Lees Patent and Family Medicines New York

[Steve/sewell]

Hey Chris to answer your question about which Lee in the other post, I believe the Lee in this case is Richard Lee the first one from Baltimore and his widow Hannah was now running his advertising or at least signing off in the ads as if she was still involved in the business. My take on the matter and it involves Dr Dyott is this is the moment in time the end of 1807 that Dyott began his career as a medicine man filling the void left by Lees death. Lees death probably hurt his patent medicines just enough to allow Dyott to try his hand at the same business. It seems Dyott was even selling Lees medicines briefly in this same year at his warehouse. It looks like Dyott copied everything the Lees utilized including his type of advertising with supposed testimonials from satisfied and cured persons who signed letters or affidavits. Lees widow Hannah placed this ad first in April of this year probably shortly after Richards death.The persons now running Lees business were scrambling as evidenced in this early ad seeking lettered bottles. .Dyott began advertising his family medicines at the end of 1807 probably from seeing the success of Lees product which he was selling. An added bonus for Dyott was Lees untimely death.First up is the front page date of the news paper May 18th 1808

 

[Steve/sewell]

2 It seems this Philadelphia based business man William Y Birch was seeking Hamilton's Elixir Phials.This is where it gets interesting,he is looking for lettered bottles or Phials which are visually square and lettered on the sides RICHARD LEES PATENT AND FAMILY MEDICINES. The good part for you diggers of deep privys from the 1810 to 1820 era these bottles are there to be found, you just got to start finding them!!! I saw one a few years ago sell at an on line auction where I was outbid on a square Dr Dyott bottle in the same sale. The Lee bottle brought if my memory serves me correctly close to 4000.00 the Dyott was I beleive around 3700.00. Well here is the ad seeking empty bottles.

 

[Steve/sewell]

This same William Y Birch was selling the Hamilton's elixir in an ad in the same newspaper. Here is that ad

 

[Steve/sewell]

2. Continuation of the same ad

 

[Steve/sewell]

3.

 

[Steve/sewell]

Yes you can tell by the tone where Hannah signs off this is the beginning of the end of Lees empire as he is about to get crushed by Michael Lee the Imposter in Baltimore and Dyott in Philadelphia exciting times they were for the drug proprietors these medicines did ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING FOR YOU........bottled air may have been better for your maladies!!

 

[baltbottles]

Steve,

Its interesting as i have seen Richard lee bottles and have a damaged H. lee bottle and have seen a Noah Ridgely Lee bottle that looks to be the earliest of the three. I have photos of it but can't post them until I return home. I will see what else I can dig up on the Baltimore lees once i get home.

Chris

 

[AntiqueMeds]

what year did Richard Lee die? must have been around 1810 or so???

Noah Ridgely was selling in the 1830s. Not sure of the whole date range of his business.

 

[AntiqueMeds]

from what I can see Noah Ridgely had taken over from Michael Lee as early as 1817.
M Lee had been been selling at least as early as 1807.
Would love to see the Ridgely bottle.

 

[baltbottles]

Matt i will post some pictures of the Noah Ridgely bottle when I get home in a few days. My question is what lee was the orginator of the pattent medicines. was it Michael or Richard. Also what years were what lees in baltimore and in new york.

Chris