Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
$250.00 USD

This is a rare antique glass bottle embossed with "C A Richards 99 Washington Street Boston" on one side, produced by the renowned Boston liquor dealer Calvin A. Richards. The bottle features a classic square shape with beveled corners, a smooth base, and an applied sloping collared mouth typical of 19th-century hand-blown glassware. It measures 7 3/8" inches tall, 3 inches wide at the base, and 3.75 inches at its widest point, suggesting it may be a smaller variant (possibly half-pint or 8 oz capacity) compared to the more common 9.5-inch examples. The glass exhibits a beautiful aqua blue (teal-like) hue with natural bubbles, whittling, and iridescence from age, adding to its authentic antique charm. This bottle was likely used for whiskey, rye extract, or bitters products, such as Dr. Abbott’s Bitters or Richard’s Sonoma Wine Bitters, which Richards distributed during his operation. The embossing is crisp and legible, with no additional markings on the base or other sides visible in the images. It's a striking collector's piece for antique bottle enthusiasts, evoking the era of Boston's bustling 19th-century liquor trade.

Origin: Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Manufactured likely at the Stoddard Glasshouse in Stoddard, New Hampshire, or the Lyndeborough Glass Works in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire, for the C.A. Richards & Co. firm, a prominent retailer of wines, liquors, cigars, and bitters located at 99 Washington Street in Boston.

Age: Circa 1865-1880. Production aligns with Calvin A. Richards' business operations from the 1860s to the 1880s, with specific examples dated to 1866-1886.

Material: Hand-blown glass in aqua blue (teal green variant), with characteristic imperfections like bubbles and surface texture from the pontil scar and mold process. No modern reproductions noted for this specific embossing.

Condition: Excellent antique condition. The bottle appears structurally perfect with no visible chips, cracks, dings, or repairs based on the provided images. It retains a natural patina with minor surface wear consistent with age, including light haze in spots and typical base scratches from historical use. Never tumbled or polished, preserving its original character. Interior is clean with no significant residue.

Item dimensions: 7 3/8" tall × 3.75" wide × 1.5" deep  

Weight of item: 13.3 oz

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Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston
  • Aqua Blue C.A. Richards Whiskey/Bitters Bottle - 99 Washington Street, Boston

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