Catalog (106)

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 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 is a quack, Parke-Davis box of 12 unused ampules of Iron Cacodylate (arsenic) dating to the 1930s. Can't imagine the value of arsenic in curing any diseased state, but it appeared commonly in old medical practices.

The box is in very nice condition with some wear from age and storage. Measures 2.5" high x 2.2" wide x 1.5" deep and contains 12 individually boxed vials all in very nice condition.

Offered is a visually-pleasing, C1900, Patent Medicine bottle with original box, bottle and insert booklet. The box sports a stunning graphic of the mythological Greek, Atlas, bearing the weight of the heavens upon his shoulders.

Condition: The box is complete, measuring 6 inches high, showing mild wear with some tattering and light fading. The bottle and label are in good condition with no damage to glass. Contents are old and dried. A very nice addition to your collection.

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 for sale is a very nice FEMALE SPECIFIC glycerine based French medication tin from Paris, France. Marked with an interesting graphic “OVULES CHAUMEL” and “PANSEMENTS VAGINAUX” on the interior cover.

Measuring about 3 inches square, this circa 1920s - 1930s vintage tin is an unusual find.

The condition of the tin is good, commensurate with its age. Unobtrusive wear and paint loss do not detract from this hard to find tin .

Great for your pharmacy collection!

Offered is a choice, 19th century, physician's, Homeopathic Medicine Case, a nearly complete example containing 147 of the original 150 corked vials!

Each vial measures approximately 1.5 inches in length including the cork. The vials are nestled in the leather case, and each vial sports a small paper label. The fitted case measures 10.5" long x 2" wide x 3.5" high and shows wear commensurate with age and use. Modest wear and loss to the flap closure is noted with general wear and mild loss of material.

A wonderful representation of late 19th century homeopathic medicine!

Offered for sale is a wonderful late 19th century, Victorian drugstore, medical advertising cup. This lovely porcelain mug has “CUDAHY’S REXOMA” printed on the lip. Beautifully hand painted pink roses and other lavender colored flowers adorn the cup on all surfaces.

The Cudahy meat packing industry dates back to the turn of the century. The Cudahy meat industry, with stockyards in Omaha, Chicago, Sioux City and Los Angeles produced the REX brand of fine beef and pork products. They also produced lard, soaps and patent medicine products such as Cudahy's Essence of Pepsin and Cudahy's Rexsoma that used the animal byproducts. The patent medicines were marketed as nutritional supplements for improved health.

This 3.5 inch tall undamaged beauty is in very good condition and very classy indeed!

A terrific image on a lovely cup that can be easily displayed anywhere in your collection.

Offered is a very nice group of vintage Parke Davis pharmacy bottles dating from 1900 through 1920s.

First, is a nearly 8 inch amber bottle GAMBIR, a mild tonic and astringent.
Bottle #2 JALAP, a cathartic, measures 5 inches, is a circa 1900 amber example sporting the early factory image.
Bottle #3 OX GALL, a tonic and laxative, is 5 inches tall and also sports the early PD factory label.
Bottles #4 + 5 measure 5 inches tall. CALUMBA a tonic and stimulant. APOCYNUM (Canadian Hemp) an emetic and expectorant.
Bottles #6 and 7, DAMIANA, used as a mood enhancer or digestive stimulant, measures 4 inches. In early history, Damiana was noted as having an "effect on sexual desire".
Drug #8 CREOSOTE a expectorant measures 5 inches.
Bottles #9 and 10 labeled INFANT No.2 measure 2.25 inches and contain Calomel, a purgative and ipecac (induces vomiting).
Medicines # 11 and 12 are boxed Herbs STRAMONIUM used for asthma.
Bottles #13 and 14 CATHARTIC COMPOUND measure 7 inches high and contain colocynth used for liver, gallbladder and other issues.

The condition of the bottles is excellent. The labels are mostly complete with some showing honorable wear, stains, fading all commensurate with vintage medicines.

A wonderful collection of vintage pharmacy products.

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 an interesting and varied, quality sextet of Patent Medicines as follows!

First is a Munyon's Headache Cure which has a screw cap glass vial in a colorful box. This medicine sports a partial tax stamp, measures 2.75 inches and is in fine condition.

The two Dr. Franklin's Specific Cures measure just over 3 inches long and sport very graphic and appealing labels. The first glass vial marked #24, cures Diseases of the Ear and Hearing and more. The second glass vial marked #31, cures Sore Mouth and Canker, plus Morning Sickness, Syphilitic Sore mouth and more. The condition of both vials is very good.

Next, is a very colorful REQUA'S CUBEB CIGARETTES box of 12--complete! This Brooklyn, N.Y., medicine claims to relieve minor sore throat and bronchial irritations including nasal congestion due to colds. Please note the image of the patient puffing casually on a cigarette to retain good health!!!! The box is in good condition with wrinkling and creases and is 3.25 inch high.

MOTHERSILL'S TRAVEL REMEDY is a cute box of 12 capsules for children. This 2 inch cutie is empty, in very nice condition and is made in N.Y.

Item #6 is a laxative tin, QUINARETS, from the Virginia Chemical Company with partial contents, pamphlet and is in good condition. The tin measures 2.5 inches with some mild scratches and wear.

Together a wonderful grouping of quite interesting patent medicines from the early 1900s to 1940s.

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!

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 is a handsome, wooden case of homeopathic medicine pill bottles dating to the 1880's, containing a variety of remedies commonly found in the 19th century.

All but one bottle are re-purposed and sport "OTIS CLAPP & SON" embossing on one side. One bottle sports the original Otis Clapp & Son paper label (SEPIA). One bottle is round and not original to case.

Each Otis Clapp bottle measures over 2.5 inches high, having hand-written labels with instructions for use and corks with hand-written contents on top. One Otis Clapp bottle is amber colored; otherwise the bottles are clear.

The case measures 7" x 4.5" x 5" and is in very good condition with a functional front clasp. An early note has been affixed to the inner top to reflect contents, dose and antidote.

Very unusual indeed!

Some History from the Derby Connecticut Historical Society:

ALBERT W. PHILLIPS, M. D. was born at Marcellus, N. Y., July 26, 1838, his early education having been secured in the common schools of his native town.

He graduated from the Hannemann Homeopathic College, Chicago, Ill., in 1861.

At the commencement of the Rebellion, he enlisted as a private in the 12th Regiment, New York State Volunteers, but was later appointed hospital steward of the same regiment, and later received the appointment of assistant surgeon of the 149th Regiment New York Volunteers. He served until the close of the war, when he moved to Birmingham. He held the office of registrar of vital statistics, and also was an influential member of the Board of Burgess for several years. He was the only follower of the school "similia similibus curantur" in the town, and had a large and lucrative practice.

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!

We are pleased to offer a fabulous Civil War era, cobalt blue, label-under-glass, apothecary bottle fresh from a decades-old, Connecticut, pharmacy collection. This beauty measures a total of 10 inches tall including the perfectly fitting spout. The visually-appealing label and bottle are in excellent condition!

The base is embossed “W N WALTON PATD SEPT 23D 1862”. A great find indeed!

This is a wonderful example of an early 1900s pharmacy narcotic poison medicine. Recently acquired from a retired pharmacist, this awesome narcotic remains in very nice condition. The vials are empty of contents and sport complete labels.

Measures about 3 inches tall.

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!