Italian Soda Water Manufactory San Francisco
Circa 1852–1862, iron pontil. A popular San Francisco soda that every Western soda collector should own. Several variants are known, this being the example embossed "Union Glass Works Phila" along with slug marks on the reverse. Joseph Spinoni operated the business from 1854 to 1860. By 1860, ownership had passed to Simon Grellier and Frederick Monotti. The following year, Grellier partnered with the well-known San Francisco soda manufacturer James McEwen.
Description & Condition: Uncleaned. Teal–green color with very minimal case wear. Retains iron residue on the pontil. A few light areas of wear and a shallow 1/8” flake off the base edge. A superior example of a pontiled soda.
Min. Bid $350 - Est. $700–$1,500
Fine Old Bourbon From Patrick Quinn Table Bluff, Cal.
Circa 1884–1885, applied top, pint. Oakland Glass Works base embossed flasks are scarce, but examples retaining their original labels are nearly nonexistent. This example bears the label, "Fine Old Bourbon From Patrick Quinn, Table Bluff, Cal." Table Bluff was an early supply town located at an important crossroads in Humboldt County, just a few miles inland from the Pacific coast. Historical records indicate that Patrick Quinn acquired a controlling interest in the Table Bluff Hotel in 1882 and operated the hotel and its saloon until 1892.
Description & Condition: Amber, clean glass, about 75% of label intact.
Min. Bid $150 - Est. $300–$600
S.H.M Superior Old Bourbon
Circa 1874–1878, applied top, fifth. This is the C&I base embossed variant of the S.H.M. fifth. Some collectors believe the mold was produced by the Cunningham & Ihmsen Glass Works of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and that the bottles were blown there before being shipped West. Another theory holds that the mold itself was sent to California and the bottles were produced in San Francisco. Regardless of its exact origin, it is one of the more attractive pictorial Western whiskeys, featuring a large fleur-de-lis prominently embossed on the face. While approximately twenty examples are known of the more common S.H.M. variant with the larger embossing, this C&I variant remains extremely rare, with roughly three examples known.
Description & Condition: Golden amber color with an abundance of whittle. A minor amount of staining is present in the shoulder and near the base, though it is not noticeable under most lighting conditions. Two tiny pinhead flakes on the top. Overall, an appealing example of this rare bottle.
Min. Bid $750 - Est. $1,500–$3,000
Bryant's Stomach Bitters
Circa 1859–1863, sticky ball pontil, 12 3/8". A highly desirable lady's leg bitters that was popular in the gold fields of California. G.N.W Bryant was a New York city druggist who concocted the bitters sold in these uniquely shaped bottles. Wm. Newell & Co. was the San Francisco agent for the product and based on the number of examples found broken in California, must have done a decent job marketing them. Many of these lady's leg examples were found on the famous Sea Lark shipwreck which sunk in 1863 off the coast of Brazil on its way to San Francisco.
Description & Condition: Likely a shipwreck example with moderate pitting, wear, and numerous open bubbles. An area of several deeper lines in the neck, possibly manufacturing–related or the result of deeper scratches. Two tiny potstones, one in the shoulder and one at the base of the neck, each with radiating legs measuring approximately 1/8" at their widest. Professionally cleaned.
Min. Bid $1,000 - Est. $2,000–$4,000
Dr. Boerhaave's Stomach Bitters
Circa 1868–1869, applied top. A rare Western bitters dating to the golden era of Western bitters, the late 1860s. Named after the renowned Dutch physician and botanist Dr. Herman Boerhaave (1668–1738), whose medical reputation endured long after his death, Boerhaave's Bitters was one of many nineteenth century patent medicines that borrowed the names of famous physicians to promote their products. The embossing pattern closely resembles that of the famous Hostetter's Bitters, but of course this bottle is exponentially rarer. There are roughly 11 known examples.
Description & Condition: Medium amber. Original cork remains inside, suggesting the bottle was likely never buried. Minor amount of original contents stain.
Min. Bid $750 - Est. $1,500–$3,000
Paul Jeenicke San Jose
Circa 1890, applied top. The amber Paul Jeenicke Hutchinson is widely regarded as one of California's rarest Hutchinson sodas. Amber is an unusual color for a Hutch soda, and it has been suggested that Jeenicke may have bottled a cider or similar beverage, utilizing the darker glass to help protect its contents from light. Paul Jeenicke registered his distinctive trademark for this bottle with the State of California in August 1891, though it is possible the bottle had been in use for several years prior to that date.
Description & Condition: Amber color. Several checks ranging from 1/8" to 1/4" in length. Surface chip on the "K." Please refer to the online catalog photos.
Min. Bid $150 - Est. $300–$800
Crowell, Crane, & Brigham Yellow Dock Sarsaparilla
Circa 1856–1858, smooth base, 9 1/8". A rare Western medicine and one of the earliest embossed San Francisco medicine bottles, with at least one pontiled example known. Crowell, Crane, & Brigham operated from 1856 to 1858. After Brigham departed, the firm continued briefly as Crowell & Crane, appearing in the 1859 and 1860 San Francisco directories, before becoming Crane & Brigham by 1861. Crane & Brigham went on to become a large and successful West Coast drug firm associated with several Western bottles from the 1870s and 1880s.
Description & Condition: Good amount of whittle. Appears to have been professionally cleaned. Trace amount of dirt or other material remains adhered to the interior side of the neck.
Min. Bid $400 - Est. $800–$1,500
J. Monier & Co Clfrna
Circa 1850s, iron pontil. A rare Gold Rush era soda believed to have originated in San Francisco. Despite its rarity, very little has been discovered about J. Monier & Co. or the individuals behind the business. A Jerome Monier appears in San Francisco directories during the late 1850s, while a J.C. Monier was active in Grass Valley at about the same time, though neither has been definitively linked to the bottle. Known in aqua, green, and blue, with blue being the rarest color.
Description & Condition: Medium blue color with light whittle. Typical pontiled soda-type wear and some light scratching. Better than many Monier examples.
Min. Bid $500 - Est. $1,000–$2,500
McKennas Nelson County Extra Kentucky Bourbon
Circa 1874–1880s, applied top, fifth. Another popular full face embossed Western whiskey. The McKenna's have long been a favorite among collectors due to the extensive embossing, classic Western appearance, and overall collectability. Many examples suffer from weak strikes, making well struck specimens especially desirable.
Description & Condition: Good strike, old amber color showing a subtle olive tone, unlike most which are a typical beer bottle amber color. No condition issues. A nice example.
Min. Bid $400 - Est. $800–$1,500
Boley & Co Sac City
Circa 1850–1860, iron pontil. Variant with Union Glass Works on reverse. Boley & Co. is generally credited with establishing Sacramento's first soda water factory in late 1849 or early 1850. The firm occupied several locations along Front Street and the Sacramento levee during the 1850s and remained in business until approximately 1860.
Description & Condition: Cobalt color with almost no wear. Faint dirt remains around the embossing, with all iron intact. Light interior staining and a very light exterior patina. A great example of an early, uncleaned soda.
Min. Bid $250 - Est. $500–$1,000
Turner's Ess of Jamaica Ginger New York
Circa 1860s–1870s, applied top, 5 3/4". The Turner Brothers operated a San Francisco branch from the 1850s until 1865, when McMillan & Kester acquired the business and continued marketing some of their products. One famous San Francisco privy excavation produced more than one hundred Turner's jakes, yet not a single green example was found. These bottles are often encountered in stained or pale aqua glass with an Eastern appearance, while the green and fire aqua examples are believed to have been blown in San Francisco. Turner's jakes are not rare, but nice examples are. Green examples are tough to find and are seldom offered for sale.
Description & Condition: Lime green color. Clean Western glass. A patch of shallow hairline fissures along the reverse base edge, likely caused by pressure on the bottle during manufacture. Please refer to the online catalog photos.
Min. Bid $75 - Est. $150–$300
Napa Soda
Circa 1865–1875. Napa sodas have long been a cornerstone of Western soda collecting, with dozens of variants known in a remarkable range of colors and glass characteristics. This is one of the many block-letter Napa sodas. A few of the earlier variants dating to the 1860s appear to have been Eastern blown. This is one of the Western blown variants and is an incredible bottle that has everything collectors look for: color, character, and crudity. Jeff loved this bottle, and it proudly occupied a prominent position in his display case for at least the past twenty years.
Description & Condition: Vibrant medium blue. A spectacular profusion of bubbles in varying sizes cascades down the body, complemented by light and dark swirls throughout the glass. Displays a few minor 1/16" pecks along the base edge. An exceptionally crude and visually dynamic Napa soda that will stand out in any advanced collection.
Min. Bid $750 - Est. $1,500–$3,000
Dr. Murray's Magic Oil S.F. Cal
Circa 1868–1880s, applied top, 6 3/8". A popular Western medicine with a great name. Murray's Magic Oil must have lived up to its name, as numerous examples have been recovered throughout the West. The colorful product name and classic Western form have made it a longtime favorite among collectors. Advertised as the "King of Pain!", it was promoted as a cure for an astonishing range of ailments, including rheumatism, neuralgia, toothache, burns, scalds, earache, cramps, colic, sore throat, and even diphtheria. The broad claims made in period advertisements reflect the era's enthusiasm for patent medicines.
Description & Condition: Applied top with heavy whittle. Small divot on the base edge that appears to be manufacturing crudity. A stellar example that may likely be the crudest example known.
Min. Bid $150 - Est. $300–$600
Livingston's Pure Blackberry Brandy Distilled From The Berry
Circa 1877–1884, applied top, sixth. A fairly rare Western sixth with extensive embossing and about as many curved Rs as can be found on a Western bottle. It sounds like a product that should have been a success, but the scarcity of the bottle suggests otherwise. Whatever the reason, relatively few examples were produced or survived, and the bottle remains elusive today, with hardly any new examples coming to light in recent decades.
Description & Condition: Medium amber with a solid strike. Six ray star on the base. Lighter color than many other examples.
Min. Bid $300 - Est. $600–$1,200
Dr. Henley’s IXL Wild Grape Root Bitters
Circa 1873–1882, applied top, 11 3/4". Second variant with circle. A very rare colored circle variant of the I.X.L. Most examples are found in aqua or lighter shades of green, making deeper colored examples like this one especially desirable. A fantastic color that will stand out in any I.X.L. run.
Description & Condition: Rich pastel green color. Small chip, 3/16", to the side edge of the lip that is not visible when the bottle is displayed. Shallow hairline annealing fissure about 1/8" in the neck approximately 1" below the top. A tiny potstone with 1/16" legs and an associated bruise on the inside of lip. All very minor issues that are difficult to see. Please refer to the online catalog photos. Possibly professionally cleaned.
Min. Bid $1,000 - Est. $2,000–$5,000
EC&M Insulator
Circa 1870–1878, CD 123, B Mold, 3 3/4". Founded in 1870, the Electrical Construction & Maintenance Company (EC&M) played an important role in the construction and supply of telegraph infrastructure throughout the American West. Although the company was established in 1870, evidence from surviving telegraph lines indicates that these insulators may not have been introduced until approximately 1873. These insulators are perhaps the most well-known and collectible of all Western insulators. While found in several different molds and colors, the majority of examples are found in shades of aqua.
Description & Condition: Deep olive green. Minor 1/4" area of wear along the edge of the wire groove. Minimal chipping on the skirt. An attractive example in great condition.
Min. Bid $1,000 - Est. $2,000–$4,000
Dr. H Adolphus Anti Rheumatic Cordial San Francisco California
Circa 1860, open pontil, 7 1/4". An early and important Western bottle being one of the first bottles blown on the West Coast by the San Francisco Glass Works in 1860. Although this product was being advertised at late as 1863, it is likely only one batch of these were made in 1860. These are extremely rare with around 8 known examples, most being a blue aqua, and many being damaged. Due to their early age, they're often very primitive looking with great crudity and character. As one of the very few Western blown pontiled bottles, this is an exceptionally important example of early California glassmaking. Examples are rarely offered for public sale.
Description & Condition: Crude, bubbly glass. Blue aqua with a stronger strike than many examples. Three approximately 1/2" chips around the circular indentation on the base, likely incurred during manufacture when the glass adhered to the mold.
Min. Bid $2,500 - Est. $5,000–$10,000
Dickey’s Pioneer 1850
Circa 1866-1868, tooled top, 6 1/4". Considered the holy grail of Dickey’s bottles, this is believed to be the earliest mold, briefly used in the late 1860s before being revised into the more commonly encountered variant. Known among collectors as the “Stovepipe” variant for its distinctive elongated neck. These are also known in a clear coloration, but no mint examples exist. This example was dug about 5 years ago in the Woodland area.
Description & Condition: Light crudity with a few large bubbles in the neck. Minor shovel scuff on the reverse and a scratch along the panel edge near the base with an associated 1/16" bruise. Scattered areas of exterior UV crazing that are barely noticeable with backlighting.
Min. Bid $500 - Est. $1,000–$2,000
Dr. Henley’s Eye Opener
Circa 1872–1873, applied top, 12 1/4". One of the rarest Henley's products, with only about 5 known examples, virtually all of them aqua except for one incredible yellow example. Its rarity suggests it may have been one of Henley's least successful products, although the reason for its limited production remains unknown. Regardless, it is a striking bottle with large embossing and an attention–grabbing product name.
Description & Condition: Strong strike, some light crudity. Hard to see 1/8" flake that was filled with resin on the side of the lip. Two small scratches near the base.
Min. Bid $1,500 - Est. $3,000–$4,000
Chalmer's Catawba Wine Bitters
Circa 1873–1874, applied top, fifth. This is one of the West's most iconic bottles, featuring an image of Sutter's Mill where gold was discovered in 1848. These bottles are coveted by collectors of all kinds for their historic and unique embossing. The mill was located at Coloma, California, where James Marshall's discovery of gold in January 1848 sparked the California Gold Rush. Few Western bottles so directly commemorate one of the most significant events in California history. Most known examples have been found in Nevada, with only about three reported from California. A truly historic and iconic bottle that remains one of the cornerstones of any advanced Western bottle collection.
Description & Condition: Aqua with a slight green tone. Strong strike with a good amount of whittle. A few light exterior scratches and several patches of exterior wear, with remnants of rust on the neck. The pattern of wear is consistent with prolonged use, possibly from being carried in a leather satchel or similar container. Despite these signs of use, it displays beautifully.
Min. Bid $4,000 - Est. $8,000–$12,000