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Mission of Mercey

By gethefax, 6 April, 2008
Description

Mission Fathers, Friars, and Clerics used this jug to hide their Whiskey while on Missions from 1830 to 1849. Kept near other religious supplies to give the appearance of Mercey-Holy Water. *Note the attempt to at least flirt with truth by misspelling the word "Mercy" The Word apparently then in coinage for "Holy" The Indians called this kind of water, Firewater. Discovered on a beach near Old Town-Point in the San Diego Area. CIRCA 1830-1849 ( i have more pictures if you would like to see them, only 3 pics can be uploaded so i tried to pick the best ones. The pic that shows the bottom of the bottle has a diamond shape engraved into it and there are some letters in that diamond that appear to say IPGCo or PGCo (PG Co.?) The I is small then the P is bigger the G (or a 6) is the biggest, then the C is smaller and the O is the smallest. if turned sideways it actually looks like the EMT Medic Symbol with the snake wrapped around a pole, it resembles that somewhat. under the diamond shape are the numbers 142 and then a 5 which is spaced apart from the other numbers. if you look closely, you'll notice that the circle on the bottom of the bottle is off center. its not completely in the middle like it should be. there is also a seam going down each side of the bottle,that begins at the neck of the bottle, and continues down the shoulders all the way to the very bottom of the bottom. it is a very fine seam, if you run your fingers over it you can feel that it is barely raised above the glass, as if the bottle were made in 2 pieces first, then molded together, like the way a ship in a bottle might be made, (i assume thats how they got the ship in there) I don't think there are very many of these bottles around, i've searched around trying to find someone who may know something about them, there is a lable that was made by the person who found this bottle, describing what it was used for,
and thats all i know about it. here is a link to a pic that shows the bottle and this label as well as all the other pics i have. (some of the pics make the bottle look lopsided, or bigger on top than on the bottom, but thats just the angle of the camera, the bottle is the same size from top to bottom, its approx. 12in tall 5in wide the circumferance all the way around is 15in. Thanks for taking the time to look at my bottle, here is the link: 
http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i127/kixxumass/mercy%20water/?albumview=grid

Category
Glass
Medium
Glass
Distinguishing marks
the bottom of the bottle has a diamond shape engraved into it and there are some letters in that diamond that appear to say IPGCo or PGCo (PG Co.?) The I is small then the P is bigger the G (or a 6) is the biggest, then the C is smaller and the O is the smallest. if turned sideways it actually looks like the EMT Medic Symbol with the snake wrapped around a pole, it resembles that somewhat. under the diamond shape are the numbers 142 and then a 5 which is spaced apart from the other numbers. if you look closely, you'll notice that the circle on the bottom of the bottle is off center. its not completely in the middle like it should be. there is also a seam going down each side of the bottle,that begins at the neck of the bottle, and continues down the shoulders all the way to the very bottom of the bottom. it is a very fine seam, if you run your fingers over it you can feel that it is barely raised above the glass, as if the bottle were made in 2 pieces first, then molded together, like the way a ship in a bottle might be made
Size and dimensions of this item
the bottle is the same size from top to bottom, its approx. 12in tall 5in wide the circumferance all the way around is 15in
Date Period
1830-1849
Weight
8llbs
History
Mission Fathers, Friars, and Clerics used this jug to hide their Whiskey while on Missions from 1830 to 1849. Kept near other religious supplies to give the appearance of Mercey-Holy Water.
eBay Auction Link
For Sale?
No
Photos

Dan T

17 years 2 months ago

Mercey Water Amber Bottle

I believe your bottle was likely made and used to sell mineral spring water from Mercey Hot Springs in Firebaugh CA, a popular health resort since the 1930's.

http://www.merceyhotsprings.com/news10-27-04.htm

The bottle is cosistent with bottles made during the 1930's or later. With the mold lines and marks on the bottom it would have been mold blown and machine made.

 

As to value, I'm not a bottle collector, so this is an estimate: $15 - $20

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