Lot
Number | Description | Number
of Bids | Final Bid |
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1. “DR. WONSER’S / U.S.A. / INDIAN ROOT / BITTERS”, (Ring/Ham, W-146), (Wischmann, pgs. 115 & 117), California, ca. 1871 - 1875, yellowish olive amber cylinder with fluted shoulder panels, 11 1/8”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth.
About perfect. A tiny in-making potstone flake roughly the size of a pinhead is below the embossing just above the base, also a ‘touch’ of shoulder wear.
Wonderful eye pleasing form. Found in a number of attractive colors, (none common) and a real challenge to collect. A fine example and the tiny mentioned flaws are non-offensive. According to Wishmann in his book, ‘The Best of the West - Antique Western Bitters Bottles’, “Dr. Wonser bottles are some of the most beautiful and desired western bitters bottles ever made!”
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| 6 | $ 7,000 |
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2. “DR. WONSER’S / U.S.A. / INDIAN ROOT / BITTERS”, (Ring/Ham, W-146), (Wischmann, pgs. 115 & 117), California, ca. 1871 - 1875, bluish aqua cylinder with fluted shoulder panels, 10 7/8”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth.
About perfect. A few faint scratches are below the letter ‘S’ in ‘Strong’.
Wonderful impression, full of tiny air bubbles. Note the unusual ‘double donut’ collar mouth, considerably different than that on lot one. This is the earliest of the Dr. Wonder’s bottles and thought to be rarer than most of the other color examples.
CONDITION UPDATE: A 1 1/2" horizontal stress crack is in the upper shoulder ring above the embossing.
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| 8 | $ 3,250 |
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3. “PROFESSOR / GEO. J. BYRNE / NEW YORK - U.S.A. - THE / GREAT / UNIVERSAL / COMPOUND / STOMACH / BITTERS / PATENTED / 1870”, (Ring/Ham, B-280), New York, ca. 1870 - 1880, medium amber, 10 5/8”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth.
About perfect (Some slight external haze is mostly on the Professor Byrne panel).
One of the most ornate of any bitters bottles! This is one of four wonderful examples of this very desirable bottle in the Kyle collection, all in radically different colors!
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| 12 | $ 2,500 |
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4. “PROFESSOR / GEO. J. BYRNE / NEW YORK - U.S.A. - THE / GREAT / UNIVERSAL / COMPOUND / STOMACH / BITTERS / PATENTED / 1870”, (Ring/Ham, B-280), New York, ca. 1870 - 1880, yellow amber with olive tone, 10 7/8”h, smooth base, applied double collar mouth.
A shallow open surface bubble is on a label panel, otherwise in ‘attic’ found pristine condition!
Fits in perfectly with its ‘brothers’! Ex. George McConnell Collection.
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| 7 | $ 7,000 |
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5. “GREELEY’S / BOURBON WHISKEY / BITTERS / GREELEY’S”, (Ring/Ham, G-102), Massachusetts, ca. 1865 - 1875, medium purple amethyst barrel, 9 1/2”h, smooth base, applied mouth.
A very clean pinhead in size flake is off the outer edge of the lip, otherwise this great color rarity is in pristine perfect condition.
This is not a shade of puce or dark (approaching black) amethyst color normally seen for this mould, but is in a stunning pure medium amethyst color! You won’t find any better, and what a great addition to that color run of barrel bitters!
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| 12 | $ 5,500 |
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6. “CASSIN’S - GRAPE BRANDY - BITTERS”, (Ring/Ham, C-78), (Wischmann, pgs. 46 & 47), American, ca. 1866 - 1875, medium teal blue, 9 5/8”h, smooth base, applied mouth.
The entire bottle has an overall dullness from being in the water. A 7” long crack travels from the shoulder to the base.
Found in a number of attractive colors this teal blue coloration (one of only two known examples) is thought to be the rarest. Although not the rarest California Bitters, the Cassin’s is considered by many collectors of western bottles to be the most desirable and sought after. Reportedly found in Baja, California, Mexico where it was being used as a fishing net float! In 2020 American Bottle Auctions sold a Cassin’s in this coloration for a record setting $155,000! The ability to obtain this rare bottle in any condition creates an unparalleled challenge to western bitters collectors.
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| 1 | $ 4,500 |
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7. “STEINFELD’S / FRENCH COGNAC / BITTERS - FIRST PRIZE / PARIS / EXHIBITION / (motif profile of a man in a draped oval with a crown) / 1867”, The corner panels have a vine and grape cluster embossing, (Ring/Ham, S-186), American ca. 1867 - 1875, yellow amber with a hint of olive, 10”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth.
About perfect (a paper thin open surface bubble is on a label panel).
With the exception of this non-offensive trivial flaw this extremely rare and important bottle is in sparkling mint condition!
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| 24 | $ 17,000 |
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8. “THE FISH / BITTERS - W.H. WARE / PATENTED 1866”, (Ring/Ham, F-46), American, ca. 1866 - 1870, clear glass with a faint amethystine tint fish, 11”h, “PATENT 1866 / W.H. WARE” on smooth base.
A crude applied ring mouth has some imbedded sand gains along the outer edge and top.
A fine example with a nice impression and rarely seen almost totally clear glass!
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| 5 | $ 4,000 |
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9. “DOCTOR / FISCH’S BITTERS- W.H. WARE / PATENTED 1866”, (Ring/Ham, F-44), Pennsylvania, ca. 1866 - 1875, golden yellow with amber tone figural fish, 11 5/8”h, smooth base, applied mouth.
Pristine perfect condition.
Wonderful strength of impression and some glass whittle. Impeccable condition, one of the very best and in a color that approaches being pure yellow!
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| 7 | $ 1,300 |
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10. “WALTERS & CO - BALTIMORE”, (Ring/Ham/Myers, W21.5), Maryland, ca. 1850 - 1865, olive yellow, 10”h, open pontil, applied double collar mouth.
Some slight spotty shoulder wear, otherwise in perfect ‘attic’ found condition.
At first glance we thought it to be an altered Wheeler’s Berlin Bitters. Besides the obvious difference in the embossing (note how Baltimore is reversed from that on the Wheelers example) it is a completely different mould having a smaller base diameter and indented oval label panel. Because of the two bottles likeness one can assume it was produced for the same company that sold Wheeler’s Berlin Bitters. Extremely rare, reported to be possibly only three or four known examples.
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| 11 | $ 6,500 |
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11. “WHEELER’S - BERLIN - BITTERS - BALTIMORE”, (Ring/Ham, W-83), Maryland, ca. 1850 - 1865, yellowish olive approaching citron color, 6-sided, 9 3/4”h, open pontil, applied double collar mouth.
Cleaned to its original luster, but retains some ground imperfections.
Of the four Wheeler’s in the Kyle collection this one could be the most unusual! Ex. Sidney Genius Collection.
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| 10 | $ 7,500 |
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12. (Arabesque motif) / “DRAKES” / (arabesque motif) / “PLANTATION / BITTERS - PATENTED / 1862”, (Ring/Ham, D-102), New York, ca. 1862 - 1875, medium to deep amber with a hint of puce 6-log cabin, 10”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth.
A 3/8” in diameter chip is off a log tip at the base and a tiny ‘rainbow’ type bruise on a corner of a roof peak.
A good bit of dried contents when washed out could improved its overall appearance.
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| 1 | $ 275 |
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13. “ST / DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS - PATENTED / 1862”, (Ring/Ham, D-105), New York, ca. 1862 - 1875, medium yellowish olive green color 6-log cabin, 10”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth.
A tiny 1/8” ‘ding’ is on the tip of corner roof peak, otherwise in excellent overall condition.
This flaw is minor and easily missed due to its location and density of color. Here’s one that shows a lot of good olive color in any lighting!
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| 9 | $ 1,300 |
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14. “DRAKES / PLANTATION / BITTERS - PATENTED / 1862.”, (Ring/Ham, D-109), New York, ca. 1862 - 1875, golden yellow amber with a hint of olive 5-log cabin, 9 7/8”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth.
Lightly cleaned to its original luster, but some external dullness is on a side panel and spotty internal stain remains. Also a small surface bubble off a log tip has some discoloration.
Good color for a scarce 5-log variant and the minor mentioned flaws are non-offensive.
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| 10 | $ 750 |
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15. “ST / DRAKE’S / 1860 / PLANTATION / X / BITTERS - PATENTED / 1862”, (Ring/Ham, D-108), New York, ca. 1862 - 1875, medium celery green 6-log cabin, 9 3/4”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth.
A minor ‘bruise’ is on the corner of the lower log at the base and a tiny open bubble is on the inside edge of the lip, otherwise in pristine condition.
Extremely bold impression, a bright and visually clean bottle. All Drake’s collectors know that the green coloration is among the most sought after and hardest to find of all Drake’s bottles. This one is no exception having no trace of amber and in a real ‘dazzling’ color!
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| 1 | $ 3,500 |
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16. Pineapple, “W & CO / N.Y.”, (Ring/Ham, P-100), New York, ca. 1865 - 1870, medium blue green or teal green color figural pineapple, 8 1/2”h, large open pontil, applied double collar mouth.
Like most all of these high relief pineapples some of the raised diamonds have minor wear.
Found in a nice array of colors, the blue green coloration is considered to be one of the rarer and certainly the most desirable. We auctioned this in 2020 when we auctioned the Sidney Genius Collection, who bought it from legendary dealer Jim Cope at a New Orleans Bottle Show. An important offering with an impeccable provenance.
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| 9 | $ 10,000 |
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17. Pineapple, “W & CO / N.Y.”, (Ring/Ham, P-100), New York, ca. 1865 - 1870, olive green figural pineapple, 8 1/2”h, iron pontil, applied double collar mouth.
Pristine perfect condition, not even a hint of wear which is unusual when considering the high relief of the bottle.
We’ve sold a few in this color, but none as nice as this! Auction house stickers on the base are for both the Bryan Grapentine and Nick Dirienzio Collections.
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| 8 | $ 4,250 |
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18. “WORMSER BROS / (indented circle) / SAN FRANCISCO.”, (Ring/Ham, W-162.5), (Wishmann, pg. 118), California, ca. 1869 - 1875, orange amber color barrel, 9 1/2”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth.
A 3/4” by 3/16” ‘ice pick’ created bruise is on the inside edge of the lip.
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| 4 | $ 375 |
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19. “WORMSER BROS / (indented circle) / SAN FRANCISCO.”, (Ring/Ham, W-162.5), (Wishmann, pg. 118), California, ca. 1869 - 1875, medium yellow with amber tone barrel, 9 3/4”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth.
Cleaned to its original luster. A sizable internal bubble located in the shoulder away from the embossing has a milky discoloration.
Possibly as close to being pure yellow as any you will find!
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| 5 | $ 850 |
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20. “OLD / HOMESTEAD / WILD CHERRY / BITERS - PATENT”, (Ring/Ham, O-37), New York, ca. 1865 - 1875, light ginger ale color 4-roof cabin, 9 1/2”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth.
A 1/2” by 1/4” in-making chip extending from the edge of the collar traveling down the neck. This was created when the blowpipe was sheared away from the bottle. Originally the chip was larger, but the applied mouth covers much of it.
Full of tiny air bubbles and one of only two or three that are know of in this exciting and exotic color! When considering the importance and rarity of the color one can easily ignore the minor in-making flaw!
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| 9 | $ 7,500 |
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21. “OLD SACHEM / BITTERS / AND / WIGWAM TONIC”, (Ring/Ham, O-45), New York, ca. 1865 - 1875, bluish aqua barrel, 10”h, open pontil, applied single collar mouth.
A 3/8” chip off the outer edge of the lip has been professionally repaired. Also some light spotty content stain.
One of the ‘grand slam’s’ of aqua bitters bottles and also the tallest. A prime addition to any barrel bitters collection.
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| 15 | $ 2,750 |
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22. “OLD SACHEM / BITTERS / AND / WIGWAM TONIC”, (Ring/Ham, O-46), New York, ca. 1860 - 1870, medium ginger ale color barrel, 9 3/8”h, smooth base, applied mouth. A flat 3/8” by 1/4” chip is off the top of the lip.
A tiny spot of roughness stemming from an open bubble is on the edge of the base. An exceptionally clean bottle with crude pebbly glass and various size trapped air bubbles.
Wow, what a color and a real standout in any run of Old Sachem Bitters barrels. Miss this and it could be a long time before you see the next one!
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| 16 | $ 4,000 |
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23. “ORIGINAL / POCAHONTAS / BITTERS / Y. FERGUSON.”, (Ring/Ham, O-86), American, ca. 1865 - 1875, bluish aqua barrel, 9 1/4”h, smooth base, applied mouth.
Two chips, the largest being 1/2” by 1/4” in size on the side of the lip have been repaired. Over time this repair has become discolored and should be replaced.
This is a rarely offered, but highly sought after barrel and one of the ‘grand slam’s’ of the five known embossed aqua bitters bottles!
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| 7 | $ 1,900 |
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24. “PERRINE’S / DEPOT / NO. 37 NTH FRONT ST. / PHILADA. - APPLE - GINGER / PERRINE’S” / (motif of an apple) / “GINGER - PHILA.”, (Denzin, PER-52), Pennsylvania, ca. 1875 - 1885, golden yellow amber with olive tone semi-cabin, 10 1/4”h, smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth, roped corners.
A 1/8” ‘rainbow’ type ‘ding’ surrounding a potstone is on the corner of the lower roof. An open surface bubble is on a lower log at the base.
This is the earlier and more difficult to find variant that has the embossing on the back panel and is not in the normally seen amber or orange amber color!
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| 2 | $ 325 |
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25. “D.W.D. / E. DEXTER LOVERIDGE / WAHOO BITTERS - 1863 - XXX / E. DEXTER LOVERIDGE / WAHOO BITERS - PATD / (bird in flight), (Ring/Ham, L-126), Buffalo, New York, ca. 1863 - 1870, deep yellowish emerald green semi-cabin, 9 7/8”h, smooth base, applied ring mouth.
A lengthy crack travels from across the edge of the base, up both corner panels and across the Patd’ embossed shoulder panel.
Despite this obvious damage you are bidding on one of the rarest and most desirable colors of any E. Dexter Leverage Bitters bottle!
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| 9 | $ 1,600 |
