "shackles" in the search box on our home page to find these sets of shackles.

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."

Once part of the Middle Passage Museum inventory, these authentic and extraordinarily RARE adult’s slave shackles have been de-accessioned. These plantation-made, iron, 19th century shackles were once used on a Georgia plantation. They remain all-original and untouched with over 170 years of patina. Superficial rust is present with structural integrity unaffected. These RARE shackles measure a total of 29 inches in length with fourteen, worn, chain links. A horrible, tangible testament to the malevolence of slavery.

Also currently offered for sale and priced separately are two extraordinarily RARE sets of CHILD's slave shackles-- one set retaining the ORIGINAL KEY. This set of shackles is featured in the last photo. Please type the word "shackles" in the search box on our home page to find all 3 sets of shackles currently offered.

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."

THIS ITEM ON HOLD 12/16/2020,

Early laboratory equipment is a challenge to find but search no more! Offered is an exceptional, very scarce, mid-Victorian, wooden, laboratory funnel stand. This circa 1870s funnel stand is constructed entirely of hardwood sporting a wonderful surface patina.

This fully-adjustable stand measures 17 inches high and can be completely disassembled for storage and transport. The base measures 9 inches long x 4.25 inches wide and has a beveled edge.

The condition of the stand and screw mechanism is very good with some stains and honorable wear commensurate with the age and use of a 150 year old, scientific antique.

*****PLEASE NOTE THAT THE EARLY GLASS FUNNEL PICTURED IS FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE OFFERING AND/OR SALE OF THIS LABORATORY FUNNEL STAND*****

Published in 1876, by McLoughlin Brothers, New York, this extremely rare publication in the Uncle John's Drolleries series is a variation on the Ten Little Niggers story. (Both tales are highly derogatory and quite politically incorrect!)

Measuring 7 3/8 inches wide x 10 3/8 inches long, the book is illustrated in brilliant color with 8 full page chromolithographs. McLoughlin Brothers Publishers were re-known for fabulously-executed illustrations.

Condition: Good-- for its 134 years of age! Unpaginated. Paper covers. The book was stitched at the spine some time ago and this repaired binding remains tight. Several edge tears are present on the cover and to interior pages along with a heavy crease to the back page that is partially separated. These tears are evident in photographs. All original and complete--no missing pages.

Text: "One little nigger feeling rather blue, whistled out another nig and that made two. Three little niggers wanting one more, hadn't any trouble in getting number 4. Four little nigs not knowing how to drive, hired a colored coachman---that made 5. Five little niggers being calculating men, added one apiece, to make their number 10. Dis colored chile am done, dat sum; Five and five's ten---and now's gwine hum."

A must-have for the serious Black Memorabilia collector!!

Offered for sale is a fabulous, Henry Troemner of Philadelphia, oak and pink marble balance scale from the late 1800s. Balances such as this were known as BOX or COUNTER scales and were used in pharmacies to weigh drugs and other items.

The brass pans and scale are marked “Henry Troemner” Philadelphia. His company began making balances in the USA in 1840, and was singularly, the most successful scale maker of his day.

The scale measures approximately 20 inches long x 9 inches wide and is in excellent condition. The oak wood case is designed in the handsome Eastlake style and retains its original honey colored finish. The pink marble top and brass pans round out a near mint 19th century scale!

Difficult to find in this condition!

Measuring just under 6.5 inches in width, this VERY RARE, 19th century, hand-forged iron, slave collar with unusual incised detailing was recently uncovered in Texas.

Complete with functional locking mechanism and -even more scarcely found- a working key, this seldom found piece remains in excellent, all-original condition and stands as a horrid, tangible testament to the malevolence of slavery.

The collar is constructed of two, hefty, separate, semi-circular pieces of iron that are hinged together via a thick iron pin that has a "head" on either end preventing the two pieces from separating. While the interior of the collar is plain, the exterior, very unusually, has been "decorated" with incised diagonal lines cut between horizontal, incised banding at the top and bottom of each piece (see photos). The collar, thus, opens and closes at only one end.

The collar is locked and unlocked via a hand-forged locking mechanism that, amazingly, retains its original key--- an extraordinarily rare occurrence today as typically the key has been long ago lost. The locking mechanism remains smooth and is readily operable. It is unlocked by fully inserting the key and slowly turning it to the right until the pin holding the lock in place is released. To lock, reinsert the open hinge into the lock and hold in place while turning the key to the left.

An excellent and rare example of an artifact of slavery- a material reminder of the malevolence and cruelty suffered by African-Americans in 17th, 18th, and 19th century America.

For those interested in collecting vintage school memorabilia, no such collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of the extremely RARE Silica Book Slate.

Bound just like a typical book, this slate was unique in that it was extremely lightweight and offered multiple surfaces on which to complete one's studies (a total of six writing surfaces including interior front and back covers and two interior pages!!). Due to the fragile nature of construction as well as the vigorous use all school slates experienced, not many of these rare slates survived.

Measuring 5 1/8 wide x 8 3/5 long (closed dimensions), the front and back boards are covered with fabric that is embossed with the name of the slate (Silica Book Slate Quartz Surface) and manufacturer info (New York Silicate Book Co).

The interior pages retain some writings that indicate that someone actually used this slate to record information as late as the 1970's!!

A simply wonderful gift for the educator!!

Offered for sale is a delightful late 19th century cast iron apothecary cork press in the rare form of the SLEEPING DOG. Originating from an early upstate New York country store, the cork press presents wonderful appeal to those who collect early pharmacy objects and those who fancy canines.

The surface sports a vintage patina with traces of rust still present. This appealing cork press measures 9.25� long and is untouched original �as found� undamaged condition.

One of the hardest to find of the vintage figural cork presses.

Offered is an 1809, Augusta, Georgia, slave document - a Bill of Sale between John Woolfolk of Edgefield District, South Carolina, to Thomas Cumming of Augusta for a total of three slaves, all of whom were related: an adult woman named Judy, who was a seamstress, and her two children, Eliza and Edward.

This document is quite unusual in that it was generally atypical that slave families were permitted to remain together when a slave sale was conducted, regardless of the age of any children involved.

The single page, 15.5" wide x 19" long document was folded in half by its author, and the bill of sale is written out on one side of the folded page (see photos). The folded page was then flipped over, folded into thirds, and the title of the document was written out: "Bill of Sale John Woolfolk, Edgefield District. S.C. (South Carolina) for Judy- a Seamstress Edward (and) Eliza her children".

The text of the Bill of Sale reads as follows, First Paragraph:
"Augusta the 8th June 1809, Received from Thomas Cumming, Six hundred Dollars, being the consideration money infull for the following negro slaves sold and delivered to him this day. Judy a woman of about 21 years old Edward a Boy of about three years old and an infant female, named Eliza, Both Children of the said Woman Judy, which Said three negroes, Judy, Edward and Eliza, I do hereby warrant and defend against the claims of all persons whomsoever"

Second Paragraph:
"Given under my hand and seal the day and date first above written."
"John Woolfolk"

Condition of this slavery document is quite remarkable given its 213 years of age! Expected age-related discoloration of paper and slight (approx 3/4 inch)paper split at one end of one fold only. (see photos)

Offered is an extraordinarily rare, 1787, Fairfield, Connecticut, Bill of Sale for five SLAVES owned by Ephraim Willard of Fairfield, sold in November 1787 to two brothers, Ebenezer Whiting of Savannah, Georgia, and Bradford Whiting of Fairfield, Connecticut. The two Whiting brothers then resold these five slaves three months later in February 1788, to Thomas Cumming of Savannah, Georgia.

Also included with the 1787 Bill of Sale are three other Cumming's family documents, two measuring approximately 2"L x 8" W, and one 14"L x 8"W (see photos for condition). They are: an 1815 Receipt from Thomas Cumming to Richmond County, GA, for a $25 payment in taxes; a Dec 8, 1848, Receipt from Henry Cumming of Augusta, GA, a son of Thomas Cumming and a very prominent figure in 19th century Georgia politics, to George W. Crawford, Agent of the Bank of Augusta and Henry's law practice partner, a promise to pay on "the first day of January, 1849,"..."one hundred and three dollars for value received in house rent"; a 28 page 1812 Land Dispute document, Superior Court of Chatham County, GA, executed by Thomas Cumming btwn J. Knowle Fanning and the Joseph Clay Sr estate (Thomas Cumming's father-in-law).

The 1787 Bill of Sale is a single page, 7.5" wide x 12" long document, with text written on both sides of the document. Condition is quite remarkable given its 235 years of age!(see photos) Expected age-related discoloration of paper and some very slight paper loss in center of document ONLY noticeable when doc is held up to light.

The text of the 1787 document reads as follows, Paragraph one:
“Know all Men by these Presents that Ephraim Willard of Fairfield and State of Connecticut for and in Consideration of one Hundred and Sixty Eight Pounds Lawful Money Rec. (Received) to my full Satisfaction Of Eben,, (the double comma “,,”representing an abbreviation for Ebenezer) Whiting of Savannah of the State of Georgia & Bradford Whiting of Fairfield and the State of Connecticut do give, grant, bargain sell & Deliver unto them the said Eben,, Whiting and Bradford Whiting One Negro Man Named Peter Aged about Twenty one Years old, and his Wife Named Cate about Twenty Six years old, and her Two Children one a Girl about Five Years old, and the other a Boy about Eighteen Months old, and one other Negro Woman Named Vilot about Twenty One Years old.”

“To have and to hold the above granted the Bargainer Premises with the appurtenant thereof unto them the Said Eben,, & Bradford Whiting their Theirs Executors And Administrators and the Said Ephraim Willard do for myself my heirs Executors and Administrators Covenant with the Said Eben,, & Bradford Whiting their heirs Executors and Administrators that I am Now the Soul and Lawful Owner of the above Granted and Bargained Premises, and That I have said Right to Sell the Same as aforesaid, and that the same are free of all Incumbrances whatsoever -and I do by these Presents bind myself my Heirs Executors and administrators and assign forever against all claims and Demands whatsoever in Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal in Fairfield this Twenty first Day of Nov,, (November) in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Seven~ Ephraim Willard”
(Witnesses?)
Jonathan Mattbig
Ebenezer Dimon

“Savannah, February 23 1788. I have Sold the five Negroes, mentioned in this Bill of Sale to Thomas Cumming of Savannah, for which I have received a consideration to my satisfaction~”
Ebenezer Whiting
Bradford Whiting

A bit of History-
Slavery in Connecticut:Connecticut, in 1848, was the last New England state to abolish slavery. The state's city of New London was one of the New England port cities that was an integral trading partner in what is generally referred to as “The Triangle Trade”- between New England, the West Indies, and the African Gold Coast. In this triangular trade, molasses produced in the West Indies from sugar cane was sent to New England, New England sent rum made from this molasses to Africa in exchange for enslaved people, and the enslaved were sent to the West Indies to work the sugar cane plantations that produced the molasses, maintaining the prosperity of the northern colonies through the 18th century and into the 19th.

Thomas Cumming: Thomas Cumming, to whom the above five slaves were sold in Savannah, Georgia, in 1788, was born in Frederick, Maryland, having moved to Georgia as an adult. In 1787, the year before this purchase, he married Ann Clay, the daughter of Joseph Clay, a wealthy owner of multiple Savannah-area rice plantations. It is hypothesized that Thomas purchased these slaves in conjunction with or for his father-in-law. At some point in the 1790s, he moved his wife and children to Augusta, and served as Augusta’s first mayor upon its incorporation in 1798. From 1819 until his death at age 68 in 1834, Thomas Cumming was President of the Bank of Augusta.