MULL'S GRAPE TONIC / ROCK ISLAND, ILL. - Here is a fine example of somewhat scarce tonic, except with the original label, box, AND the original in-box booklet touting all the benefits of this product.  As the side of the boxes notes the product "CURES CONSTIPATION PERMANENTLY."  The label (and label on the box illustration bottle) also notes that the product is "especially prescribed for weak and nervous men, women and children, invalids, and aged persons."  The box is loaded with information regarding this tonics "flesh-building properties", "wonderful blood-making and strength-giving virtues", and  the like.  The bottle is the smaller rectangular variant in a medium amber color with a touch of red,  7.5" tall, has the original cork though no contents, smooth base (embossed with a "3"), tooled "oil" type finish (long tapered collar) and dates from 1904 - just a couple years prior to the passage of the Pure Food & Drugs Act of 1906. 

How do I know it dates from 1904?  It is stamped on the left side of the bottle label in purple ink, i.e., "Mar 17, 04" - click on the image to the above left to see this.  The condition of the bottle is mint with no chips, cracks or other post-production damage; the bottle label is 100% intact with just a bit of staining (from the leaked contents) to the upper right corner as shown in the images.  The box is a bit rougher with some buckling and staining but intact (top box flat detached and inside) and all readable.  The bottle itself is perfectly mirrored by the box illustration.  The little pamphlet is a bit creased and has some soiling, but other wise good shape.  Mull's Grape Tonic was made by the Lightning Medicine Co. - named, I presume, in honor of the speed of "recovery" their product induced!  Neat item with the rarely encountered labels, box, etc.  SOLD! 

FLETCHER'S VEGE-TONIC - Offered here is a very rare (only aware of two others, one missing the neck) tonic bottle from Cincinnati, OH.  This was the product of the Mihalovitch, Fletcher & Co. - a Cincinnati distilling and liquor company that was established in 1873, but doing business under that name from 1883 to 1903; they continued under a different name until 1918.  (All that according to the great website www.pre-pro.com !) Fletcher's first name was Victor and was connected to the company until at least 1907 but not later than 1913 it appears.  The base is also embossed with D. O. C. which stands for the D. O. Cunningham Glass Company who began using that mark about 1880.  Click base view to see the D. O. C. embossed on the base.   The following is from a past WorthPoint listing of a billhead for the company that produced this product:

“Billhead from Mihalovitch, Fletcher & Co., Distillers of Fruit Brandies - Native Wines, Cased Liquors, dated Cincinnati, Mar 14, 1890. Sole Proprietors: Mihalovitch's Hungarian Blackberry Juice, St. Jacobs Malt Whiskey, St. Jacob's Bitters, Fletcher's Bitters, Fletcher's Vege Tonic, Fletcher's Ginger Tonic, Fletcher's Peppermint & Ginger Essence, Iron Rock & Rye, Golden Wheat Whiskey, Moonshine Bourbon, Florida Orange Wine and Brandy, Old Bass Island Wines.” (Emphasis added)

The bottle has a crudely applied "oil" finish, i.e., long tapered collar with some good slop-over on the front as can be seen in the image, produced in a "post-base mold," lacks evidence of mold air venting with resultant body crudity, a nice medium golden amber glass and is embossed as you can see on one side...the other 3 sides are unembossed.  These attributes point towards a manufacturing date between 1880 and maybe 1885.  Given it's rarity - and the billhead above indicating it was still being produced as late as 1890 - I would speculate that these bottles were probably just used for a short time in the early 1880s. Interestingly, the mold engraver did not plan very well as it is obvious that he was running out of room when it got to the TONIC portion (the ends of the "C" are missing) and had to squeeze those last 5 letters into a bit less space than the VEGE in front of the hyphen!  The condition of this bottle is near mint - no chips or cracks - with only the slightest wisps of staining in a few isolated places, some hard to see fine scratching and one very small and shallow pinhead ping mark (with no related issues) on the lower back panel. Rarely offered bottle; I've never seen one offered at any of the bottle auction houses.  SOLD!

THE GLOBE / TONIC - BITTERS - This is a nice example of a "bitters tonic" in that it is embossed vertically with THE GLOBE TONIC on one side, then almost as an after thought (or marketing ploy), decided it was a BITTERS also but embossed that on the opposite side.  Viola...a Tonic Bitters!  These are interestingly molded bottles in that they are one of the few I know of that have indented or sunken panels but only on three sides of each of the four side panels, i.e., they are indented all the way to the heel of the bottle.  This makes the four vertical body edges seem raised relatively speaking. 

These bottles are listed as "scarce" in Ring & Ham - cataloged as G49.  It was a product of John W. Perkins & Co. of Portland, Maine and based on the manufacturing methods (sloppy applied finish, lack of mold air venting) they appear to date from the mid to late 1860s (listed in Ring & Ham in a late 1860s publication) to possibly the late 1870s.  Given that they are "scarce" they had to have been around for awhile but may just have been a regionally distributed product.  This example came from a collection in the Midwest in a trade years ago and was described as mint, which is largely true.  It does, however, have a couple very short (<5mm) annealing checks near the base of the neck on the reverse which are certainly in-making.  Otherwise the bottle is essentially sparkling mint with no chips, cracks or obvious staining &  just a couple short scratches.  It is also has a nice glossy surface and an appealing lightish golden amber glass.  Great bottle overall and priced well.  SOLD!

CLEMENTS' TONIC - Here is some color for ones medicine and/or tonic collection.  This bottle is embossed as noted - and easily visible in the image - and in a wonderful citron or clear yellow-green color.  Pictures shows the color and intensity pretty well (click to enlarge).  This brand had wide distribution I  believe, as they are found in the U. S., Australia, and likely many other places in various sizes, colors, and mold differences.  There are even machine-made, screw top ones if my memory serves me correctly.  I don't know the origin of the product but suspect England?  This example is about as pristine as you can get, with the following specs: 6.5" tall, crudely tooled "patent" lip or finish (with an interesting, on-purpose pour spout indention inside the bore), smooth indented base, no evidence of air venting, and likely dating from the last couple decades of the 19th century.  Glass has some decent crudeness and bubbles with the condition of the overall bottle essentially perfect to my eye - no chips, cracks, obvious scratches or scuffs...and nice clean, non-patinated (not stained) glass.  Great example for the window!  SOLD!

CY-CO TONIC - What a cool name for a tonic bottle!  Wonder if it was the original Ritalin or Lithium or such for people that has some psychological issues?  Probably the 16% alcohol was enough to cause some behavioral changes.  Actually, the tonic was a "blood purifier" and used to treat "stomach disorders, Loss of Appetite, Constipation, and Similar Ailments" according to the label.  The bottle is embossed with CY-CO TONIC on one shoulder (visible above the label in the full bottle image) and has a body completely encircled by the label...which is 99%+ intact (just a little chipping around the label edges).   The label is soiled and has some variable staining but really in good shape as the images show.  The base is faintly but clearly embossed with F. G. W. which indicates manufacture by the Fairmount Glass Works (Fairmount, IN.) who used that mark between 1889 and 1906.  This bottle dates from the latter end of that period, i.e., early 1900s I would estimate, though it is possible that it was made slightly after when the plant moved to Indianapolis, IN. (1906).  Bottle is about 9.4" tall, has a tooled "oil" finish (with original cork), smooth base (with noted embossing), and obviously never buried.  The bottle itself is near mint with the exception of one small (<1/4" long, 1/8" wide) flake on the side of the lip rim that is just visible in the enlarged, full bottle image to the right.  I've only encountered one other example - without a label - so it is a rarer than average medicinal tonic bottle that may have been an unsuccessful competitor to PERUNA as it notes on the reverse it's suitability for "delicate women" and the similar shape to the bottle.  Nice item, great name, and labeled!  SOLD!

GOLD LION (embossed lion) IRON TONIC - DR. THENARD - One of my favorite of the "picture" medicinal tonics I've offered several of these over the years; all sold pretty fast and ones I've seen sell the past couple years have jumped up in price.  This one has the typical applied long tapered collar (aka "oil finish"), is about 9" tall, has a smooth domed "post mold" type base (dot in the base and vague number), and no evidence of mold air venting dating these between about 1875 and 1885.  I still have never found out where these originated though many are found out West here, though I believe they are found in various regions of the U. S.  Never commonly encountered - like the Reed's Gilt Edge Tonic bottles, which the Gold Lions may be a knock-off of - these also are seen for sale now and then but not frequently.  However, the boldly embossed lion, embossing on two sides, and great name make them popular.  This is a near mint example in the typical golden amber color these are usually seen in (done on purpose due to the "Gold" in the name?)  with no chips, cracks, or significant inside or outside staining (small splotch on the lower back).  It may have been lightly professionally cleaned, but not sure, and it looks like someone oiled the inside lightly at one point.  (I've rinsed it out though a bit may still be left.)  In any event, whatever haze is on the inside is very minor and largely invisible.  Oh, I guess there are a few small onion skin type open bubbles on the surface with no depth but it is otherwise as it came out of the glass factory.  As the images show this is a really good looking bottle - with the "issues" very minor - with some nice crudity and bubbles the wavy glass.  SOLD!