Otis Clapp (1820-1886) established a
homeopathic pharmacy in the Back Bay section of Boston in 1840. In
the early 1870s, his son J. Wilkinson Clapp joined the company, which
became Otis Clapp & Son.
Otis Clapped opened a second pharmacy
in Providence, RI in 1877. It was located at 280 Westminster St.
His son J. Wilkinson took over the company when he died in 1886. The company is still in business today.
One piece of evidence that alludes to their great success is the staggering number of bottles the company put out. I do not collect examples that are only marked Boston, just bottles with no location on them, or "Boston & Providence", or Providence, of course. Here's an assembly of all the Otis Clapp bottles I have so far.
The basic squares:
By far the most common Otis Clapp bottles, I have 8 sizes of these alone (in clear).
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| 2-1/2", with pills |
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| 3-1/4" size |
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| 4" |
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| 2-3/4" |
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| 4-1/2", a tough one to get, or so they say |
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| 5-3/4" |
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| 8" |
The amber examples are harder to find
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| Plain base ver |
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| MBW version, both 2-5/8" |
There are also quite a few variants among the squares
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| 4" Millville variant |
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MBW embossing
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| 3-3/8" ABM version |
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| Glass stopper, 6oz. on shoulder, 5-1/2" |
.JPG) |
| 4-3/4" w. glass stopper |
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| Same size in amber |
Next up are the rectangular versions!
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| 7-1/8" |
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| 8-3/4", scarce |
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| Glass screw top |
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| In amber too |
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The earliest Clapp bottles from Providence. Marked Homeopathic Pharmacy
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| 2-3/4", 3-3/8", and 3-3/4" |
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| 3-1/4" wide mouth version |
The Cod Liver Oil bottles
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| Amber slugplated ver |
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| Lt. amber slugplated |
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| No slugplate |
Otis Clapp & Son Inc. bottles
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| 6-1/8" |
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| 8" |
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| ABM version |
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| ABM screw cap |
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| Fancy script square, 3-3/8" |
Later screw cap versions:
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| Side embossed |
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| 4-3/4" and 3-1/2" sizes, smaller size also embossed "Inc." |
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| 2-7/8" 1oz. size, I also have a 1/2oz. size |
The best of the rest. All the other Otis Clapp bottles, including some of my favorites.
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| Decanter style |
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| Boston & Providence, BIM |
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| ABM version |
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| Fancy pyramid shape with monogram |
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| Scarce 3-1/2" glass screw cap |
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| Rare cobalt jar |
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| Fancy lions and shield front 5-1/2" |
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| Amber version |
A new 2021 addition is this very rare glass lid! It was sold separately to cover an unknown jar. The frosted area was for the pharmacist to write on.
My first new Clapp bottle of 2022 was a phenomenal one! This triangular version is possibly my favorite style out there.
And lastly but certainly not least a rare dose cup, which happens to be my newest addition!
Hi, I am conducting an estate sale and have an Otis Clapp and Sons bottle that I am researching. I cam across your site and thought you might have an interest. It is amber with the original label which goes all the way around, in very good condition. I believe it to be from the 1800's. I can't find another one like it. My email is sannbrey@hotmail.com if you are interested enough to want a photo.
ReplyDeleteCool post! I found an Otis & Clapp screw top bottle like the one you have here at goodwill over the weekend. I bought it for $3.99 but someone apparently had been trying to sell it for $65. Is that pretty standard? I just bought it because I thought it was neat, not knowing any of the history.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny,
DeleteThere are a few different screw cap Otis Clapp bottles, the small clear ones with the embossing on the sides usually go for around $5. The larger ones with the glass screw cap go for $15-25. Either way you did ok, what matters most is if you like it!