deepbluedigger
Well-Known Member
I did a big swap deal last Sunday which netted me this bottle. It's clear flint / lead glass, a very impressive large size (almost 8" tall) and even without any colour is probably the most sought after of all British pontiled cures. Possibly only beaten by the (1 only known) green example, and the (also 1 only known) quart size dark olive Dr Websters Anglican Duplex.
"By His Majesty's // Dr / Sibly's / Solar / Tincture // Royal Letters Patent // [sun above heraldic shield bearing the motto 'Triumpho Morte Tam Vita']"
This bottle dates between 1796 and about 1840. Most likely is pre 1830.
This basic design, with lots of writing and a (usually fake / spurious) shield or coat of arms was common on many English cures up to about 1830 - 40, including Dr Websters, Ruspinis, Dr Brodums, Sigmonds, etc, etc.
Ebenezer Sibly (1751 - 1799) was famous in his own time (and now - try googling him) as a high profile freemason and political activitist, author, occultist and astrologer, as well as a scientist and a bit of a charlatan, all at the same time.
When Sibly was alive he was less well known for his medicine than for these other activities. His medicine was still advertised 60 years after his death, but the bottles are incredibly rare. Probably only 8 - 10 examples known, all different. The motto translates as 'I triumph in death as in life'. Or maybe, depending on where you start reading it, as 'And so life triumphs over death'. Anyone on here a latin scholar? Personally I think the first one is right, but the second one sounds better for a cure.
Although Sibly himself did not make very many outrageous claims for the medicine, after he was gone his successors (R. Saffell inherited the rights to the medicine) made many extreme claims for it, including that it 'restores life in the event of sudden death'.
This one has an all-over patina that I'm not going to get cleaned off.
Without doubt the high spot in my collection, and unlikely to be bettered by me.
"By His Majesty's // Dr / Sibly's / Solar / Tincture // Royal Letters Patent // [sun above heraldic shield bearing the motto 'Triumpho Morte Tam Vita']"
This bottle dates between 1796 and about 1840. Most likely is pre 1830.
This basic design, with lots of writing and a (usually fake / spurious) shield or coat of arms was common on many English cures up to about 1830 - 40, including Dr Websters, Ruspinis, Dr Brodums, Sigmonds, etc, etc.
Ebenezer Sibly (1751 - 1799) was famous in his own time (and now - try googling him) as a high profile freemason and political activitist, author, occultist and astrologer, as well as a scientist and a bit of a charlatan, all at the same time.
When Sibly was alive he was less well known for his medicine than for these other activities. His medicine was still advertised 60 years after his death, but the bottles are incredibly rare. Probably only 8 - 10 examples known, all different. The motto translates as 'I triumph in death as in life'. Or maybe, depending on where you start reading it, as 'And so life triumphs over death'. Anyone on here a latin scholar? Personally I think the first one is right, but the second one sounds better for a cure.
Although Sibly himself did not make very many outrageous claims for the medicine, after he was gone his successors (R. Saffell inherited the rights to the medicine) made many extreme claims for it, including that it 'restores life in the event of sudden death'.
This one has an all-over patina that I'm not going to get cleaned off.
Without doubt the high spot in my collection, and unlikely to be bettered by me.
