Early NY Apothecary History Illustrated In Manuscript Documents From Drug Store for Sale

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Early NY Apothecary History Illustrated In Manuscript Documents From Drug Store For Sale

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Early NY Apothecary History Illustrated In Manuscript Documents From Drug Store:
$795.00

Offering early New York apothecary receipts from the historic firm of H.H. SCHIEFFELIN and CO. And LAWRENCE & SCHIEFFELIN, dated November 13, 1799, and November 18th, 1809 with the items being sold to Dr. CALEB HYDE of Lenox, Berkshire, MA. One document is 2 pp, 9 ½ x 15 ¼, and the other 4 pp, 10 x 16. Both front and back. The four-page document lists 112 items. Back page includes an integral address leaf with a faded New York red postmark and 25 cents manuscript postage, along with docketing. The two-page document lists 95 items purchased by Hyde.

Items include Bateman’s drops, arsenic, borax, cream of tartar, Sulphur, gum Arabic, borax, Turlington’s Balsam, lavender oil, pungent smelling bottles, green oil cloth, alum and much more. Beautiful cartouche trade name and design at the top elevating the business as “Inspected Store Of Drugs & Medicine.”

Dr. Caleb Hyde was born at Lebanon, CT, on August 6th, 1765. He was the second son of Gen. Caleb Hyde and Elizabeth Sackett of Lenox. He married Rhoda Steele and settled in Lenox, MA, where he was a state senator. A few years prior to his death, he moved to Stockbridge, MA, to take charge of a bank. He died on March 7th, 1838, and is buried at Stockbridge Cemetery in Stockbridge, Berkshire, MA.

When brothers-in-law JONATHAN SCHIEFFELIN and JOHN LAWRENCE entered the drug business, the trade was primarily conducted by wholesale houses in New York and Philadelphia. Before the Revolutionary War, drugs and botanicals had been mostly supplied by the English. By the time of the Revolution, about half of the drug manufacturing in England was controlled by the Quakers. Quaker pharmacists in America had ready access to the latest and most up to date information. At the end of the 18th century, druggists provided a wide array of medicines, botanical products, cooking spices, surgical supplies and many items found in hardware stores. The druggists sold to general stores, physicians, farmers, plantation owners, ships and apothecary shops.

While Lawrence and Schieffelin’s firm had a London agent to source materials for their firm, they did not operate any retail branches besides their Manhattan store and depended on intensive advertising to promote their business. A September 1795 advertisement announced the replenishment of stock brought by the Ohio from London and the Union from Amsterdam. The advertisement added that the firm would prepare physician and family prescriptions, in addition to stocking medicine chests, shop furniture, vials, surgeon’s instruments and other items.

Toning, some staining and soiling to both documents. Bleed through obvious in one document. Fold tears have been repaired with archival tape and are more frequent in the 1809 invoice. Some chipping to the bottom edges. Still very readable and a fine and disappearing example of early New York apothecary history.

Everything we sell is guaranteed authentic forever to the original buyer. We also offer a 30-day return policy. If you discover a problem or are dissatisfied with an item, please contact us immediately. Our goal is to please every customer. We are pleased to be members of The Manuscript Society, Universal Autograph Collectors Club, The Ephemera Society, the Southern New England Antiquarian Booksellers and the Preferred Autograph Dealers and sale Houses. [AM 352]