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Poisons

Poisons are amongst the most collected of all bottles. Due in no small part to the vast array of shapes and colours.Indeed a rare coffin shaped poison recently changed hands at auction for several thosan dollars(please note this was a real coffin shape with embossed nails ect not one of the type on the next page which are much more common,Sorry if I bust your bubble).There are also wasp waisted,skull shaped,wedge shaped,triangular,snail shaped and countless other shapes,sizes,colours and patents out there for you to find.(If your,e lucky).Click the image to the left to view some of my Poison collection.

Here in the UK there are many types of Poison bottle available to the collector,this is due to several combined factors all occuring at around the same time,namely:-The fact that by the middle of the 19th centuary Britain was the richest country on earth and in the midst of a huge industrial revolution that allowed both manufacture and efficient transport of almost any shape or colour bottle in a uniform size.This was an ideal situation for chemists and pharmacists,who could now package thier goods in somthing attractive but at the same time cheap enough to give away.With the introduction of poisonous substances act(see below) the scene was set for a flood of Patents and Registrations for Poison bottles.Indeed the first six months of 1899 saw the Patenting of 10 new poison bottles,one assumes that this trend continued.

The Poisonous substances act 1908 stated that all Poison bottles must be marked as such and be distinguishable by touch.This might well have been brought about by accidental poisonings in the home,bearing in mind that many people could still not read and most houses were very dimly lit making the possibility of making a fatal mistake very real indeed.

Poisonous Substances Poisons and Pharmacy Act,1908 Regulations as added to by order in council,March 22,1911 Sale not confirmed to chemists and druggists,but all persons selling these articles by retail must distinctly label the box,bottle,vessel,wrapper or cover with:- 1. The name of the substance 2. The word "poisonous". 3. The words "Not to be taken"printed on the label. 4. The name and address of the seller. 5. If a liquid,the bottle or container must be "rendered distinguishable by touch from ordinary bottles or containers".

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For some rare poison bottles visit Robs FAMOUS POISON BOTTLES

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