Description

So called “Patent” medicines, very few of which ever held, or could qualify for, any actual patent, were very popular in the mid 19th century. Most of the elixirs were fronts for alcohols or narcotics and the pill, when they contained anything consequential were often dangerous. Never the less, the entire population, including the hundreds of thousand of soldiers, succumbed to the promises and erroneous warrants of the purveyors of such drivel. Claiming to cure almost anything, often with a singular product, anything claiming to aid digestion was a hit – as stomach issues seemed to be one of the prominent complaints of the day – especially among the rank and file. (go figure with their well balanced diet and quality of preservation) “Liver” pills, the category which this item fits in, were also a prolific seller.

This example is from a southern entrepreneur, Dr. Rennold’s of Staunton, Virginia. Southern “patents” were certainly known but dwarfed in comparison to the New England/New York producers. This is an exact copy of an original label in our collection c.1863, and placed on a faithful handmade reproduction of the type of cardstock box we found it on. Measure  1-1/2″ x 2″ and 1″ tall.  Sealed with hand cut paper tape. (we are aware that examples of a fully labeled similar oval box of the same size which has a white label that covers the entire box including sides and bottom is known for this product. However no indication of the exact date of this label is available other than identifying as of the establishment date of 1863. The side bears the makers signature and warrants against fraud – a common thing, but most often employed after attempts to produce knock-offs had occurred. The tops have identical text. We suspect the plain label predates, but it is difficult to say – we are confident with our version – but may make the variant in the next run just to offer more diversity, if the product proves popular) The box is best opened with a small sharp knife cut on the center edge. Contains commercially produced mint sugar pills, which closely resemble the hand rolled pill of the day. (CONTAINS NO MEDICINE) Made a few extra – left over from one of our recently commissioned museum display projects.

OUR LABELS ARE PROPRIETARY AND PROTECTED. ANY UNAUTHORIZED USE WILL BE VIGOROUSLY PURSUED.

I am sorry but we have had to now limit purchases to two boxes per order as we are again experiencing purchases of our consumable products in quantity and reports of them being resold, with our labels and packaging, at a premium by unscrupulous blanket type vendors, depriving our individual living history customers of the opportunities to buy our museum quality items at our reasonable prices. We are not a sutler supplier, we are the sutler. We do not work hard at our research and development on your behalf, while keeping costs as low as we reasonbly can, in order to provide our products for the lazy to profit from at your expense.