Catalog (120)

Offered for your consideration is a fabulous, large size, 19th century apothecary bottle sporting a fancy gold & black lettered painted glass label marked “P. ALOE. et CAN.”!

This hand blown, 12 inch tall bottle has a deep pontilled base and is in fine condition. The ground glass stopper has a few unobtrusive interior edge chips.

The label under glass (LUG) applied label is in very good condition, complete and some minor ‘crackling’ of the painted surface.

When viewing the glass label "in person", it is quite appealing and displays beautifully. Please note that the elongated, reddish mark seen on the label is a function of poor photography - it is only a reflection of another object in the room- and not a stain!

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!

Offered is a lovely grouping of seven, vintage WITCH HAZEL labels that I acquired at auction in 1997 when the E.E. DICKINSON - WITCH HAZEL COMPANY officially closed its doors in Essex, Connecticut.

These highly-colorful, lithographed paper labels are all UNUSED, NEW OLD STOCK in wonderful condition. The E. E. Dickinson Company made "off-branded witch hazel products" sold to a variety of vendors. The labels offered here all advertise the very same witch hazel product manufactured by E.E. Dickinson but which was then sold to and marketed by these other companies: S.X.BRAND.N.F., BAILEY'S, and MERRIMACK. Dickinson sold its witch hazel under its own name as well.

At the time of the auction, all remaining company stock was removed from storage for the factory-closing sale. We believe these labels predate the 1930s, and would look quite wonderful framed!

The 4 large size labels, measuring 10 inches in diameter, were for use on 50 gallon barrels or drums and are offered at $15.00 each. The 3 smaller labels are 8.5 inches in diameter and are offered at $12.00 each.

A framed display of ALL 7 barrel labels together would be quite visually-stunning! With this decorative thought in mind, all 7 labels can also be purchased a single group, offered at $75.00.

We are pleased to offer a very appealing and scarce, label-under-glass, apothecary display bottle. Bottles of this size and shape are an elusive find.

Recently acquired during an antiques hunt in the Savanna, Georgia, area, this beauty measures just over 12 inches high and just under 5 inches in diameter at the base.

Condition of the glass label: The tapered glass label is complete, with very minor paint lifting and discoloration most evident along the bottom of the label. The glass portion of label is undamaged.

Condition of the bottle: There are no chips to the bottle. The interior of the bottle is clear except for some faint deposit on the top water edge. The base of bottle is embossed "Pat'd Dec. 10 95" (1895).

Condition of the stopper: The decorative stopper has a tiny edge fleck on the edge of one lower facet. The lower inside of stopper has 3 unobtrusive fractures on the rear portion not visible from the front. There are 2 fractures on the upper portion of the bottle where the stopper fits. One of them is on the left and is barely visible. The stopper is fixed in placed and has not been tampered with.

The photos adequately present the condition of bottle. A stunning centerpiece for your collection.

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 #2*****

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 hard to find painted cast iron meat and juice press from the late 19th century.

This dual purpose pharmacy tool of the trade measures about 9 inches high and retains much of its original black japanned surface.

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 a seldom found large quantity of vintage Rexall Pharmacy Drug Store Apothecary Bottle Labels. There are over 200 circa 1930-1940 era labels with very appealing printed graphics including some POISON and NARCOTIC examples.

These lovely Drug Store labels measure just over 2.25" x 3.25" and are complete with a gummed backing (similar to a postage stamp).

Most of the labels are in fine condition while others show various folds, paper loss (where they were stuck together by glue), and some labels missing pieces. This is all commensurate with the early storage of early paper. The labels are unused and have gummed backing and are ready for your collection.

****NOTE****The containers are EMPTY.

Offered is a very desirable group of vintage, pharmacy bottles and medicine from the 1930s to 1950s era.

The two cocaine bottles from Merck and Mallinckrodt are the gems of this listing! The diminutive Merck DIONIN bottle and Schering MEDINAL Barbitol labelled box are quite collectible as well. Finally, the Lilly MORPHINE bottle, which sports a tax stamp, rounds out quite a quintet!

For perspective, the Mallinckrodt cocaine bottle measures 3.5" tall, and the Merck red capped bottle is a cute 1.75" high.

The labels are very good (and original) showing only an occasional, minor stain or loss as seen in the photos. Only the 2.75" Lilly Morphine label can be described as fair, with modest loss as photographed. The 1.75" square Medinal box and label are in excellent condition.

Note that each medicine is also marked as a "POISON"!

This is a nice grouping of 15 EMPTY Pharmacy Hypodermic Tablet Vials, representing a wide variety of remedies and pharmaceutical manufacturers including MULFORD, ELI LILLY, SHARPE & DOHME, and PARKE DAVIS.

These corked cuties date from the early 1900s to 1920s, and all but one retain their tiny corks.

Some vials, such as that containing STRYCHNINE, are marked "POISON" on their paper labels.

Interestingly, there is one VETERINARY vial labeled ARECOLINE HYDROBROMIDE POISON by Mulford.

The diminutive vials measure from 2 inches long to 3 inches and are all in good condition. Imperfections noted: one vial has a tiny chip to the mouth of the tube and another vial has a minor crack near the cork.

Interesting grouping to add to your collection!

This is an unused, "New Old Stock", Pharmacy or Drug Store display from the 1940-1950's era. It is complete with 6 full boxes of "Mckesson and Robbins" tablets.

This cute size display measures 4.5" x 3.75" closed and is in very nice condition. The top lifts up to facilitate advertisement of the product and would have been placed on the counter top of a pharmacy in this fashion. A neat find!

Offered is a group of six, very scarce, 19th century, tin, apothecary, storage containers with hand-painted, gold gilt labels and a decorative and stylized floral, front embellishment. The gold gilt labels make these early pharmacy canisters really stand out!

The tins sport an early and original, hand-painted, mustard-colored surface patina. The five smaller containers measure approximately 7 inches high x 4 inches wide x 5 inches deep (front to back including the distinctive front floral embellishment). The one large container measures about 8 inches high x 5 inches wide x 5 inches deep.

Structurally, the canisters are very solidly crafted containers, each with a slanted, well-fitting, hinged cover that snaps into place when closed. There are unobtrusive dings, and the finish shows modest wear and paint loss commensurate with a 19th century, well-loved and well-used, dispensary antique.

This is an unused, "New Old Stock", Pharmacy or Drug Store display from the 1940-1950's era. It is complete with 16 full boxes of "THRIOCAIN LOZENGES". The pink tablets are inside a plastic tube which was prepared for and labeled "James' Drug Co., New London, CT".

This diminutive size display measures 6.25" x 3.75" x 2" closed and is in very nice condition except for some unobtrusive ink scribbling appearing mostly on the top. The cover lifts up to facilitate the advertising of this product and would have been placed on the counter top of a pharmacy in this fashion. A neat find!

Offered for your consideration is a vintage, all-original, framed paper advertising sign for the cure of Gonorrhea, Gleet and Syphilis 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 blue round label is affixed to the glass, not the actual 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!

This striking, decorated, ceramic apothecary jar dates from the 1930s and is marked "GERMANY" on its base. Measuring 9 inches tall, this jar features lovely, gold-painted swags.

The cover has a crack as seen in the photo, but the jar otherwise is quite fine lending flair and elegance to your apothecary collection.

Scientific, chemist, laboratory-- these terms all best describe this circa 1930s, unused and most interesting device labeled "Bishops Arsenic Apparatus". Comes complete with original wrappers, jar, black stopper, piping and stained box with label. The box measures 5.5 inches long x 3.25 inches wide x 2 inches high. Condition is excellent.

Perfect for your laboratory, medical or weird science collection!

Offered for sale is a fancy, large size 19th century apothecary bottle labeled "TALCUM". This bottle sports a hand painted glass recessed label!

This 10.5 inch tall bottle with this desirable design would have been specially ordered.

This label under glass (LUG) wide mouth bottle is in fine condition. The stylish knobby shaped stopper sports ground glass construction and fits perfectly. There is one tiny edge chip on the mouth of the posterior mouth. The glass label is complete, has crackled paint and displays well.

A lovely example of form and function.