Webb Cobalt Ink Bottle - Help needed

[BeachComber]

Hi everyone!

I recently found this bottle while snorkeling. I tried looking up this bottle on-line but was unable to find any information on it at all. The bottle is about 3.5 - 4 inches tall and is about 1.5 inches wide. It is deep cobalt blue in color. It has a sheared top (burst top) with a very interesting pouring beak built into the lip. The bottle also has 10 paneled sides and is embossed with Webb / Gundry & / Fardons / Bristol / Inks. I would love to find out more about this particular bottle such as age, value, rarity and general history of the company. Please let me know if anyone has information! Thanks!

 

[BeachComber]

Another angle.

 

[blobbottlebob]

Hey Beach.
Super cool bottle. I love it. Looks like it has nice color, early embossing. Overall very collectible I would think. Bristol makes me think its English but other than that, I know nothing except that it's neat. Congrats!

 

[MiamiMaritime]

Nice find. Where you looking for bottles or just snorkeling?

 

[sandchip]

What a beautiful bottle. Is it pontilled?

 

[saratogadriver]

I'd say British, so we'll need a Brit ink collector to tell us more. I've never seen it before, but I only collect American Inks, so that doesn't mean much. Usually with Brit inks, color is king, so I'm betting that's a decent piece.

Jim G

 

[cowseatmaize]

I'd say British,

Yes, for sure, I think a Chemist. Like pharmacist's or druggist's here in the US they would sell a lot of stuff. 1860' or so.
I can't remember, are you in Key West, Bermuda or where?

 

[buzzkutt033]

it's possibly a valuable find. i would contact Alan Blakeman. he's
big in the British bottle trade.

you can Google him for contact information.


jim

 

[cobaltbot]

That's a great looking bottle, had to make your day!

 

[surfaceone]

Hey Comber,

Welcome back & thanks for showing this great bottle. I'd say more photos of finish and base are in order, please.

Eric called it, as far as them being chemists. The earliest reference, I've seen for them is 1858: The Lancet, 1858, in which they are hawking a delightful American Magneto-Electric Machine.