Fleming Brothers


Doctor C. McLane died in 1855, but his proprietary medicines lived on as products of Fleming Brothers of Pittsburgh. They included Dr. C. McLean's Celebrated Liver Pills, Dr. C. McLean's Celebrated American Worm Specific or Vermifuge and Crudiform, for rheumatism of man or beast. The Flemings also marketed Fleming's Ivory Polish (for the teeth), Fleming's Mikado Cologne and Kidd's Cough Syrup.

The small black one-cent stamp promoting the vermifuge was first issued in May of 1863 and last issued prior to October 1, 1880. 2488,362 were issued on old paper and 1,596,573 were issued on silk and watermarked papers. The number issued on watermarked paper is believed to be well under 500,000. The copy above is on old paper.

The large blue one-cent stamp was originally issued in black as well. One printing on old paper of 193,500 stamps was issued in 1863, then the color was changed to blue. It was issued that way from April 21, 1863 to May 26, 1883. 5,249,78 were printed on old paper, 3,136,888 on silk paper and 3,566,100 on watermarked paper. The copy shown is on watermarked paper.


A wrapper for American Worm Specific. There is no way to be sure when this was used, but there is a very small date of 1855 on it, so it is probably early.


A trade card for Dr. C. McLane's Celebrated Liver Pills handed out by a druggist in Aledo, Illinois.


As can be seen from this trade card, Fleming was concerned about brand recognition. "It is never made in ST. LOUIS or WHEELING." Dr. J.H. McLean of Saint Louis would have been one of their prime competitors.


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