Ah ha! That patent case shows a design that isn't on my bottle, and says it was adopted in 1893. And the Google books literature shows the design that is on my bottle, and says it was adopted in 1876. So it looks like that's the age range I'm in, somewhere between 1876 and 1893. Cool!
Unless it turns out to be really valuable, I do plan to open and drink it - that's the reason I bought it. I'm an aspiring cocktail geek, and Geneva is one of those spirits that used to be really popular and it slowly making a comeback. It would be really cool to try some original stuff.
I recently picked up this bottle, and I'm trying to get some more information on it. The label describes the maker and contents (de Kuyper Geneva), but doesn't make any reference to when it might have been bottled. It measures about 3"x3" by 10" tall. The only markings embossed into the bottle...