C. 1880s Spice Box with Hand-lettered--and Spice Filled!--Tin Canisters carved pine were made by Millville Bottle

were made by Millville Bottle Works in Millville New Jersey

Not a bad reference to keep near at hand

I believe he is quite an old one

though certainly detracting for most people

C. 1880s Spice Box with Hand-lettered--and Spice Filled!--Tin Canisters carved pine were made by Millville BottleI purchased this in Pennsylvania, from a dealer specializing in 19th century stoneware bottles and crocks but from whom I've purchased a few other sorts of treasures. What really sold me was the beautiful hand painted gold lettering on the spice boxes in that best font. Only later did I discover that those boxes were still full of spices, a happy surprise! The cloves box is clearly filled with cloves indeed, but I'm not entirely sure what mix of dried