RS244P1 US Proprietary Medicine Co. , Large Die Proof, ex Joyce

Dr. C.W. Roback of Cincinnati, Ohio, introduced a group of proprietary medicines in 1855, designating them as “Scandinavien” in 1857. A year later the designation was changed to “Scandinavian” and applied to Blood Pills and Blood Purifier. By 1866, Scandinavian Stomach Bitters had made an appearance. All were distributed through a wholesale druggist, Demas Barnes. The United States Proprietary Medicine Company, also of Cincinnati, took over the business in 1866, whereupon “Dr.” Roback was listed in the city directory as “Manufacturer of Fine Cut and Smoking Tobacco”. This company issued stamps from May 1867 to June 1874.

Morton Dean Joyce (1900–1989), of New York City, was a philatelist who specialized in the collection of United States revenue stamps and became known by his philatelic friends as the “Dean of United States revenue collectors.”

Models, Essays and Proofs of the Morton Dean Joyce Collection
The collection of Morton Dean Joyce contained a magnificent array of the models and large die proofs, including trial color and plate proofs. It seems that Morton Dean Joyce was able to obtain the majority, if not the complete holding, of the Butler and Carpenter Archives including the Order Book which contained the original models. Nearly all of the models that are listed in the Turner book are present in the Morton Dean Joyce Collection. From that point on Joyce researched the large dies according to company from Butler and Carpenter through the National and American Bank Note Companies to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Whenever there was a chance to show trial color proofs or additional information, Joyce did so and the results (were) his collection…The area of models, essays and proofs of the private die proprietary issues was quite possibly Morton Dean Joyce’s most outstanding accomplishment.
Richard Friedberg, Introduction to the Morton Dean Joyce Private Die Proprietary Collection Auction Catalog, Andrew Levitt, September 12-14, 1991