Dr. Spivey's Asthma Cure bottles w/original labels, packaging, "fact booklet"

[historic-antiques]

Hi Everyone,

I may have posted these bottles years ago, maybe somebody out there knows more about them at this time. They are embossed with "Dr. Spivey" and "Oxford, Ohio" on the sides and back panel. Are these rare, maybe because of the paper labels, packaging, and booklets? What's the best way to preserve the paper?

I found these in an old Victorian home in the Uptown district in Chicago in 1973, sitting on top of an ancient basement furnace, probably sitting there for a long time. The house was built in between 1875-1885 I believe. Thanks for any insights and info you can give me!

Paul

 

[CanadianBottles]

Nice finds! They probably are indeed quite rare. While paper label meds as a category are not at all uncommon, any individual med with a paper label is likely to be very rare if not unique, apart from the absolute most common products or situations where entire cases of them were found. It's entirely possible that you could have the only two remaining examples of yours out there if it wasn't a particularly successful product.

 

[historic-antiques]

Nice finds! They probably are indeed quite rare. While paper label meds as a category are not at all uncommon, any individual med with a paper label is likely to be very rare if not unique, apart from the absolute most common products or situations where entire cases of them were found. It's entirely possible that you could have the only two remaining examples of yours out there if it wasn't a particularly successful product.

Hi CanadianBottles,

Thanks for your response! Yes, I will assume they are rare, so I will continue to store them out of all light and wrapped in acid-free paper, and at reasonable temperatures. I don't think these were very successful, maybe several years during the 1890s, though one collector 4 years ago said he had a green Dr. Spivey's Asthma cure, made in a snap-case mold, with "Asthma Cure" embossed on the bottle, with "Dr. Spivey" and Oxford, Ohio.

There's actually a Dr. Amy Renee Spivey, who lives in Oxford, O., and works in a hospital there. She seems to be born and bred in Ohio, so maybe she's related to this bottle "Dr." Not sure what I want to do with these bottles, maybe give her one, donate the other to a Oxford, O. museum? I'm not really into money for my antique collection, just want to find good, permanent homes for what I have so they can last "forever" and serve the public good.

Thanks again for your response!!

 

[ROBBYBOBBY64]

Paper label meds, with the pamphlet and box all original are getting harder to find in good shape. I admire your love for the hobby, history and not the money.
ROBBYBOBBY64.

 

[historic-antiques]

Paper label meds, with the pamphlet and box all original are getting harder to find in good shape. I admire your love for the hobby, history and not the money.
ROBBYBOBBY64.

Thanks, RobbyRobby64 for your comments. Since I was a kid, I've always collected "old" things and have a hodge-podge array of "old things'! Some of them are quite rare and valuable. People laugh at my interest in preserving these things for future generations, but when I visit the Smithsonian and see what's displayed, I realize it's only been possible because people like us collect, protect, and "hand-off" these treasures to other like-minded people or institutions. The best of luck to you and your collections! historic-antiques