Sealed Black Glass from NYC Privy

[VA is for Diggers]

Wow! Great Seal bottle! You got yourself into a great pit!

 

[GuntherHess]

I have looked around a bit and sorry to say I havent found anything on your seal.
Sealed bottles are so uncommon to start with its hard to find much concentrated info on them. Most of whats out there is in the form of various archeological reports.

This photo is unrelated to your bottle but it shows some interesting evolution in sealed bottle styles. From an old book I am reading on English and Irish Glass.

 

[andy g]

Thanks for the leads and the nice feedback -- it is certainly a rare day to find a pontiled seal bottle other than a bulk wine, whiskey, or olive oil from the 1850s and later.

In terms of ideas -- I would appreciate anyone's input as to the possible name on the seal. One very kind but (unnamed) albeit quite experienced privy digger & glass researcher did supply a list of names from the 1841 census in England:

Herst (392)
Herstale (2)
Herste (1)
Herstead (1)
Heested (1)
Herstein (4)
Hersth (5)
Herstick (1)
Herstine (7)
Herston (34)
Herstter (3)
Herstwood (1)
Hersty (2)

Any one have experience with all those funky "i's" and "j's" and "s's" in those days? Any thoughts?

Thanks much!

 

[bottlecrazy]

Andy,

Hi. It's Andy Norris - I met you at one of the Diggin' in Virginia hunts in 2005 or so. I'm glad to see you're still experiencing unbelievable success in your digs, particularly in New York. I miss digging since being stationed in Hawaii in 2006; but I guess there're worse things than living out here.

I googled Herstick and "mephitic water" and some sort of old English morality play thing came up. Maybe that's what the seal relates to???? Either way, it looks like h-e-r-s-t-i-c-(indiscernible last letter), to me.

Either way, what an unbelievable find.

 

[druggistnut]

I'm leaning towards Herstig, Andy.
Here is something I found on a Google search.

Gazette 15/1997
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat
(732) HERSTIG Patrick. 21, Rue du Pas des Heures, App 523,. F-27100 VAL DE REUIL (FR). ...... preparations for making mineral water; seltzer water; syrups ...
ompi.ch/edocs/madgdocs/en/1997/madrid_g_1997_15.pdf - Similar[/align] [/align] [/align]I went through about 130 pages and couldn't find the reference, but someone might have more patience than me.
Bill

 

[druggistnut]

Here is something else. This is the 1862 Buffalo, NY listing of German and French deaths in that area. http://rootserie.tripod.com/index1-chkg-united-cem.html
Scroll down to Herstig. It is a French name, of Jewish descent.
Even though they might not appear to be Stars of David on the seal, they ARE stars?? Buffalo is close enough, too.
A Google search of Buffalo for Herstig comes up with a lot of hits.
Bill

 

[deepbluedigger]

I've tried blowing up the seal image up to 300%, changing contrast, color, etc, and still can't read it.

The stars are five sided though which suggests they aren't supposed to be stars of David.

 

[andy g]

Sorry for the delayed response -- got a new addition to the digging clan this past Friday.

ORIGINAL: bottlecrazy

I googled Herstick and "mephitic water" and some sort of old English morality play thing came up. Maybe that's what the seal relates to???? Either way, it looks like h-e-r-s-t-i-c-(indiscernible last letter), to me.

Andy -- I remember you well from the DIV. There is some good glass in Hawaii. As to you thoughts, Herstick or something like that certainly seems like a possibility, especially if you take a gander at the new pictures posted.

ORIGINAL: druggistnut

I'm leaning towards Herstig, Andy.
Here is something I found on a Google search.

Gazette 15/1997
(732) HERSTIG Patrick. 21, Rue du Pas des Heures, App 523,. F-27100 VAL DE REUIL (FR). ...... preparations for making mineral water; seltzer water; syrups ...

Bill -- Herstig is also interesting but my searches have not produced much in NYC for the 1840s. I will keep looking with some other variants.

ORIGINAL: deepbluedigger

I've tried blowing up the seal image up to 300%, changing contrast, color, etc, and still can't read it.

The stars are five sided though which suggests they aren't supposed to be stars of David.

Jerry -- Concur that these are not Star of David but am likewise not certain if there is any significance to the star at ll. Also, perhaps your photoshopping efforts can reap rewards on the new and larger images posted here and below.

Thanks again to you all.

 

[andy g]

and another image in a different camera setting ...

thanks.

 

[sandchip]

What an awesome find, and that pontil mark is a killer.