New Member, first post... Thanks in advance for any dating information I can get on this old jar. Reads "CHA'S. GULDEN Dépôt, New York. MOUTARDE IMPERIALE AUX FINES HERBES. Seul Fabricant autorisé." Interestingly, the label has been applied over the letters "C & L" outline embossed about 5/8 inch high letters. I do not believe the label to be a later addition. Bottom of jar is blank.
Gulden started his mustard business in New York in 1867. At first I thought this was a label for export to France, but I now believe all the French was intended to make the mustard look imported. In 1869 the American Institute of the City of New York for the Encouragement of Science and Invention had a Fair into which Gulden entered his mustard. The handwritten judge's report said of Gulden's Mustard, "Although conveying the idea of foreign manufacture are really made in this city from American seeds etc., and represent the French and German flavors." So, my question: does this jar date to around the beginnings of Gulden's mustard business, and represent perhaps one of the earliest bottles with label from the company? The label certainly appears to be of that era, but I just don't know enough about the history of this jar shape to date the bottle. I think it is quite believable that a young (24 y.o.) businessman starting out in the mustard business would buy excess bottles of another manufacturer and apply his labels over their embossing. What do you folks think?
Gulden started his mustard business in New York in 1867. At first I thought this was a label for export to France, but I now believe all the French was intended to make the mustard look imported. In 1869 the American Institute of the City of New York for the Encouragement of Science and Invention had a Fair into which Gulden entered his mustard. The handwritten judge's report said of Gulden's Mustard, "Although conveying the idea of foreign manufacture are really made in this city from American seeds etc., and represent the French and German flavors." So, my question: does this jar date to around the beginnings of Gulden's mustard business, and represent perhaps one of the earliest bottles with label from the company? The label certainly appears to be of that era, but I just don't know enough about the history of this jar shape to date the bottle. I think it is quite believable that a young (24 y.o.) businessman starting out in the mustard business would buy excess bottles of another manufacturer and apply his labels over their embossing. What do you folks think?
