Lilly's Authentic Powders: DRUGS Pharmaceutical Specimen Case
Scientific Object / Medical Americana (Commercial Specimen Collection) • Manufactured by Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, Indiana
Style & Movement
Industrial Age / Scientific Realism (Medical Ephemera)
Medium & Technique
Mixed media including glass vials with metal screw-top lids, printed paper labels, authentic medicinal powder samples, within a hinged wood and cardboard display case lined with cobalt blue paper.
Creation Period
Early 20th Century (circa 1910–1930)
Dimensions & Format
Closed case approximately 14 x 10 x 3 inches; Rectangular portable specimen chest.
Subject Description
A comprehensive collection of medicinal powders used by pharmacists and physicians for identification and training. The case contains several dozen individual glass vials, each labeled with the name of a specific botanical or chemical drug. It includes a printed 'index' sheet pasted inside the lid documenting the contents.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good (considering age); the wooden case shows minor exterior abrasions, but the interior lining retains its vibrant blue color and the vials appear largely intact.
Estimated Market Value
$500 - $1,200 USD
Auction Estimate
$400 - $800 USD
Provenance History
Likely originally utilized as a sales sample kit for an Eli Lilly representative or a diagnostic reference set for a school of pharmacy or hospital; private collection.
Art Historical Significance
A significant artifact of the American pharmaceutical industry, representing Eli Lilly's early efforts to standardize drug purity and identification. These kits were essential tools when pharmacists still compounded most medications from raw materials.
Notable Features
Includes the complete 'Lilly's Authentic Powders' index label; features the distinctive cobalt blue velvet/paper lining common to Eli Lilly’s early 20th-century sales kits.
Condition Issues
Visible yellowing of paper labels and index sheet due to oxidation; possible minor leakage or settling of powders; light scuffing on the mahogany-finish exterior of the case.
Conservation Recommendations
Keep in a temperature-controlled environment away from direct UV light to prevent further discoloration of paper. Due to the presence of active chemicals/powders, the case should be kept sealed and out of reach of children or pets.