Catalog (87)

Offered is a scarce, early 20thC, brass, apothecary bottle cork borer set. Dating to the 1920s era, this visually-striking, ten piece cork borer will accent any pharmacy collection.

There are nine borers numbered 1 through 9 and one central support rod completing this set. Each borer measures 4 inches long, with the total length, when linked together, measuring 8 inches x 2.5 inches wide. The borer set sports great patina and minimal wear commensurate of an antique of this age.

A very cute vintage drug store/pharmacy display from the 1940s era!

This complete display consists of 24, small 'sample' medicine boxes, each of which contain colorful little red pills!

Each box's label includes ingredients described as 'laxative and cathartic’.

Packed by CHANDLER MEDICINE CO. - Office 2812 Dodier Street, ST. LOUIS, MO., the display measures 6" x 5" x 1" and is in unused, very nice condition. ***NOTE*** The left side edges of the box have separated from each corner and the front top panel which serves as the front display when open is partially detached from it's side. While this sounds a bit like the box is damaged, this kind of separation does occur over time and is noted for full disclosure. It is very nice!

What a great collectible for the pharmacist, nurse or doctor in your life!

This is a very nice Glover's Veterinary Dog Specific Condition Pill Tins that sport fabulous Art Nouveau graphics!

The green colored tins date to the 1910 - 1923 time period and measure about 3.25" long x 2 inches wide.

The tin with paint loss especially on the bottom is priced @ $70.00. .The better tin is $90.00

The covers and hinges work well. Made by "METAL PKGE CORP. BKLYN, NY".

****The brown colored tin is sold****

Some History: Henry Clay Glover started practicing veterinary medicine sometime prior to 1877. In 1888, his medicines were awarded the medal of superiority by the American Institute of New York. He identified himself as a “Specialist in Canine Diseases". As a personal testimonial, he stated that as of 1897, he had been the Veterinarian to the Westminster Kennel Club for 20 years.

The first known address for Dr. Glover is 1293 Broadway, New York City. Tins with this address state “H. Clay Glover,V.S. Prop", and appear to be the earliest-known. Some time prior to 1914, the company moved to 118 West 31st Street. Glover was still sole proprietor, but by 1917 the company was incorporated, and the tins stated “H. Clay Glover Co” while retaining the West 31st Street address. The company moved to 127-129 West 24th Street in 1923.

Offered is an outstanding, Art Deco era, circa 1920-1930s, hanging, drug store, apothecary show globe in impeccable condition!

The fancy and highly-stylized, Art Deco, aluminum frame cradles an equally highly-stylized, classically-ribbed, clear glass show globe and finial. If so desired, the show globe will hold water. The frame is embellished with a buffed matte finish with design details outlined in contrasting black to further enhance the fabulous, Art Deco styling. The chain link is also painted black, echoing the black detailing of the frame, and it retains most of its gorgeous, original finish, with absolutely no pitting. This fabulous apothecary showpiece measures 29 inches from the top of its fancy hanger to the base.

The condition is absolutely excellent. The globe glass is clean and clear with a perfectly fitting, ground-glass stopper. The interior globe rim has an extremely shallow, minute, surface chip that is insignificant and is very difficult to see and photograph. The finial base has two practically undetectable, teeny, flea bites that cannot be seen when the finial is inserted into the globe rim, and which also, are too tiny to photograph.

The take away of this offering, this outstanding piece of nearly 100 year old, American pharmacy history, is both its exquisite Art Deco styling with extraordinary visual appeal, and its utterly excellent condition, making it a true rarity among extant Apothecary antiques and collectibles!

Offered is a very scarce, 19th century, portable, doctor's, apothecary medicine case.

The traveling case's exterior is constructed of leather, and the interior sports 5 compartments packed with a total of 62 medicine bottles. Specifically, there are 32 narrow medicine vials with metal screw-on caps, plus 17 medium-size vials. There are six miscellaneous vials, 5 of which are corked, and one that houses a later-date, glass syringe. Finally, there are 7 apothecary bottles with ground glass stoppers residing in their individual compartments.

Imprinted in gold-gilding on the inside cover flap is the manufacturer name, "H.K. MULFORD COMPANY", which is a precursor to today's Merck. The label cites "7 Highest Awards from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition" (which took place in Chicago) and which dates the case to the 1890's.

This interesting case measures 11 inches L x 5.5 inches W x 6.25 inches H. The case is complete and has modest wear and tear commensurate of a used antique. Some separation of leather parts with stains of age and use reside on the interior and exterior surfaces.

An intriguing piece of early pharmacy and physician care.

Offered is a very striking, Civil War era, clear glass, apothecary bottle sporting a wonderful and quite visually-appealing, gold, recessed label.

It is embossed on the base: W.N WALTON PAT SEPT 23, 1862.

The bottle is just about 8 inches tall and is in excellent condition, containing its original contents!

This colorful group of 5 empty drug store tins. One of the circa 1940s - 1950s tins is labeled “Hospital Packet” and the other 4 are noted as “Professional Packet”. The Hospital Packet tin differs in the front and back lithograph as well as the text. The medicine tins are marked DERMA MEDICONE and are topical anesthetic ointments labeled: Benzocaine, Oxyquinolone Sulphate, Ephedrine HCL, and more.

The 5 tins are all in nice condition with unobtrusive minor surface scratches with one having a minor rust stain to the lower edge from storage.

The tins measure just over 1.5 “ in diameter.

Perfect for your shop or collection!

Offered separately are 2 complete sets of cased, OHAUS, brass PHARMACY weights dating to the 1950-60s.

The weights are housed in plastic, fitted cases and include tweezers for securing the various milligram weights. Each cased set offers a total of sixteen gram and ounce brass weights - 1 metric, small, coin-size weight and various, metal, gram and grain weights.

The cases measure 4.5 inches long x 4 inches wide x 1.75 inches high.

Condition of the BRISTOL-MEYERS case is very good with wear commensurate with use and age and is priced $45.00.

Case #2 marked OHAUS on the top is in excellent condition and is priced $60.00. This set comes with its original shipping box and appears unused.

This is a scarce collection of 22 Homeopathic Medicine bottles complete with contents, corks and labels dating to the turn of the 19th century. Each vial sports an applied label that indicates the contents plus a cork with hand-written ingredients noted. The vials measure between 2 - 2.5 inches high x 1/2" including the cork. Hard to find in any condition.

*****Group #1*****

Some History:
Although homeopathy has its roots in ancient Greek medicine and in the work of the 16th-century physician Paracelsus, modern homeopathy dates back 200 years to the work of the German doctor and chemist, Samuel Hahnemann. Hahnemann qualified as a physician but ceased to practice as a doctor because of what he saw as the barbaric medical practices of his day - which included bloodletting and the overuse of toxic medicines, leading to horrific side effects.

A brilliant linguist, he earned a living from translating books and was interested by a reference in a medical textbook of the use of China (Peruvian bark) as a cure for malaria. Intrigued to know why China worked, he took doses of the remedy until he himself began to exhibit malarial symptoms. He stopped taking the China and the symptoms went away. From this he deduced that the ancient principle of 'like cures like' actually worked.

His next step was to determine if there were safe levels at which toxic substances could be given - and still cure the type of symptoms that they might otherwise cause. His experiments with dilution led him to discover that the more a substance was diluted, the more potent it appeared to become.

Homeopathic medicine was born, but in practicing it, Hahnemann and his followers were subjected to ridicule and persecution by the medical establishment, despite the fact that they were seeing patients getting better on tiny doses of medicines, prescribed on the basis of 'like cures like'. Many European practitioners immigrated to the United States, where homeopathy flourished in the 19th century – until the medical establishment there systematically acted to remove its influence.

Hahnemann ended his days as a renowned and very busy practitioner in Paris, working into his 80's. He is interred at the Cimetière du Père Lachaise, where a large monument honors him and his discovery of Homeopathy.

This is a hard-to-find, pharmacy or drug store female specific tin labeled “SEDETS” – Pain pills from the 1940 – 1950 era. The tin measures 2 inches and is in very good condition complete with unused contents. There are faint scratches and minor wear areas. Marked "Rexall Drug Company" and "Patented 1938 in Canada".

This is part of many “female specific” old pharmacy stock items for sale.

Hard to come by, this U.S. Government Licensed, MULFORD DIPTHERIA ANTITOXIN complete with contents, is in unused condition.

This museum quality kit contains directions, antitoxin vial, needle, and injector components--- including a perfect wooden box. The colorful label is complete, torn in places with stains and printed in English and Spanish.

The scarce kit measures approximately 4"W x 1.75"H x 1.25"D and is dated JULY 11, 1941.

The Smithsonian Institute has detailed and fascinating information on the history of diphtheria on their website and is a highly recommended search.

Ready to be the centerpiece of your collection!

Offered are two fabulous Arlington Chemical Company Diagnostic Allergen Test Kits which were used to test skin sensitivity or allergy to a wide variety of potential allergans. The two boxed sets date to the 1940s - 1950s era and are in very nice condition. Both boxes are covered in a grained, leather-like material.

The larger boxed set contains 38 vials which are nearly empty and sport complete paper labels. There are 2 missing vials from this kit. It measures 6" long x 5" wide x 1.5" high. The inside cover of this larger boxed set lists the names of the 38 allergens contained in the kit.

The small boxed set contains 28 corked top vials which have the same type paper labels as found in the larger kit. This kit measures 5" long x 2" wide x 1.5" high and is missing (or never had) 8 vials.

These skin sensitivity testing kits contain vials which are specific to the southern California area.

A scarce duo indeed!

Offered are two, vintage, white ceramic, pharmacy pill tiles produced circa 1920. Each tile is priced separately.

Both pill tiles have identical marking on the back side as follows: "GERMANY" and "Trademark 'M' PHILADELPHIA, NEW YORK".

The smaller tile measures 8" x 10" and is in excellent condition, priced at $125.00.

The larger tile measures 10" x 12" and is in nice condition with the exception of a small 1/2" chip on the top front edge. Priced at $115.00.

Very nice tools of the trade!

This is a scarce collection of 22 Homeopathic Medicine bottles complete with contents, corks and labels dating to the turn of the 19th century. Each vial sports an applied label that indicates the contents plus a cork with hand-written ingredients noted. The vials measure between 2 - 2.5 inches high x 1/2" including the cork. Hard to find in any condition.

*****Group #4*****

Some History:
Although homeopathy has its roots in ancient Greek medicine and in the work of the 16th-century physician Paracelsus, modern homeopathy dates back 200 years to the work of the German doctor and chemist, Samuel Hahnemann. Hahnemann qualified as a physician but ceased to practice as a doctor because of what he saw as the barbaric medical practices of his day - which included bloodletting and the overuse of toxic medicines, leading to horrific side effects.

A brilliant linguist, he earned a living from translating books and was interested by a reference in a medical textbook of the use of China (Peruvian bark) as a cure for malaria. Intrigued to know why China worked, he took doses of the remedy until he himself began to exhibit malarial symptoms. He stopped taking the China and the symptoms went away. From this he deduced that the ancient principle of 'like cures like' actually worked.

His next step was to determine if there were safe levels at which toxic substances could be given - and still cure the type of symptoms that they might otherwise cause. His experiments with dilution led him to discover that the more a substance was diluted, the more potent it appeared to become.

Homeopathic medicine was born, but in practicing it, Hahnemann and his followers were subjected to ridicule and persecution by the medical establishment, despite the fact that they were seeing patients getting better on tiny doses of medicines, prescribed on the basis of 'like cures like'. Many European practitioners immigrated to the United States, where homeopathy flourished in the 19th century – until the medical establishment there systematically acted to remove its influence.

Hahnemann ended his days as a renowned and very busy practitioner in Paris, working into his 80's. He is interred at the Cimetière du Père Lachaise, where a large monument honors him and his discovery of Homeopathy.

Offered is an unused, vintage "sex" ointment purported to be a desensitizing agent for men.

This cleverly named product came in a diminutive tube measuring 3.5 inches long with its carton a mere 4 inches long. Supposedly, by following directions and using "at the right time", this ointment would measure up to its full potential.

Dates to the 1950's - 1960's era and is in very good condition.

This antiquated medicine with inert contents is meant for display ONLY and NOT meant for use.

A GREAT conversation piece!

Offered is a very difficult-to-find grouping of thirty nine, matching, 19th century, porcelain, apothecary cabinet drawer pulls.

Each pull measures about 2"W x 1 3/4"H x 1 1/2" front to back (not including bolt).

The condition of the pulls is very good with only one pull (SIENNA) showing minor use-damage above the letter "A"(see photo). Otherwise, some pulls have minor manufacturing imperfections that add to the desired patina of an antique of this age and period.

Most of the pulls sport the following, sometimes illegible, maker's mark on the bottom of the knob: "PAT. FEB 12, 89 - M.D.B. CO. - ST. LOUIS, MO".

The pulls are PRICED EACH at $43.00 PER PULL and are ready for your collection or for retro-chic decorating use on an actual cabinet, be it antique or contemporary!

Measuring a diminutive 2 inches in diameter, this intricately-detailed, colorfully lithographed, celluloid-faced advertising pocket mirror is in mint condition!

The pastoral image features a country maiden leading a cow from the woods while holding a can of Horlick's Malted Milk.

Imprinted on the cow's side is the following, "Ask for Horlick's at all Fountains and Hotels."

Around the circumference of the mirror, the product is further advertised:

"This maiden fair was dressed in silk,
She drinks the Horlick's Malted Milk."

" Tea of coffee it does replace,
In Health or Sickness,
Wins the Race."

Original mirrored backing is in very fine condition with just a few very minute , superficial scratches. Marked in microscopically written print ob bottom edge: The Whitemead & Hoag Company, Newark, New Jersey.

A beautiful little advertising piece!

Diminutive in size with the lustrous feel and look of antique ivory, this extraordinarily RARE apothecary powder spatula is a must-have for the serious pharmacy memorabilia collector!

Measuring just 3.25 inches long, this hand-carved piece features a spatula that is tapered to a fine, thin edge allowing for the easy handling of the finest-ground drug powders.

Condition is very fine without imperfection! A gorgeous, RARE apothecary implement!