Civil War Plantation Bitters bottle, dated 1860 with paper label, as recovered from the USS Monitor

This is a rare item being offered, it is a dated Drake’s Plantation Bitters bottle measuring 10 1/2” x 3 ½” x 3 ½” . The amber bottle with the log design has “S T DRAKES / 1860 PLANTATION / X BITTERS” on one side and on the other “Patented 1862”. An exact bottle was recovered inside the USS Monitor (see pictures).

The Drake’s bitters bottles are one of the rarest found and sought out. I have a Drake’s bitters bottle pictured in my books “Battle of Gettysburg – The Relics, Artifacts & Souvenirs” and “The Civil War Soldier – His Personal Items”, it was from the Sherfy Farm in Gettysburg (see pictures). An example was also just recovered in Virginia during a major dig (see pictures). Bitters had a high alcohol content and was a favorite among soldiers.

This bottle is in very nice condition with no chips or cracks. I had a few in the past, but this is the first I’ve seen with the original paper label still intact.  It would make a great addition to any Civil War collection.