Breslin Bischoff & Co Bottle - "Dew of the Alps"???

Blackdutchie · Aug 7, 2014

Just pulled this black (VERY BLACK) glass bottle from a pit in Philly. Reads "Breslin Bischoff & Co" on one panel and "Geneva" on the other. A quick search online for these guys showed that Udolpho Wolfe was apparently importing a "Dew of the Alps" cordial made by Breslin Bischoff & Co. These ads start in 1866 and seem to run through the 1870s. The base on this bottle is strange, as it's sort of a stepped smooth base (though tough to photo). Does anyone know anything about these bottles? Is it one of these "Dew of the Alps" cordials? Is it actually an imported European bottle as advertised or was it an American-made product? I've attached the first 3 photos here, more to follow below. Thanks for the help!

Blackdutchie · Aug 7, 2014

Here are 3 more pics:

Blackdutchie · Aug 7, 2014

And the last 2:

Bert DeWitt · Aug 7, 2014

Can you post a pic of the bottom and of the embossing? It is hard to really see what's on the bottle in those pics.

Bert DeWitt · Aug 7, 2014

I like it, it is a really cool bottle!

botlguy · Aug 7, 2014

That's a great looking bottle and while the collar doesn't look applied the base appears to have and Iron Pontil. That observation may be incorrect. If the collar is applied it would probably date back to the early 1860s. The over all look leads me to GUESS late 1870s early 1880s. What was the context of the rest of the pit or could you tell? I'm guessing European made and imported here.

Blackdutchie · Aug 7, 2014

botlguy, The finish actually is applied, the pic doesn't show it very well but here is actually some drip over the neck. The base was very tough to show but it is in fact smooth base. The very inner area is highly patinated and somewhat rough/pitted but does seem to be smooth. The privy itself seemed to date from the late 1860s or early 1870s into the 80s, as you said (in terms of newspaper ads for Breslin Bischoff & Co. and their "Dew of the Alps" they first seem to show up in 1866 and I can't find them after the early 80s). It's certainly an unusual looking bottle and the first I've seen of something like this. The glass literally lets NO light through it, so it appears straight up black. I'm hoping to do more research into the company and the possible product. Needless to say, I got really excited with the possible Udolpho Wolfe connection. I'm also planning on getting it professionally cleaned, I think it might be worth it to see it shine again.

botlguy · Aug 7, 2014

Yea, that looks like a good candidate for tumbling. I am not in favor of that if the iridescence it outstanding but yours has only some it appears. Please come back and show us a "Before & After" picture. Great Luck with your research, there may be some on the forums who can help with that. Me, I'm a computer Dummy. [

] Jim P.S. GREAT pix and presentation.

Blackdutchie · Aug 8, 2014

Been through all the historical newspaper databases now searching for Breslin, Bischoff & Company and their "Dew of the Alps" cordial. They first appear in October of 1866 reprinting a letter from July naming Udolpho Wolfe as their sole agent for the Americas. The last appearance in any newspaper that I can find for either the company or the "Dew" (as it was called sometimes) was November of 1879 in the San Francisco Chronicle. Most of the ads for the product appear in southern newspapers, particularly in New Orleans, Galveston, and Wilmington, NC. The ads appear more infrequently in New York papers and San Francisco (in the late 1870s). Haven't found any depictions of the "Dew" bottles as of yet, but there is mention of capacity, which I'll check out with my bottle. Seemed to have been a relatively expensive product, listed for 1 and 2 dollars per bottle. As far as I can tell, Brelsin, Bischoff & Co never imported any other products so I'm fairly certain that's what this bottle is. I'll add updates as I do more research.

cowseatmaize · Aug 10, 2014

Gilka knockoff or a knockoff of a Gilka, I don't know. It does look older than any Gilka I've seen but I haven't traced their origins..

Breslin Bischoff & Co Bottle - "Dew of the Alps"???

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