$12.00
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!
$38.00
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.'
$60.00
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.
$35.00
First, is "OXYGENAQUA", AKA "The Compound Oxygen Water" by Starkey Palen for the treatment of bowel complaints. This 8.25 inch example dates to the 1890s and sports a fairly good and very legible, though faded and worn, label. The back of the bottle features bold embossing that includes the full compound's name with a fancy "SP" in the center. No damage.
Next, is an aqua-colored glass, lung and cold tonic called "SCOTT'S EMULSION", measuring 9.25 inches. The circa 1910 bottle is in fine condition and supports a soiled and worn but legible label. The back boasts of wonderful embossing that includes the remedy's name and a weary fisherman hoisting a rather large cod fish that would be considered a massive catch by today's standards!
Third, is a popular size "VAPO-CRESOLINE" POISON bottle complete with 90% of its label! "Vapo-Cresolene" was a form of coal-tar that was used in a special vaporizer and marketed as a cure for numerous respiratory diseases, including pneumonia, whooping cough and diphtheria beginning in 1879. Although the company's claims were debunked by the American Medical Association in 1908, this product and its vaporizers, amazingly, continued to be sold as late as the 1940s! This bottle dates to 1910.
A terrific trio of yesterday's nostrums!
$8.00
The 1.5 inch small Atropine 1/200gr. bottle is from the 1950s and in good condition - Price is $8.00.
The 2 inch Atropine 1/100gr bottle is in nice condition. - Price is $10.00.
The cute Nitrostat bottle measures 1.25 inches is priced at $8.00.
.The scarce 2 inch tall Cactina Pillets box and bottle is SOLD.
The 4 inch tall Crateagus Heart remedy bottle with box has been SOLD.
A nice grouping indeed!
$200.00
First, is a sample bottle of FLORAPLEXIN prepared by Franklin Hart of New York. The label notes that it is, "A positive cure for Dyspepsia, Liver complaints, NERVOUS EXHAUSTION, & Consumption." Lots of small print on the back noting that if this medicine is used, "you will be cured" of your particular symptoms which include being NERVOUS, IRRITABLE & GLOOMY or having EVIL FOREBODINGS - rather interesting claims not often made by patent medicine producers. Measures about 3 inches, in very good condition.
Second, is a diminutive, corked, 2.75 inch bottle labeled "THE ENSIGN REMEDIES, "Remedy No. 1." The label notes: "For Abnormal Mental States, Fears, Forebodings, Persistent Thoughts and Evil Suggestions". It is quite rare to find medicines that were specifically indicated for the treatment of mental illness. The Ensign Remedies company was from Battle Creek, Michigan, and was mentioned often in the various medical journals published during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The bottle is excellent and the label shows modest wear, loss and fading.
Third, is a very choice, Dr. Schoop's medicine labeled "Restorative Nerve Pills" in a cute 2.5 inch bottle. The label also mentions the following: "For the Cure of Nervousness and Constipation". Additional claims note that the pills are "for the quick relief of Nervousness, Sleeplessness, Trembling, Hysteria, Spasms, and all conditions of the Brain and Nervous System attended by Nervous Excitement, etc.". The medicine is unused and sports a complete, graphic label including bright circular end labels on top and bottom. This well may be a wooden vial but without opening,one cannot be certain. Dates to circa 1900.
These nostrums give credence to "good things come in small packages". A desirable trio indeed!
$65.00
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!
$28.00
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.
$140.00
This handsome display measures 9"L x 4.25"W x 2"H and sports 23 of the original 24 tablet boxes. Each 3 inch box contains a perfectly-labeled, cork-topped bottle with the original insert.
The condition of the display box is fairly good with some honorable wear and scuffs, with loss of the top cover, all commensurate with an antique medicine. One of the medicine boxes has a small 1/3 inch of ancient, but unobtrusive debris stuck on it. Several boxes show a few tiny stains worth noting. One box has been opened and has one loose flap.
A wonderful, all-original find!
$35.00
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.
$200.00
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.
$50.00
Of special consideration among the Munyons remedies is the PAW PAW PILLS example, which is the earliest of the grouping. This a wooden vial is surrounded by a colorful paper label and a complete paper insert. The second Munyons remedy box houses a full, glass vial with a metal screw cap and paper insert. They each measure just over 2.5 inches.
Of the four Humphreys remedies, the earliest nostrums are the ones numbered "8" and "31" date to the 1920s. The boxes have paper labels covering them, and include a corked glass vial and paper insert. The Humphreys remedies labeled "3" and "30" date to the 1940, are unopened and contain either a glass or plastic vial. They measure 3 inches.
$55.00
*****Group #4*****
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.
$75.00
This museum quality kit contains directions, antitoxin vial, needle, and injector components--- including a perfect wooden box. The colorful label is complete, torn in places with stains and printed in English and Spanish.
The scarce kit measures approximately 4"W x 1.75"H x 1.25"D and is dated JULY 11, 1941.
The Smithsonian Institute has detailed and fascinating information on the history of diphtheria on their website and is a highly recommended search.
Ready to be the centerpiece of your collection!
$55.00
This diminutive size display measures 4.25" x 3.25" 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!
$70.00
These lovely nostrums sport brightly colored graphics and include full contents.
The condition of both medicines is very good with the expected minimal wear as well as the minor scuffs and imperfections of vintage pieces.
The tin measures 4 inches tall x 2.75 inches wide. The box measures 3.25 inches wide x 2.25 high and sports the original clear wrapping. A delightful, desirable duo of vintage lung and supposed "breathing-support" medicines not to be missed.
SOLD
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!
$65.00
This beautifully-formed, two-sized measure sports a lovely, deep, honey-colored patina. The cup measures just under 5 inches high and is in very nice condition. The wood used to craft this lovely piece contains a natural, narrow, 1 inch long, vertical blemish at the base of the smaller cup (see 7th & 9th photos). The craftsman who created this piece was clearly highly skilled as he was able to work around this natural wood blemish to create a fully-functional apothecary tool.
Some history:
During the 19th century and into the early 20th century, Seidlitz powders, which were used to treat indigestion and constipation, came to the drugstore in bulk, and dosages were measured out using the measure cup.
The pharmacist then dispensed the powders for the customer in small envelopes containing two, colored paper wraps, one white and one blue. The white packets contained tartaric acid, and the blue packets contained a mixture of 75% Rochelle salt (potassium sodium tartrate) and 25% baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).
The customer then was instructed to dissolve the powdery contents of each packet separately in water. and then combine them together. When mixed together, the remedy gave off carbon dioxide with a characteristic fizzing sound. The medicinal drink was described as "a cooling, agreeable draught".