Howdy! Brand new to this forum.I just purchased a box, and full bottle of what I believe to be an early bottle of Dr. Samuel Pitcher's Castoria (photos attached). The bottle has a complete, original paper label on one side giving the recommended dosage in English and also in formal German script. The sides are embossed simply CASTORIA without any reference to Dr. Pitcher. There are no markings on the bottom. The bottle is clear glass rather than aqua and measures 5 7/8" tall x 1 7/8" wide x 1" thick. The cork stopper sets in what I would call a a double rounded top.The box is as shown with the top flap missing. The back of the box bears the warning "To gurad against imitations, counterfeits, and unauthorized preparations See that the Facsimile Signature of Chas. M. Edwards Is on Every Package.When I removed the bottle, I discovered that there was a very fragile paper insert remaining in the box. It has a lot of damage, but I was able to relax it and flatten it to discover that it was an advertisement for Picther's Castoria that measures approximately 8" x 11", and also has the facsimile signature of Edwards.I know that Pitcher patented Castoria in 1868 and that Fletcher bought the brand out in 1871.My questions are:1. Approximate date of the bottle2. Who the heck was Charles M. Edwards?3. What is the relative rarity of the bottle, box, and insert? Thanks for any help in advance. Wildhorse
Older Castoria box, bottle and insert
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cowseatmaize
Well-Known Member
Welcome.I'd have to read more into the Pitcher, Fletcher and Edwards connection but the list of ingredients and quantity implies after the F&DA of 1906 to me.The bottle picture is a little blurry so no comment on that.
Thanks, I simply scanned the bottle, but will get better photos of it in future. I'll also get a good scanned image of the insert once it is properly put back together, I searched quite a bit on Castoria, Fletcher, Pitcher, and Edwards, but could find no reference to anyone named Edwards. Unfortunately the brand name was transferred to Mentholatum Corp, which in turn was taken over by a Japaneses conglomerate, so I doubt if they have any corporate history archives.
cowseatmaize
Well-Known Member
Is there anything on either that mentions Gilpin, Langdon & Co.? "Charles M. Edwards, of Gilpin, Langdon & Co., has been on a trip up the State and as usual booked a large number of orders for his house. "
From 1899
From 1899
Chas. H. Fletcher's Castoria is very similar. Here is a quote I found: "Chas. M. Edwards, of the Gilpin Langdon Company of Baltimore, has just left us with so many orders that he has become round shouldered from writing them." [
] Anyways Chas. M. Edwards is definitely a smaller company, which may have a little value with box and label.
] Anyways Chas. M. Edwards is definitely a smaller company, which may have a little value with box and label.glass man
Well-Known Member
WELCOME TO THE FORUM! Even with box..contents etc.I still wouldn't think it would be worth much...I would guess $20 and under...of course just the bottle and it empty would be worth not anything..hundreds are left in dumps...just so many of them!! JAMIE
Upon looking at the page from American Druggist, provided by Eric, it appears that Charles Edwards was a travelling salesman ("drummer") for Gilpin, Langdon & Co. a firm based in Baltimore. It also mentions the problems with several counterfeit versions of Castoria being tracked down by a "staff of 14 men" from the Centaur Company which marketed Castoris under the Fletcher name. Maybe Edwards was peddling Pitcher's Castoria on the side for some "extra income"!
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