Emerson Drug Company Bromo-Seltzer Bottle Value Guide

The Bromo-Seltzer bottle is a staple of American apothecary history, famously produced by Isaac E. Emerson's company in Baltimore starting in 1888. These bottles are highly collectible due to their striking cobalt blue glass, which was originally chosen to protect the effervescent medicine from light degradation.

What Is Emerson Drug Company Bromo-Seltzer Bottle Worth?

The typical price range for Emerson Drug Company Bromo-Seltzer Bottle is $15 - $25 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Condition of the glass, specifically the absence of chips, cracks, or 'sickness' (cloudiness from burial).
• The presence of the original paper label, which significantly increases value over plain embossed glass.
• Bottle size variations, ranging from small individual sample sizes to large family-sized apothecary jars.
• Clarity and depth of the cobalt blue pigment, as more vibrant hues are preferred by glass collectors.

How to Identify Emerson Drug Company Bromo-Seltzer Bottle?

• Look for the distinct deep cobalt blue glass color characteristic of the Emerson Drug Company production.
• Check for embossed lettering on the side of the bottle typically reading 'Bromo-Seltzer' and 'Emerson Drug Co.'
• Examine the base for specific Baltimore, Maryland glass house markings or early machine-made mold seams.
• Verify the presence of a cork-top finish or a threaded lip depending on the specific production year between 1890 and 1920.

History of Emerson Drug Company Bromo-Seltzer Bottle

Bromo-Seltzer was invented in 1888 by Isaac E. Emerson in Baltimore, Maryland. Known for its distinct cobalt blue color, these bottles were designed to protect the medicine from light. The Emerson Drug Company became famous for the Bromo-Seltzer Arts Tower in Baltimore, which once featured a giant rotating blue bottle at its peak.