Best Of The West Live Auction (November 13, 2026 5:30 PM PT)

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