Scarce and attractive Civil War period paneled pickle bottle in rich aqua glass featuring bold recessed panels and a substantial applied collar. This distinctive form was widely used for preserved foods and condiments during the mid-19th century and remains one of the most desirable display forms among collectors of early American bottles. Strong mold lines, irregularities, and natural character throughout the glass give the piece exceptional authenticity and eye appeal. An outstanding Civil War era table or camp-related bottle with excellent color and classic period form. 

Inventory Number: BOT 209

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An outstanding mid-19th century historical flask featuring two iconic American military and political figures — George Washington and Zachary Taylor. This attractive aqua glass flask displays beautifully molded portrait busts on each side, with embossed lettering identifying both men.

One side features:
“THE FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY” surrounding a portrait of George Washington.

The reverse displays:
“GEN. Z. TAYLOR NEVER SURRENDERS” honoring General and later President Zachary Taylor, celebrated for his heroics during the Mexican-American War.

These patriotic historical flasks became highly popular during the mid-1800s and remain among the most sought-after forms of early American bottle collecting. The combination of bold embossing, strong figural portraits, and rich aqua coloration gives this example exceptional shelf appeal.

The flask retains a pleasing honest patina with attractive age character throughout. A wonderful display piece that crosses over into Civil War, presidential, political, and early American historical collections alike.

Measures approximately 8 3/4 inches in height.

An exceptional example of 19th century American historical glassware and patriotic memorabilia.

Inventory Number: BOT 206

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Very attractive Civil War era Clarkes Sherry Wine Bitters bottle standing approximately 8” tall, retaining a superb ice blue aqua coloration with a clean, crisp form. The face is boldly embossed:

ONLY 25¢

CLARKES

SHERRY

WINE

BITTERS

Classic rectangular bitters form measuring roughly 3” wide by 1 7/8” deep with sharp shoulder lines and a smooth tapered neck. The unusually vibrant blue-aqua glass gives this example exceptional eye appeal, especially when displayed in natural light.

A bottle with tremendous character, showing the honest irregularities and charm associated with mid-19th century hand-blown glass. Strong embossing and attractive mold definition throughout. Patent medicine and bitters bottles of this type were widely marketed during the Civil War era and remain highly collectible today for their bold typography, rich colors, and decorative presence.

Inventory Number: BOT 202

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A scarce and attractive Civil War era stoneware bottle impressed “G. WHITTEMORE,” attributed to a Philadelphia maker and recovered in Alexandria, Virginia. This compact utilitarian bottle features a pleasing salt-glazed surface with rich honey-brown coloration and classic mid-19th century form, including a tapered shoulder, rounded collar, and sturdy cylindrical body. 

Stoneware bottles of this type were commonly used during the Civil War period for mineral water, ale, ginger beer, medicines, and other consumable goods. Alexandria, Virginia served as a major transportation and military hub throughout the war, making identified regional containers from the area especially desirable among Civil War collectors. 

The impressed maker’s mark remains strong and clearly legible across the shoulder. The bottle displays honest age and character throughout, including a small period flaw or kiln-related imperfection along the lower body that does not detract from its overall presentation. 

An appealing stoneware bottle with strong display quality and excellent Civil War era character. 

Inventory Number: BOT 210

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Bottles Recovered Charleston, South Carolina 

A scarce and highly desirable pair of Civil War period U.S. Navy issue condiment bottles, each of classic paneled form in aqua glass and boldly embossed with vertical “U.S. NAVY” markings. One bottle retains its identification as “MUSTARD,” while the companion example is marked for “PEPPER,” forming a seldom-encountered matched set. 

Both bottles exhibit strong mold definition with chamfered shoulders and elongated bodies, typical of mid-19th century naval tableware. The glass shows heavy marine wear consistent with long-term submersion, including surface etching, iridescence, and encrustation—clear indicators of authentic underwater recovery rather than ground find examples. 

Recovered from the waters off Charleston, South Carolina—one of the principal theaters of Union naval operations during the war—these bottles represent tangible remnants of shipboard life, likely originating from a Union naval vessel operating along the blockade. 

A rare opportunity to acquire a true matched pair of U.S. Navy–marked Civil War bottles with documented maritime recovery and strong display presence. 

Inventory Number: BUT 200

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Clear glass apothecary bottle retaining its original cork, bearing a pictorial label for quinine sulphate produced by the well-known Philadelphia firm of Powers & Weightman—one of the principal American refiners of quinine during the Civil War era. Quinine, derived from cinchona bark, was among the most critical medicines of the war, issued extensively to Union forces for the treatment of malaria, fevers, and general debility, particularly in the southern theaters where disease claimed more lives than combat.

Powers & Weightman played a significant role in supplying the Union war effort with quinine, especially as wartime shortages and Confederate blockades made the drug increasingly valuable. Bottles of this form represent the type of pharmaceutical container found in hospital stores, field chests, and regimental medical supplies. The survival of the original cork enhances the piece’s authenticity and presentation.

A strong Civil War–era medical display item tied directly to one of the most essential and widely used compounds of the conflict, and to a major Northern manufacturer deeply connected with wartime production.

Inventory Number: MED 332

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Clear cylindrical apothecary bottle retaining its original printed paper label for “Bicarb. Potassii” (bicarbonate of potassium), with an additional pictorial label depicting the Powers & Weightman manufacturing works and marked “Manufactured by Powers & Weightman, Philadelphia.”

Powers & Weightman was among the leading American chemical manufacturers of the mid-19th century, supplying hospitals and military medical departments during the Civil War. Bicarbonate of potassium was a standard medicinal compound of the period, valued for its mild alkaline properties. It was commonly administered as an antacid to relieve indigestion and gastric distress, and was also employed to help neutralize excess acidity in the system—sometimes prescribed in cases of rheumatism or certain kidney and urinary complaints where alkalizing the body was believed beneficial.

The survival of both labels—particularly the larger illustrated manufacturer’s label—is increasingly uncommon, which enhances both display and interpretive value. Minor expected wear and edge loss to the paper consistent with age.

A strong Civil War-period medical display piece from one of Philadelphia’s most important wartime suppliers.

Inventory Number: MED 331

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This type of Gettysburg desk set / relic display originated with Edward Woodward, a British born gunsmith living in Baltimore when the war broke out, who reportedly refused Confederate offers to supervise a gun factory in favor of aiding wounded US soldiers as a member of a Union Relief Society and later moved to Gettysburg after the battle to aid the wounded as a member of the US Christian Commission. He remained in town and is known to have been selling similar desk sets as early as September 1866 and by 1870 was advertising his gunsmithing and his relic business from a shop on Carlisle Street near the train depot. After Woodward’s death in 1894 these popular desk sets continued to be made by John Good and Joel Danner, though in simpler form than Woodward’s. This set is a good example of an early battlefield souvenir that might be brought home even by a visiting veteran of the battle. See O’Donnell, Hazard and Boardman, Gettysburg Battlefield Relics and Souvenirs for the story of these and similar creations that often sought to create something combining the artistic, the historic, and the useful. 

Inventory Number: GET 552

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Powers & Weightman, Philadelphia

A superb and seldom-encountered Civil War–era medical bottle retaining its original contents and full paper labeling. The label reads “Subsulph. Iron, 1 oz. – Monsel’s Powder” and is marked for Powers & Weightman, Philadelphia, one of the foremost American chemical manufacturers of the mid-19th century and a major supplier of pharmaceutical compounds during the war.

The contents—subsulphate of iron, more commonly known as Monsel’s salt or Monsel’s powder (ferric subsulfate)—was a critical styptic agent widely used by Civil War surgeons. Its primary function was to rapidly control hemorrhaging, particularly in battlefield conditions where time and resources were limited. Applied directly to wounds, it acted by chemically cauterizing tissue and promoting coagulation, making it especially valuable in treating traumatic injuries and during surgical procedures such as amputations. While highly effective in stopping bleeding, it was also known to be caustic and could impede healing if overused—typical of many period emergency treatments where survival outweighed long-term outcomes.

The bottle itself is hand-blown glass with a tooled lip and retains its original cork stopper. The label remains largely intact and legible, with expected toning. The vivid yellow powder inside is well-preserved, offering a rare and visually striking survival of original Civil War–era medical contents.

An exceptional and highly displayable example of wartime medical practice, directly representative of the tools and treatments employed by Union surgeons in the field and hospital settings.

Inventory Number: MED 330

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Excavated Camp Example

Original Civil War–era glass pepper sauce bottle, excavated from a Civil War campsite and subsequently tumbled clean. Tall and narrow in form, this bottle was designed to dispense pepper sauce or similar condiments, items commonly sought by soldiers to add flavor and heat to issued rations.

Manufactured in aqua glass with free-blown characteristics, the bottle displays period-appropriate thickness variations and subtle manufacturing irregularities. Pepper sauce bottles were frequently carried in camps and haversacks and are regularly recovered from known Civil War encampment sites.

A desirable Civil War camp artifact, representing the personal comforts and dietary habits of soldiers in the field.

Inventory Number: BOT 197

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