Customer Reviews

Antique Western Bitters Bottles (Best of the West)

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The Best of the West, Antique Western Bitters Bottles - The art of collecting Antique Western Bitters Bottles by Jeff Wichmann. Pacific Glass Auctions. 1999. 132 pp. $29.95 trade paper; 8-1/2" x 11". color photographs; color illustrations; bibliography; index.

In the late 1800s-early 1900s, bitters were popular remedies for various kinds of minor ailments; these days, many persons collect bottles for these bitters for their decorativeness or value as antiques. The appeal of the hobby of collecting the bitters bottles is evident from the many color photographs of bottles showing their varied curved or squared shapes and golden, green, and brown tints. Wichmann is an expert in this area of antiques whose Introduction and other background material presents interesting historical and social information and hones in on details of bottles. One section, for instance, discusses the number of different kinds of tops and necks of bitters bottles, with a related page of close-up photographs showing 15 different types of these. Besides the interesting and knowledgeable general material on this popular avocation, Wichmann also provides historical background and identification markings for about 100 different makes of bitters bottles--e. g., Boggs Cottman German Tonic; Lash's Kidney and Liver Bitters; Dr. Hostetter's Stomach Bitters. The colorful names alone are enough to attract one to this hobby. As with the high-quality colorful photographs of the bottles, color photographs of labels and ads for many of the bottles for specific makes of bitters vividly capture their details and color. An excellent introduction for the beginner, and catalog and price guide for the advanced collector.

Henry Berry Book Reviewer Editor/Publisher, The Small Press Book Review