Catalog (148)

Offered is a rare, ONE OF A KIND set of early 1900s Apothecary Bottles w/ Herbs from the ALEMEDA DRUG STORE, DENVER COLORADO.

Each 5.75 inch high clear glass bottle sports a paper label with the name of the contents typed in.

The bottles are in fine shape with ground glass stoppers in place. The labels are in very good condition with crimps, stains and mild edge loss as expected with vintage bottles that have been used. This set should be in a museum!

The first bottle, MYRRH, historically was used as incense and as a powerful medicine. During the early 1900s, it was used as an astringent, antiseptic, anti-tussive, and anti-spasmotic to name a few.

The second bottle, contains SANGINARY ROOT and has a colorful history in Native American folklore, often being used as a medicine for sore throat, cough, or to be applied as body paint.

The 3rd bottle, LYCOPODIUM, is known as a homeopathic remedy and was noted as being very effective in treating hernias. Today there are nearly 20 maladies claiming benefit from lycopodium.

The 4th bottle, Powdered STRAMONIUM, has been a key ingredient in the treatment of breathing ailments such as asthma from the early 1800s to the 1950s! It is still used under the trade name Atrovent.

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!

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.

This is a complete, hard to find pharmacy “KONSEAL FILLING and CLOSING APPARATUS” that was used by early 20th century druggists.

The machine was made by The J. M. Grosvenor Co., Boston, and was the most widely used cachet preparation device in American pharmacies.

The condition of this wonderful apothecary tool of the trade is very good, complete with the warm, rich patina one would expect of an antique of this age including the usual scratches, marks and unobtrusive dings and tarnish. The metal parts appear to be nickel plated, and the case is of a hard wood construction. The metal KONSEAL apparatus, when open, measures approximately 18”L x 10”W x 2” H. Note that there is interior and exterior age damage in the center of the wooden case that includes a hairline split in the center. The photos should help better identify this description.

The accessories appear to be complete when compared to the images seen in the directions that is glued to the inside case and my reference text. There are 3 packets with paper directions for patient use.

The interior divider has some minor separation of joints that does not distract from this set.

A must addition for any pharmacy/apothecary collection.

Offered is a wonderful 1920-1930s era Asthma Remedy bottle labeled HIMROD'S REMEDY. This lovely nostrum sports bright colored graphics and includes full contents and image of the debonair Mr. Himrod.

The condition is very good with the expected wear and minor scuffs and imperfections of a vintage piece.

There is even a high profile testimonial on the top box label from Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes who claimed this medicine to be "the best thing in my experience" etc.

Measures 4.5 inches tall.

Offered is a very difficult-to-find grouping of eleven, 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 and in mint condition, this interesting and unusual celluloid advertising pocket mirror features a person dosing with a magical "Nature's Remedy" tablet! (**Please note that any white spots in the photos are light reflections ONLY and not damage to the mirror.**)

The mirror front has a age-faded salmon colored border surrounding an image of a person's face with protruding tongue, about to swallow a "NR" (Nature's Remedy)tablet. The fading makes it a challenge to read the following which is imprinted around the circumference of the mirror: "Take One Tonight - You'll feel Better In The Morning."

AND....

"Better Than Pills For Liver Ills - Get a 25 Cent Box"

Original mirrored backing is in very fine condition with just a few very minute, superficial scratches.

Manufacturer name stamped on bottom edge: "Parisian Novelty Company, Chicago".

An interesting little advertising piece!

Offered are 2 scarce Patent Medicines: CACTINA PILLETS Heart Tonic and Dr. Ballentine's Homeopathic Blood Purifier and Scrofula cure. These mini medicines pack a mighty punch for collectors. Both are unused, new old stock, in good condition and complete with graphically-detailed, colorful boxes and inserts.

The CACTINA PILLETS bottle retains a 1925 date on its package insert. The bottle, embossed "SULTAN DRUG CO, SAINT LOUIS, measures 2 inches tall, and sports both a labeled cork as well as a front prescription label with detailed directions for use. The box and insert are in good condition with some age wear including a crimp at the top of the label. One interior box flap has separated.

Dr. Ballentine's Homeopathic Specific medicine is quite scarce! The bottle label notes this medicine as a CURE, indicating that the age is minimally early 1900s. The bottle measures just over 3.5 inches tall and sports perfect, detailed, cork and bottle labels. The large package insert features a list of Ballentine's homeopathic medicine cures. The box notes Dr. Ballentine's association with the renowned, homeopathic, HAHNEMANN MEDICAL COLLEGE, Philadelphia, PA. The box is complete and in good condition with some scuffs and minor loss.

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!

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.

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.

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 circa 1920s, four-tier, clear glass Apothecary Show Globe. Stacking show globes such as this have always been a highly sought after apothecary artifact for those building a venerable collection of old pharmacy items. This lovely, 26 inch tall example is a visual statement piece- one to be admired for years to come.

Each individual globe sports ground glass construction and each fits into position with perfection. The interior of all sections is sparkling clear with almost no trace of staining, a problem which is often seen in such pieces, but not here.

The only flaw is a very small surface crack in the large globe as seen in the photos. This does not effect structural integrity as the globe holds water with no leakage whatsoever. This imperfection, in fact, is not visible when the globe is filled with water. It can also be easily hidden by positioning this side of the globe facing towards the back of one's display. Simply a faulous piece!

Offered are 2 nice Colorado pharmacy bottles that date to the 1910-1920 era.

The first clear glass medicine bottle is embossed "The Blose Drug Co Leadville, Colorado. Etc. It is marked "Klondike A.M.T. & CO." on the base. It measures just under 6.5 inches tall and except for some mild interior hazing, is in fine condition. No nicks or scratches.

The second bottle measures nearly 5 inches tall and embossed "CHAS. E. SMITH & CO DRUGGISTS LONGMONT, CO. etc. The condition is generally good with a few tiny air bubbles, a modestly hazy interior, various small scratches. No chips or loss. The bottle is ribbed on the back side perhaps indicating that it contained a poison. Faintly embossed "W.T. CO. USA" on the base.

Overall a neat pair of older Colorado drug store bottles.

Offered is a rather interesting collection of lung and cough related medicines for the young and old alike. The nostrums date from the 1920s to the late 1940s era. The group are all unused sporting their original box or packaging. Collectively they make a striking visual image.

Medicine box sizes range in size from the 8.5 inch PULMOTOL to the 4.5 inch MENDACO example.

Condition: PULMOTOL is in the best condition of the five with a single torn top flap. MENDACO has some wear and mild stains. The RIKERS box is in fairly good condition with some wear and loose box flaps. HOOVERS PREPARATION shows some light staining and a small tear to the upper package in front. DR HOBSONS box has some age-related crimps and wear.

An interesting collection of lung medicines spanning three decades!.

The inhalation of medicinal vapors was common practice during the late 19th and early 20th century. Inhaling devices came in many shapes and forms. This very decorative and functional inhaler was very popular during that period.

This lovely, late-Victorian-styled inhaler is primarily being sold for its original box. The box is complete and very detailed on all sides (including the top), sporting wonderful graphics and information on its many merits. The box measures 6.5" H x 4" W x 3.25" D and shows only mild wear and faint staining. Finding a complete box in this condition is quite uncommon.

The lamp is not complete and is minus its chimney and top medicinal pan.

The advertising says it all - great graphic and lung specific. The last patent date noted on the box is 1899, and the first patent date is stamped on the lamp as being Ag. (August) 4, 1885.

Offered is an early pair of pharmacy bottles from the late 1800s.

The first bottle measures four inches tall with cork and sports a complete label "TONI-SEDATIVE" from Burrough Bros., Mfg. Co. Baltimore, MD. This cute amber bottle also sports a tiny label on the cork. There is embossing on the lower back of bottle "B.B.MFG.CO. Condition is very good with no damage.

The second bottle is clear glass and has fancy embossed lettering, "WHS&CO". This nice pill bottle measures 4.5" with cork and also is in very good condition. The slightly stained label is marked PHENACETINE - SALOPHEN and the product was made by W.H. SCHIEFFELIN & CO. NEW YORK.

Offered is a massive, circa 1908, Dispensatory drug reference book packed with a wealth of information used by pharmacists and physicians of the early 20th century.

The leather-bound volume features over 2000 pages in total and includes a Preface, Glossary, Index of Diseases, an in depth discussion of the 1906 FOOD and DRUG ACT, the Food and Drug Index and more. 1,947 pages are devoted to informing the practitioner of diseases and the drugs used to treat them, as well as drug origins, uses, chemistry, effects, dosing, etc. This text serves as a fabulous resource to both the collector and researcher.

This volume measures 10.5"L x 8"W x 4.5"H and is missing the first few pages that would normally include the copyright. The condition is generally fair to good with a few front pages that are crimped, folded or torn. Various pages have small partial folds, and the spine is separated from the binding. The leather binding is modestly worn primarily on the edges. Other than the initial missing pages, the book is complete and shows honorable wear commensurate with its modest use and age.

A wonderful historical resource for a pharmacy library collection!