Quotidien

7451 — Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 1871–1872. Three circulars 11.2†x 7.8†2 pp.; 11†x 8.4†blue paper 2 pp.; 15.5†x 11.5†4 pp. with an illustrated envelope 3.75†x 8.2â€. CONDITION: Extra very good old folds light wear a few tiny stains. Circular on blue paper very good old folds chipping to margins. Four page circular very good old folds minor wear. Envelope good loss to the area where the stamp was formerly pasted. <p>A group of three circulars and original envelope issued by a patent medicine company that manufactured a pain killer advertised as a “no quack nostrum†these examples sent to a minister in Maine.</p> <p>Based in Pittsburgh Robert Monroe Kennedy invented and patented as early as 1869 the product advertised here as “Dr. Radcliffe’s Great Remedy The Great Vegetable Pain Destroyer Seven Seals or Golden Wonder.†Used as a painkiller the concoction consisted of ether chloroform camphor peppermint oil and red pepper. As advertised in these circulars every bottle was warranted. “No cure no pay.†Another nostrum Kennedy produced was the Carboline Hair Grower which he trademarked in 1877. Kennedy was active into the 20th century and appears to have advertised Carboline as late as 1923.</p> <p>The circular entitled Extra: Seven seals: a visit to the great medicine house of the West—the manufactory the firm and the remedy… an Extra of the Pittsburgh Daily Gazette of June 8th 1872 and the envelope feature an engraving depicting Kennedy & Co.’s office and laboratory in Pittsburgh. The Extra covers such matters as the reliability of the firm the manufactory and extent of the business and so forth. Every man his own physician!: Dr. Radcliffe’s great remedy… includes dozens of testimonials. The remedy is described as “a source of happiness to millions of suffering humanity.†Directions for taking it for a range of afflictions such as toothaches frostbite rheumatism etc. are provided in English German and French. Over a dozen sales agents are quoted testifying to the remedy’s efficacy. The undated circular Dr. Radcliffe’s great remedy Seven Seals of Golden Wonder includes a price-list solicits agents provides instructions for selling the remedy and touts the various benefits offered by the company.</p> <p>The envelope present here indicates that these circulars were sent to Rev. J. N. Walker Esq. of Minot Androscoggin County Maine who appears to have also lived in Somesville Mount Desert Maine for a period of time. The envelope instructs the Postmaster that if undelivered the contents should be given “to some live active man who will take hold of a good paying business requiring small capital.â€</p> <p>REFERENCES: “Carboline†at Hair Raising Stories online; “Kennedy & Company†at rdhinstl online.</p> Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1871–1872 unknown