Nirvanin narcotic bottle

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fogg.and.sea

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Hi all,

I came across this bottle at an antique shop in Maine. I haven't been able to find out much about it other than an obscure scientific paper from 1899 about Nirvanin being used as a dental anesthetic and a blurb that it was discontinued in favor of cocaine in the early 1900's. I also came across the German manufacturer, Farbwerke vorm Meister Lucius und Brüning, as having made industrial dyes and pharmaceuticals. The bottle is about 2.5" tall, has no visible mold line, no embossing or markings on the glass, is corked, and has a tan crystalline substance inside. Anyone seen these bottles/labels before? Not sure if it's real or a replica, but a cool find either way - would love to learn more if there is more to know!

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CanadianBottles

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I agree that it looks real, although I'm suspicious that the neck label could either be fake or an NOS label added later. As far as I can tell from Googling, Nirvanin wasn't a narcotic, it was a dental anesthetic closer to the modern freezing agents than the cocaine in use at the time. It was only discontinued because it didn't really work that well. The neck label also looks like it hasn't been through the same conditions which have yellowed the main label. I suspect someone added that neck label to make it more appealing as a collectible, because the name sure sounds like an opiate, even though it wasn't.
 

Johnny M

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Now that you mention the neck label I see what you mean. Still, It's a great little find!
 

fogg.and.sea

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I agree that it looks real, although I'm suspicious that the neck label could either be fake or an NOS label added later. As far as I can tell from Googling, Nirvanin wasn't a narcotic, it was a dental anesthetic closer to the modern freezing agents than the cocaine in use at the time. It was only discontinued because it didn't really work that well. The neck label also looks like it hasn't been through the same conditions which have yellowed the main label. I suspect someone added that neck label to make it more appealing as a collectible, because the name sure sounds like an opiate, even though it wasn't.
Makes sense that narcotic neck label would have been added later for collectible reasons. I've been searching online for Nirvanin bottles to compare the labels but nothings comes up. Thanks for your insights!
 

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