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Quack Medicine Invalids’ Hotel Buffalo, NY V.M. Pierce Letters and Ephemera 1919
Quack Medicine Invalids’ Hotel Buffalo, NY V.M. Pierce Letters and Ephemera 1919
Quack Medicine Invalids’ Hotel Buffalo, NY V.M. Pierce Letters and Ephemera 1919
Quack Medicine Invalids’ Hotel Buffalo, NY V.M. Pierce Letters and Ephemera 1919
Quack Medicine Invalids’ Hotel Buffalo, NY V.M. Pierce Letters and Ephemera 1919
Quack Medicine Invalids’ Hotel Buffalo, NY V.M. Pierce Letters and Ephemera 1919
Quack Medicine Invalids’ Hotel Buffalo, NY V.M. Pierce Letters and Ephemera 1919
Quack Medicine Invalids’ Hotel Buffalo, NY V.M. Pierce Letters and Ephemera 1919
Quack Medicine Invalids’ Hotel Buffalo, NY V.M. Pierce Letters and Ephemera 1919
Quack Medicine Invalids’ Hotel Buffalo, NY V.M. Pierce Letters and Ephemera 1919
Quack Medicine Invalids’ Hotel Buffalo, NY V.M. Pierce Letters and Ephemera 1919
Quack Medicine Invalids’ Hotel Buffalo, NY V.M. Pierce Letters and Ephemera 1919

Quack Medicine Invalids’ Hotel Buffalo, NY V.M. Pierce Letters and Ephemera 1919

$ 10.53

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Condition: Items in very good condition. Several items have light toning and previous folds.
  • Item must be returned within: 14 Days
  • Refund will be given as: Money Back
  • Restocking Fee: No
  • Time Period Manufactured: Pre-1930
  • Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
  • All returns accepted: Returns Accepted

    Description

    Set of six letters with assortment of ephemera all from the Invalids’ Hotel and the World’s Dispensary Medical Association of Buffalo, New York. 1919-1922. The history of the Invalid Hotel and World’s Dispensary Medical Association is a legendary story within the 19th and 20th century world of patent medicines and this set of documents gives us a glimpse into that world.  The Invalids and Tourist Hotel was founded in1867 by Ray Vaughn Pierce. Pierce’s son, Valentine Mott Pierce (who signed our documents with a rubber stamp) continued the business to be succeeded by his son Ray Vaughn Pierce and continued in business until World War Two. According to buffaloah.com,
    “Dr. Pierce was a champion of free enterprise. As president of a proprietary association of mail-order medicine sellers, Pierce made sure that government would keep its hands off the regulatory tools. On behalf of his colleagues, Pierce vehemently responded to the doctors who questioned the effectiveness of the nostrums, cure-alls and tonics advertised in newspapers and sold through the mail.
    Pierce's medicines were notorious elixirs, many containing opium until the mid-1890s. Pierce promoted his concoctions through his book, "The people's Common Sense Medical Advisor." A quasi-predecessor to the Physicians' Desk Reference, Pierce's book was in its 11th edition and had sold more than 2 million copies by 1907.”
    This set is a great example of how the World’s Dispensary Medical Association worked. Our patient, a Miss Ellen Jones of Lucas, KY would send a monthly fee to Buffalo in exchange for a ‘personalized’ typed note from Dr. Pierce prescribing care and medicines. Included with the advice would be various ephemeral items selling books and products from the Pierce operation. Each letter also contained very specific instructions on how to safely send money thru the mail, proving the true purpose of this quackery operation. See photos for examples contained in this small archive. This set includes 30 items including several duplicates.