artiFACT Collectible

Phillips' Milk of Magnesia Cobalt Blue Embossed Medicine Bottle

1890s–1930s · Charles H. Phillips Chemical Co., Glenbrook, Connecticut, USA

Estimated value: $8-18

Phillips' Milk of Magnesia was one of America's most trusted over-the-counter remedies from the 1890s through the mid-20th century, marketed aggressively as a gentle antacid and laxative for the whole family. The cobalt blue glass bottles became iconic during this era because the dark color protected the product from light degradation and signaled quality and trustworthiness to consumers—a marketing strategy that made these bottles household staples and eventually collectible artifacts of American patent medicine culture.

Value is most affected by age (older pre-1930s examples fetch more), condition (no chips or cracks), depth and clarity of the embossing, and the intensity of the cobalt blue color — rarer variants or larger sizes can command higher prices.

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