Catalog (146)

Offered is a very hard-to-find, unused, Asthma Lung Cough Cure Plasters Drugstore Tin from North Chelmsford, Mass. A deep, purple-toned paper label covers the 3 inch tall, cleverly-named "PHI-TEM tin.

The condition of this early 1930s nostrum is very good with minimal tarnish to the metal and very light fading to the label.

This medicine tin is unopened and ready for your collection!

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 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 is Dr. C.H. Fitch's Prescription Scale-- a wonderful, early, pharmacist/doctor, portable, pocket-sized, Victorian era scale! The fancy-scrolled and embellished metal case appears to be brass with nickel plating and reads, "Dr. C.H. Fitch's Prescription Scale Pat Sept 29th 1885" on the top.

The diminutive metal case with scale inside measures approximately 1.5" wide x 2.75" long x .75" deep and is in very nice, original condition. The scale's capacity is 1/2 to 20 grains. It was manufactured by the N.V. Randolph Paper Box Company, Richmond, VA.

****NOTE****There is no damage to the scale or case and no missing components! The original spatula, which is sometimes lost over the years, is present and completes this very handsome, visually-appealing piece!

Some history: Joseph Williamson Randolph (1815-1893) established his business as publisher, bookseller, and stationer in Richmond, Virginia, in 1831. By the early 1840s, he had formed a partnership with Joseph J. English, and the firm became one of the leading book dealers in the South by the time of the Civil War. After Randolph's death, his son, Norman Y. Randolph, operated the business until it passed into receivership. Norman Randolph was, at various times, president of the Randolph Paper Box Company, the Virginia State Insurance Company, and the Warwick Park Transportation Company. He also served as secretary-treasurer of the Virginia and North Carolina Wheel Company.

Offered is a 1913, wonderful, colorfully-designed, St Jacobs Oil Pharmacy Patent Medicine Bottle with box. The colorful image of the robed St. Jacob holding high a bottle of this liniment makes for great advertising!

This compound contains chloroform and claims to help relieve the pain of Rheumatism, Lumbago, Gout, and Headache, to name but a few. The box is in good condition and displays very well although it shows modest wear, surface staining, with some crimps as well as loss of the top flap. The 6.25 inch corked bottle is in fine condition and sports a complete label that is crimped just beneath the black "St Jacobs Oil" printing. Slight staining and loss near the base is also evident.

Overall, a very interesting, well-designed, patent medicine bottle and box which displays rather well and is worthy of any collection!

Hard to find pharmacy or chemists bottle comes complete with colorful contents and original label. Measures about 5 inches tall and ready for your collection. Dates to the early 1900s.

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.

Offered is a wonderful and fancy, Merck Pharmacy Apothecary Bottle labeled "TERPIN HYDRATE MERCK". Dating to the 1930s, this great amber-colored dispensing bottle remains in very nice condition.

The bottle sports a ground glass stopper and 2 labels. The front label is mildly stained and is complete. The small back label is perfect. Considering that stock bottles such as this example were designed for reuse and refilling, the condition remains very good

Offered is a very nice grouping of 4 early circa 1900 to 1937 drugstore Patent Medicines.

First is Dr. Hebra's "UNGOID" which is a 2.75" tall, skin remedy bottle which was prepared by The G.C. Bittner Co., Toledo, Ohio. This circa early 1900's bottle is perfect and is embossed "DR HEBRA'S UNGOID on the back side. It sports a 3 sided paper label that is in good condition with mild staining.

Second is a 3.25 inch high, "JUSTRITE CORN REMOVER" medicine sporting a partially-filled, wooden vial which is covered with a decorative yellow label. The back of the label notes the directions for corn, wart and callous removal. The condition is very good including the wood vial and label. It is from the Walgreen Co., Chicago, and dates to the 1910 - 1920 era.

Third, is a circa 1910, Gonorrhea cure bottle labeled "HEGANON" from the Schering & Glatz company that measures 2.25 inch high. It remains in the original wrapper and is in perfect condition.

Finally, is a box of IODUM-POT.IODID containing 10 tubes from the Conroy Products Co., Inc., New York, N.Y. This was used as an antiseptic and disinfectant with the box measuring 3.5"L x 2.25"W. Contents are in excellent condition and are dated June 25th, 1937.

A delightful quartet!

Offered is a scarce POISON bottle that sports great images of an elk with an honorable rack. The bottle on the right is not available.

The 3 sided label is complete with minor loss, imperfections and fading as seen in the images. The bottle is undamaged and measures approximately 3.5 inches tall x 1 inch wide and include an orange colored cork. There is minimal interior hazing.

The front of the label is marked "ELK BRAND - LIQUID CARBOLIC ACID". The left side is marked "POISON" in bold letters and includes the antidote. The right side has another wonderful elk head image. It states "Mfg. by ELK MFG CO." Jellico, Tenn. The bottle dates to the 1930 era.

Jellico was once a thriving coal mining town during the late 19th century. Info on the Elk Mfg Co is scarce and the bottle such as this example is equally rare. One can find Elk brand tins etc. but bottle is scarce.

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 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!

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).

Offered is a very visually-appealing grouping of new-old-stock, patent medicines and remedies from the early 1900s to the 1940s.

First is a bottle of MOTHERS FRIEND which was an external treatment for "massaging the skin and tired, aching muscles". The 6 inch box houses an unlabeled bottle with a 1949 copyright paper insert. The condition is fine for the bottle and good for the box. The box, while featuring interesting graphics, has one top flap that is partially attached with old tape with some oil stains noted. The box notes that both men and women could use this emollient, while the insert specifically mentions use for females only.

Second is a 2.25 inch tin of Dr. Pierce's ANTISEPTIC and HEALING SUPPOSITORIES. The tin has an appealing graphic and is in unused condition. Mild scuff marks and scratches as well as a small portion of paint loss by Dr. Pierce's name is noted, with a mild stain on the lower backside apparent. Overall, this circa 1940s tin displays very well.

Thirdly, is the early C1900s, PISO'S TABLET "HEALING ASTRINGENT TONIC" which was used as a local treatment for inflammation, leucorrhea, ulceration, skin affections and more. Measuring 2.75 inches tall and sporting a visually-graphic label housing that houses a wood container make this medicine quite appealing!

Finally, is the diminutive medicine marked "LYDIA PINKHAM'S TABLETS" from the 1940s. This female-specific treatment sports a 3 inch box with both bottle and insert that are in very nice condition.

A quality quartet!

Offered is a very scarce group of six, Maltbie Chemical Co. medicine bottles of Newark, New Jersey, dating to the early 1900's.

The empty, amber-colored bottles are all in fine condition sporting both handsome front labels as well as decorative cork top labels.

There are three, 5 inch bottles labeled as follows: LIVER SPECIAL, CATARRH CHRONIC, and MERCURY PROTO IODIDE (the Mercury example mentions the Food and Drugs Act of 1906 on the label. Two bottles measure about 4.25" high and are separately labeled HYDROPIC and UTERINE TONIC (the uterine tonic also mentions the 1906 Food and Drugs Act). Finally, the 6th bottle is a diminutive 3.75" example labeled NIGHT SWEATS.

Overall, the labels are all in very nice condition with only some slight fading to the red print on a few labels. There are minimal scuff marks, scant paper loss and discoloration to the labels as seen in the photos.

A lovely collection.

THE MALTBIE CHEMICAL CO. NEWARK, N.J. HISTORY:
BIRDSEY LUCIUS MALTBIE ESQ., was born in CATTARAUGUS N.Y, SEPTEMBER 19, 1864. At an early age, he worked in a drug store, sought advanced schooling, and eventually graduated from ALBANY COLLEGE of PHARMACY, Class of 1885. In 1888, he started a small drug business and then later went into partnership with his brother, RALPH H. MALTBIE. The two began manufacturing various pharmaceutical preparations, eventually entitling their business, "THE MALTBIE CHEMICAL CO."

Offered is a wonderful, C1950s, Art Deco-styled, advertising store sign that features in bold capital letters the word, "COSMETICS". This sign, which originally hung in a Grand Rapids, Michigan, establishment, might well have been displayed in either a drug store or a beauty salon which sold various lines of ladies' cosmetics.

The black-painted, metal frame houses a plastic, cream-colored insert that features an embossed lettering and design technique that advertises the name of the product for sale. The background of this insert sports a streamlined, horizontal, raised "striping" reminiscent of the Art Deco era. When light is allowed to pass through the plastic, translucent insert, the insert appears to be magically illuminated so that the green-colored backside of the sign shines through with brilliance. This effect can be enjoyed by either hanging the sign in front of a window or by fastening tiny LED lights (not included) on the backside of the frame.

The dimensions are approximately 48"L x 5.5"W x 3/4"D, and the overall condition of the sign is very good. The plain metal frame has been repainted in a durable, semi-gloss, black finish. The painted finish is in very good condition with areas of minor surface imperfection and slight areas of roughness here and there.

The vintage plastic insert is laminated in two tones, with the front noting a rich, aged, cream color, and the back noting a rich green tone. The front of the insert has faint surface imperfections and some areas of uneven discoloring. Overall, the insert retains a nice glossed surface patina commensurate with its age.

A note: the first photo best represents what the sign will look like when illuminated from the back with LED or natural window lighting.

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!.

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.