In the past, there has been spirited debate on the most desirable western bitters. Obviously DEMAND is what creates desirability, and demand is based on several factors ie: color, crudity, shape, rarity, and condition. I wanted to focus on rarity for the topic of this post. I have collected western glass for decades, and have obviously focused on western bitters in recent years. These beautiful pieces of history come in gorgeous shapes and colors and the rarity of some is often overlooked as the most desired examples are not always the most rare. Based on my observations and discussions with other western bitters collectors, and countless hours of study, I thought it would be interesting to discuss the most rare western bitters in the collecting fraternity. Here are the results, and of course I welcome debate and discussion on those that I have either missed, or miscalculated as to rarity.
In compiling this ranking, I did not take into account extremely rare colors of more available bitters, or applied top versions vs tooled, etc. This is purely based on the numbers known in fine condition and repaired, or partial examples known of these rarities. I am sure that I missed one or two, but this is the most accurate accounting I can provide. Here is the ten rarest western bitters...
1) Oregon Chittum Bitters-Dr. G.W. Brown- Applied top square. One known example, and no damaged examples known.
2)Dr. Hauseman's German Bitters- Pint applied top flask. One known example, and two partial examples.
3) G.A. Simon's Medicated, Aromatic Bitters- Indended panel square. One mint, and three or four damaged examples known.
4)California Bitters, J.G. Frisch. Amber modified pyramid shape-One mint and two or three examples known.
5)Bryant's Stomach Bitters-cone style, one or two truly mint and four damaged / repaired examples known.
6) Orizaba Bitters, J. Marstany- Folded over lip squatty square- two mint, and three damaged examples known.
7) Baker's High Life- Tooled top square, two or three examples known.
8) Old Man's Stomach Bitters-Applied top square. Three mint, and one damaged example known.
9) Oregon Peach Bitters- Clear or aqua cylinder, tooled top. Three examples known.
10) Tied for #10- Dr. Harvey's Blood Bitters, Swiss Alpine Bitters( indented panel amber rectangle), Dr. Hauseman's German Bitters-square applied top. three or four examples known of each.
There are a few western bitters with six or less known examples...the Dr. Henley's OK Bitters, V.Squarza are two of them. The Cusparia Bitters lady's leg is possibly another.
Again, I may have missed some, and of course there is almost never LESS examples known than are known...there are probably more.
I am interested in anyone's thoughts.Boy I must be a glutton for punishment! DM
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Forgot the Jewel Bitters, A.Fortlouis amber applied top rectangle, with 5 known examples, and the mis-spelled Excelcior, and Acorn with less than six known examples each.
ReplyDeleteGolden Gate Pepsin Bitters have only seen two ,Turkish Bitters have only seen one mint one a one damaged one .I have a Oregon Peach with applied top. R. Siri
ReplyDeleteI dug the Bowman's jewel bitters here in San Diego with Rurik & Jon L, I know of 2 Bakers High Life's dug here in San Diego County, one we dug in Escondido a small farming town north of San Diego, out of a well. I believe there is 2 examples of the Jewel Bitters, A.Fortlouis known, 1 is in a well know Santa Rosa collectors hands and the other is on display at the Whaley House in Old Town here in San Diego. Rick
ReplyDeleteThat was supposed to read I know of 2 examples of the Jewel Bitters, A.Fortlouis
DeleteI believe there are two known Cusparia Bitters examples, however I haven't seen any proof that these were a western marketed product yet.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rich and Rick.
ReplyDeleteI can confirm 5 of the Jewel Fortlouis, as 3 examples were dug in Washington in one hole. They all surfaced from the old collection two years ago and were all quickly snapped up. I have only seen one Turkish bitters, and know of two other examples, so that is one rare bottle! I have never seen a Golden Gate Pepsin in person.
Thanks again for the feedback. Dale
Did you count the Fortlouis I dug in Sierra City? It was sold in one of the Western Round-up auctions
Deleters
Warren, Have you actually handled a Cusparia? I know of the one found in Southern Oregon, and was not aware of a second example. I also am not 100% positive it is Western, but believe it is likely. Hopefully someone can research this one. DM
ReplyDeleteDale,
ReplyDeleteI know of the example in Oregon and have handled the example in California. I know of no other damaged or partial examples of this bottle. Finding factual information on some of these bottles has been extremely difficult to say the least.
I handled one example of the Cusparia Bitters for the Van Golden Collection here in Jacksonville in the late 1970's. It was dug in the ca. 1870's - 80's dump at the school bus turnaround in the 900 block of S. 3rd St. here in town in the late 1960's. It had the "serif" R and was identical in coloration to a certain pucey Rosenbaum's that I also had at one time. The top was unlike anything (western or eastern) that I recall seeing either before or after; (an odd flared single skirt beneath an equally stylistic tapered collar). It was also unique in that it had an unusual texture to the glass resembling "crackle glass". Although I've not uncovered anything in the digital archives to substantiate it, I'd have to say S. F. glass for sure.
ReplyDeleteBruce
A couple of things to add.
DeleteOne, the Cusparia that I handled was smaller than a quart or a fifth. More like a sixth, if that. It was notably shorter and narrower than what we generally associate with a ladies leg.
I just got an email from a collector down south. He mentioned the fact that a photo of a Cusparia was in the back of the book that Jeff W. wrote several years ago. I had a copy stuffed away and took a peek. I am reasonably sure that the bottle pictured was not the one that I helped liquidate. There's no apparaent "crackle glass" effect in the photo.
That would make two examples known.
Rick,
ReplyDeleteYes I did count the Fortlouis you dug...I did not know of the example in the museum in S.D. however, so that would make six...
Thanks Bruce, One would think that there must be info on the Cusparia somewhere.
Great post Dale, and fun and educational to see all the discussion here. I can add absolutely nothing here, since I have never dug or owned any decent Western bitters, with the exception of shards for an ACORN BITTERS from a privy in Pomona many years ago! Keep up the discussion, always something new to learn!
ReplyDeleteYep Dale,
ReplyDeleteGreat post...looks like your back in the saddle
rs
Bruce, my assumption is that the Cusparia Bitters closely resembles a Salutaris in size...does that seem about right? And WHY did you not call me when you brokered said Cusparia???? :)
ReplyDeleteHas anyone ever seen any advertising or directory info on the Acorn? Dale M.
Yes, it was a dead ringer for a Salutaris.
ReplyDeleteI'm still pouring over directories. Odds are, I'll find the proof in the pudding. It will probably come together like the Simmonds Nabob / Thistledew / Madlebaum S.F. riddle.
Dale,
ReplyDeleteI guess he's taking the fifth on why he didn't call ya
rs
Just because I was 12 years old at the time and my Mommy would not drive me over is no excuse. By the way, it would be nice to have some photos posted of some of these rare bitters. I have a few of them, but seeing pics of the Egan, Oregon Peach ( is it aqua Richard), and others would be great.
ReplyDeleteYes it's light aqua
DeleteOk, There is 4 Known Baker's High Life Bitters here right now in San Diego, 2 my Friend Richard D. has, 1 in a Private Collection of a Passed away diggers collection (Family Has It) and the one in Rurik's Collection at the Whaley House in Old Town here in Dago. Also the Orizaba Bitters that Jeff sold in His auction a few years back was found in the desert in Nevada by an Oil Co. surveyor and sold to an Antique Store here in San Diego, then a local got to it before me :c( I am not sure if there is 1 or 2 whole examples of that bitters? Rick
ReplyDeleteHas anyone considered the E.L. Bailey's Kidney & Liver Bitters from Sacramento. I think it might be one year only around 1900. I found one example in a cellar of a ranch here in Sierra County.
ReplyDeleters
Rick, That is a rare bottle for sure. I have seen 4 or 5 including one with full labels.The John Cope "Best in the World" is also very rare but of course is not embossed "Bitters". It is interesting that a few of the LATE western bitters were only 50 years old when Wilson's bitters book came out in 1968! That would be like us writing a book today and including bottles made in the 1960's!
ReplyDeleteThe Peruvian Bitters Wilmerding is also very rare with 5 pints, and 3 or 4 half pints in collections. One mint half pint was recently broken in to a million pieces in an accident which occurred while moving bottles to a different shelf. A loss which removed 25% of the known half pints in existence. Anyone ever do that? I have heard of earthquake, and cleaning accidents, but rarely breakage due to repositioning issues. DM
ReplyDeleteBroke a fine Target Ball once...was holding it over our granite countertop, turning it with one hand while describing it to a collector on the phone. It leaped from my hand onto the countertop...in one second it was in a million pieces. I also once set a box of bottles on our washing machine while I was washing some of them in our laundry sink adjacent to it. My daughter called, so I left the room momentarily to answer the phone, and then heard a big crash! The washing machine had gone into an unbalanced spin cycle...
ReplyDeletebroke a emartin shoulder crown flask, a lilenthal pint{green],and a Fleckenstein lrg circle pint in the 1970's and bumped the dresser and all fell on a cement floor and a few flasks besides those survived..just set them up to look at them and one bump and they were gone.
Delete