COMPLIMENTS OF THE FLOWER MEDICINE COMPANY. [Caption title]

[Boston, MA: Flower Medicine Co., ca.1884]. 23cm. [20pp.], text printed in double columns. Tan wrappers with printed portrait of R. C. Flower on the front cover, a picture of the company trademark on rear cover. Stamp on front cover for Sheldon & Co. Drugs, Paints, Oils & Varnishes Middlebury, VT., "Please take one home." A printed letter from R.C. Flowers certifying that he had sold his formulas and recipes for his medicines, along with rights to manufacture them, to the Flower Medicine Co. of Boston, dated July 24, 1884. Small corrective slip laid down on one page under "Directions for Using the Liver and Stomach Sanative." Numerous medicines curing almost anything, followed by testimonials. Item #64817

A similar copy is listed in ATWATER S-404.3, but with 24 pp. In Vol. 3 of the Atwater catalogue, pp.251-2, Flower is described as a "clairvoyant diagnostician and hypnotic healer." Many of his therapeutic systems bore "striking similarities to Christian Science and New Thought schools of mental healing... taking his cue in all likelihood from the success of his Back Bay neighbor Mrs. [Mary Baker] Eddy." He was also involved in various Wall Street stock selling schemes, some of which resulted in his need to flee to Mexico, jump bail, and travel in disguise.

Price: $45.00