Page 53 - the 32nd UK SummerNational Auction

196. LANGFORD & HOLTS COFFIN POISON BOTTLE. (DP p17, F1). 6.4ins tall. Cobalt blue, detailed figural, right down to the nail heads around the coffin top, thin round lip. To front an upside down raised shield embossed PATENT/ 5658/ POISON - submitted 1871, Near top features a raised circle surrounding a CH monogram (the bottle was designed as a side laying bottle).
There are five complete coffin poisons and one other repaired known. Roy’s is one of only two with the additional monogram. Two were found in Pontefract, one in Manchester (dug by Dave Crossley, ex Mike Till). The bottle featured on the Benign booklet cover was originally purchased by Dr Parry from
when
last sold
in 1997. 9.8/10. Exc/ A1. NR. £8,000- 12,000+
There are five complete coffin poisons and one other repaired known. Roy’s is one of only two with an additional monogram. The figural design is one of a select few truly world class antique bottles. In November 1871 George Ferns Langford, rather surprisingly, a wine merchant not a chemist or glassmaker, registered the design initially. Perhaps the phrase ‘what’s your poison’ was his inspiration? The application was provisional and had no drawings, but he accompanied it with this description:-
“The object of this invention is the production of a peculiar form of bottle for containing poisons in the use of which it will be almost impossible to make a mistake by substituting it for another bottle in the administering of medicine, a practice which has so often led to fatal results, and consists in forming such bottles in the shape of a coffin, which may be externally ornamented with death’s head or other suitable device, the external appearance of which together with the shape of the whole bottle would indicate the dangerous nature of the contents whilst the handling of such a bottle in the dark would equally tend to carefulness in administering its contents, and thus prove a safeguard against accidents.”
The provisional application appears not to have been fully registered, but the idea was taken up by a Mr Holt, an article in the The 1888 Pharmaceutical Journal, under New Inventions described: ‘A bottle patented by Mr Holt of 63, Faulkner Street, Manchester, is shaped like a coffin, this form being relied upon to draw attention to the death lurking in its contents. The contrivance is well calculated to accomplish what is desired & will doubtless come into general use.’
Pigots 1873 directory listed no one by that name at number 63. There are two variants of the bottle known (Deadly Pleasures pp17-18, nos F1 & F2, pictured cover and p81). Both moulded exactly coffin shaped, complete with lid edge and nails (serving as a warning texture) running round the lids top edge. Both versions
of the bottle have pseudo brass plate moulded wider end of the lid reading - PATENT / 5658 / POISON, referring to the initial registering in November 1871 by Langford. The rarer variant, this lot, has the additional embossing of a monogram CH in a circle at the narrower end.
Since one letter is H then Mr Holt’s initial C suggests Charles as likely; but no Charles comes up. There was a Manchester chemist and druggist, Edmund Holt, Secretary of the United Society of Chemist and Druggists listed in 1876 at 273 Deansgate with a works at Great Bridgewater Street. He was also listed as an engineer, toolmaker, metal and machine broker, Bridgewater Iron Works,
58 Great Bridgewater Street, 2 Cornbrook Terrace Chester Road Hulme.
Given a metal mould was necessary, this suggests he knew just how to go about it.
Guy Burch records in Benign Blue Coffin:
an Ashton under Lyme antique shop ror £6, now John Ault collection. This particular poison has gained something of a cult status worldwide. This is obviously something of a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire what is surely the ultimate of all poiosn patents? Ex Roy Sherwin collection, original BBR rear label still affixed