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

Circa 1885–1889, applied top, 9 3/4". These rare bitters are known in two variants, one embossed John S. Bowman & Co. and the other A. Fortlouis & Co. The Fortlouis variant is by far the scarcer of the two, with only a handful of examples known. Both the bottle and the brand remain somewhat mysterious, as no advertising for the product has yet been discovered. The Bowman variant is believed to originate from San Francisco, where Bowman was based, while the Fortlouis examples may have originated in Tombstone, Arizona, San Diego, California, or Washington State, where Fortlouis was active during the mid to late 1880s. Until additional information comes to light, a degree of mystery will continue to surround these intriguing Western bitters. This example was dug at a logging camp in Washington state.

Description & Condition: Light honey amber color, nearly yellow in natural light. Crude glass filled with champagne bubbles. Believed to be the finest known example of this rare bitters.

Min. Bid $1,250 - Est. $2,500–$5,000