| Author |
 Replies: 33 / Views: 4,461 |
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
4106 Posts |
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
1721 Posts |
|
|
New Member
United States
3 Posts |
|
|
I wonder if you are familiar with 2 handbooks that were written by a Mr. George Griffenhagen on medicinal tax stamps. It is Mr. Griffenhagen that interested me in this topic and we remain in close contact to this day. |
Send note to Staff 
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
111 Posts |
|
|
I've been away for too long here, I have more M&M to scan and show when time is available. And Rev I'd love to see some of your goodies!  |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Bedrock Of The Community
United States
12128 Posts |
|
|
Bedrock Of The Community
United States
12128 Posts |
|
|
While not in the greatest shape, this looks to be an inexpensive collection for someone looking to get started in Match & Medicine stamps: http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Medicine..._2213wt_1139I was particularly intrigued by the second stamp depicting "Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup" and when I looked it up on Wiki I came up with this description of the product: Quote:
Mrs Winslow's soothing syrup was a medicinal product formula compounded by Mrs. Charlotte N. Winslow and first marketed by her son-in-law Jeremiah Curtis and Benjamin A. Perkins in Bangor, Maine, USA in 1849.
The formula consisted of morphine sulphate (65 mg per fluid ounce), sodium carbonate, spirits foeniculi, and aqua ammonia. It was claimed that it was "likely to sooth any human or animal", and it effectively quieted restless infants and small children. It was widely marketed in the UK and the USA - as well as newspapers, the company used various media to promote their product, including recipe books, calendars, and trade cards.
In 1911, the American Medical Association put out a publication called "Nostrums And Quackery" where, in a section called "Baby Killers", it incriminated Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup. It was not withdrawn from sale in the UK until 1930. |
|
Send note to Staff
|
| Edited by wt1 - 10/19/2011 3:39 pm |
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
1721 Posts |
|
|
Quote:
While not in the greatest shape, this looks to be an inexpensive collection for someone looking to get started in Match & Medicine stamps I took a quick look at these. Not a whole lot of value in that lot. Condition wise most M&M's have some sort of damage. Always try to look for stamps that display well without missing parts, perf.'s, etc. Minor defects are acceptable and expected! Fault free copies can command substantial premiums! 1898 issues are the exception. Quote:
And Rev I'd love to see some of your goodies! Leave my "goodies" out of this! Remember it's a family forum  Seriously though, I'll scan some this weekend. |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Bedrock Of The Community
United States
12128 Posts |
|
|
In my earlier post, the Wiki description of "Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup" was said to have been incriminated by the AMA's publication "Nostrums and Quackery" in 1911. For anyone interested in that publication -- which makes for a great reference to anyone collecting these old-time medicine stamps -- it's free for the taking on Google Books at this link: http://books.google.com/books?id=dj...ge&q&f=false |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
2948 Posts |
|
|
I'm curious ... when someone came up with a "new" product that required a tax stamp (White Pine Compound, for instance), who paid for and how was the work commissioned to create said tax stamps? Some of these are really amazing and creative ... a process that could not have been easy for engraved stamps!
Brian |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
1721 Posts |
|
|
Over simplified:
You meaning the "Medicine Mfg." commissioned the artwork. Then You paid to have a proof made and sent it to the IRS for approval. After approval It could be printed and used. Remember these were voluntary! You could still use regular IRS stamps if you chose. Many saw this as a way to add additional advertising by attracting buyers with the pretty stamps. It was also a way to guarantee your product. If someone copied your stamp it was forgery and copyright infringement as many were copyrighted or patented.
Edit: spelling |
|
Send note to Staff
|
| Edited by revstampman - 10/19/2011 4:22 pm |
|
|
New Member
United States
3 Posts |
|
|
I took a look at that collection that wt1 refered to and I agree--it is lousy. I have seen numerous collections on ebay that are of much better quality.Some of the prices for the individual items that are really in mint condition are astounding to me. I dream of buying a collection of really good stamps for several thousand dollars and breaking it up. From what I hear in this forum I should be very careful and even then I guess I could lose my shirt. But hey, I'd have a great starter collection wouldn't I? |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
Canada
6525 Posts |
|
|
Just had a look at them too. Some pretty rough stuff there. Plus $15 to send them to Canada? Sorry, don't need them that badly. |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
7097 Posts |
|
|
Thank you for the reference material wt1. I love that type of stuff. I really love revenue stamps! I started to get interested after I joined here and took notice of RevStampMan and Revenuecollector's posts and they helped me ID the ones I had. |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
254 Posts |
|
|
Beautiful engravings, frightening "medicines". If you survive the soothing syrup...take a shot at the Mandrake Pills. |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Bedrock Of The Community
United States
12128 Posts |
|
|
Did anyone notice that the poor quality Medicine & Match stamps offered on that ebay link above went from $1.05 (when I posted it) to $18.05 at the close of the auction. Incredible! |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Replies: 33 / Views: 4,461 |
|
Posted 10/18/2011 7:33 pm
