Mack's Sarsaparilla Bitters

Here is an often overlooked western bitters. The Mack's Sarsaparilla Bitters is unusual in form compared to any other betters whether from the east, or west. This applied top squarish rectangle has concave corners similar to a spice bottle. This feature also makes them prone to damage and I believe there are less than six examples in collections in undamaged condition, and perhaps ten more with problems...maybe less.
These have been of interest to me for years because of their Portland, Oregon connection.According to Wilson's "Western Bitters", Julius Mack learned the drug business while working with his father in East Portland, who ran a drug store. In 1881 he moved to San Francisco with his uncle Adolph Mack to establish a wholesale business of his own. It is believed the Mack's Sarsaparilla bitters was produced from 1884 until about 1887. I have been told that the majority of known specimens were dug from one hole in California. I do not know of any being found in other western states. While the Mack's is not an early, nasty crude, and wild

colored western bitters, it has a lot going for it. Being a western bitters with an applied top, having the "sarsaparilla" embossing, having the Mack name, being very rare, and an unusual form, this bitters somewhat makes up for not being whittled, green, and early...somewhat.