Catalog (111)

Offered is a late 19th century, French, Asthma Cure tin with original contents. Extraordinary in its detailed graphics, the tin contains eight, complete and unused boxes of William's Matches with labeling both in English and in French.

The cover sports a wonderful image of a French gypsy benefiting from the inhalation of Williams curative powder.

The tin measures 4.5" L x 2.75" W x 1" H and is in very nice condition, most particularly the cover. Rarely found with original contents!

This is an interesting pharmacy medicine from the 1930's that is for the treatment of female related conditions only. "GYNAGEN" powder is manufactured in Toronto, Canada by the Charles C. Cummings & Co.

All printed information is in English and French. The 4.5 inch tin cylindrical container is full with what appears to be the original pink powder contents and is in very good condition with the exception of some rust on the bottom of the tin. The paper label is complete and shows minor wear spots from storage.

A great disease specific medication!

Offered is a very scarce boxed set of late 19th century Homeopathic medicine vials, most of which still retain their contents. The box is made of cardboard covered by a thin layer of what appears to be leatherette.

The box is mildly worn commensurate with age and use, with some tape holding the top sides together. It measures 5.5"L x 3.75"W x 3.5"H.

Twenty three of the 24 bottles retain their contents, with the one bottle displaying a dark cork being empty and broken (parts of the glass from this broken vial are stuck to the box interior compartment). The vials measure just over 3 inches tall including corks and sport handwritten labels, most of which are legible (a few are faded and illegible).

Overall a very unusual find when you consider that the contents remain.

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 describing 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 traditional medical establishment 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 are three awesome Patent Medicine bottles from the 1900 thru 1920 era.

First, is a very visually-graphic and unopened DR HANDS COLIC REMEDY for children. The wrapper is in good shape with the normal wear expected to be found on an antique medicine.

Second, is WILSON'S NEUROPATHIC DROPS formerly used as a counter-irritant and anodyne. The label is complete and notes that the medicine is from the Osgood Products Co. of Newton, Massachusetts.

Finally, is a very appealing bottle from the LAXACOLA Company, of New York. Labeled "The Great Tonic Laxative", it also claimed to prevent and CURE HABITUAL CONSTIPATION and served as a remedy for children treating childrens' conditions of the stomach and digestive organs. Great stuff!

For reference, the GREAT TONIC LAXATIVE measures 8 inches high and retains a damaged, partial box. There are no signs of damage to any of the glass bottles. This delightful trio is ready for your collection!

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 are three, choice, 1920s - 1930s, Upjohn Pharmaceutical Co, "CHERACOL" codeine chloroform cough remedy medicine bottles all sporting complete labeling and corked top.

The three bottles are in excellent condition with a deep amber color and measuring about 5.25" high. I have offered this bottle in the past but not in a grouping of three and in this very fine condition!

The pictures tell the story...none will likely be found in better condition than this trio!

This very colorful and detailed pictorial display salutes the achievement of America's First Apothecary General, Boston's Andrew Craigie, commissioned in 1777. He had served as Massachusetts' Committee of Safety as Apothecary and fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill, continuing to serve American forces throughout the Revolutionary War.

This display is one of a series entitled "The History of Pharmacy in Pictures" produced by Parke Davis in the late 1950's to early 1960's honoring the story of American Pharmacy.

This scene depicts Craigie providing aid during the June 17, 1775, Revolutionary War, Battle of Bunker Hill, Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts.

This self-framed, white-bordered artwork is constructed of a quality, thick, card board and has a built-in easel on back for displaying. The picture can also be easily framed.

Perfect, intense color throughout - no fading - any glare seen is due to lighting conditions during photography. Measures approximately 21" long x 17.75" wide.

Offered is a very nice group of 8 Merck as well as Powers & Weightman Pharmacy and Chemist bottles.

First is a robust 8" size early 1900s Powers-Weightman-Rosengarten POTASSIUM SALICYLATE stock bottle.

Bottle #2 is a 7 inch high Merck ANTIMONY CHLORIDE formerly used in veterinary medicine as a dehorning agent.

Bottle #3 CALCIUM CHLORIDE, is 6 inches tall and was used as a source of calcium in foods, paper manufacture and chemistry to mention a few.

Item #4 ACID PICRIC was used in medicine as an antiseptic and for the treatment of burns. It measures 3.5 inches.

Bottle #5 GUAIACOL CARBONATE from Powers & Weightman measures 5 inches high and was used as an expectorant and disinfectant.

Bottle #6 HYDROCYANIC ACID measures 4.5 inches and was used as a pesticide. Empty.

Bottle #7 EMETINE from Sharpe & Dohme measures a mere 2 inches tall and is an emetic.

Finally, a 5 inch bottle #8 LEAD OXIDE was used in the building trade.

All the bottles are in fine shape and sport labels that show wear, stains or fading commensurate with age. Most are circa early 1900 with EMETINE being from the 1920 era. A very interesting group!

This is a very nice example of a Lowell, Massachusetts, patent medicine complete with box.

The 8.5 inch bottle is in fine condition and sports a label only on the side panel because it is embossed on the remaining three sides. The bottle label is almost complete with modest staining from content leakage.

This medicine retains its original, very decorative box which notes a 1915 date-- apparently when this "new" box was first introduced to the public in August of that year. The box is complete and in good condition noting modest content stain, mostly on the left panel.

Ayer's Sarsaparilla was actually a quack medicine first introduced in the mid 19th century, with no real evidence of therapeutic value, and in that regard, quite similar to many other medicines of that era. Sarsaparilla, J.C. Ayer's most popular product, was cited as a real blessing to humanity in that it purified the blood, stimulated the vital functions, restored and preserved health, and infused new life and vigor throughout the whole system!! Sarsaparilla was also recommended for jaundice, dyspepsia, pimples, boils, ringworm, female weaknesses and ‘lassitude and debility peculiar to the Spring.'

A very visually-appealing collection of antique pharmacy collectibles primarily dating from the 1910 era with a few as late as the 1950s, that include vials, corked labeled bottles, tins, a test tube rack and essential oils!

For perspective, the test tube rack measures 8.25" L x 1.75" H x 2.25" W. The narrow and elegant Oil of Mandarin bottle measures 6" tall. The full, Merck QUININE powder bottle is 5.5" H with cork. The 1940s, mint, Eli Lilly SUCROSE box is 8.5" L is complete with glass ampoule. The 1950's era NASAL DOUCHE is new-old-stock-in-box and is marked "Made in Taiwan".

Overall, all pieces are in undamaged condition. There is some label patina present with stains, and slight wear to most. The only label with moderate wear is the 1920s Merck "BARBITOL" bottle with glass stopper. The diminutive "KONSYL" tin is unused and near mint!

A lovely grouping which displays very well and will add visual interest to any pharmacy collection!

This is handsome set of vintage 1940 - 1950s, Troemner Pharmacy Scale weights comes complete in a handsome, fitted, wooden case.

The hardwood case measures 4.5"L x 3"W x 1.5"H and is in very nice condition. "HENRY TROEMNER MAKER PHILADA" is stamped in red on one side of the case. The box top retains remnants of a State Weights & Measures certification sticker and an old decal with the letter "M" noted.

The brass gram weights have the expected patina and tarnish of a vintage piece. The aluminum milligram weights and tweezers are all in fine condition.

A nice addition to your collection!

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!

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.

For your consideration is a colorful matted and framed 1936 series Treasury Department IRS Narcotics form. The document is dated and filed 1948 at the Lominick's Drug Store, Newberry, S.C. This drug store record documents the narcotics dispensed and include Morphine, Demerol, Codeine and Hycodan.

The frame measures 14.5" high x 11.5" wide and is in fine condition. Although once common, these decorative documents are getting more difficult to find. Ready to hang!

Offered is a very appealing pair of Mid Century Modern, vintage-design-decorated, apothecary jars that once embellished the shelves of a Claymont, Delaware pharmacy.

Dating to the 1950s - 1960s era, this beautiful, white and cobalt blue colored pair are in excellent condition. The large jar measures 10.75 inches tall x 6 inches in diameter. The small jar measures 7.5 inches high x 4.75 inches in diameter.

Ready for display in your vintage drug store collection!

19thC English instruments are noted for their high quality craftsmanship, and this suppository mold certainly meets this very high standard. Constructed of brass, this footed mold sports 5 tubes for making 2 grain suppositories.

This fine example measuring 6"L x 1.5"W x 1"H, sports a warm patina commensurate with an instrument of this age.

The mold is marked "S. MAW & SONS, THOMPSON - LONDON", a noted manufacturer of quality medical instruments and tools for many years).

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.

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.