Cirencester, UK — A rare and extensive private collection of antique apothecary items, described as the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom, is set to be auctioned later this month by The Cotswold Auction Company.
Among the highlights of the collection is a fully preserved 19th-century pharmacist’s shop, dating to approximately 1880. The ensemble features a large mahogany display cabinet bearing a distinctive glass advertising label: “Proprietor of Hackett’s Glycerine of Roses Vegetable Pills Blood Purifier &c.” Also included are original apothecary drawers, jars, and two large mortar and pestles.
Spanning the early Georgian to late Victorian periods, the auction catalogue features a diverse range of pharmaceutical artifacts. Noteworthy items include a rare glass hanging flagon from around 1890, several vintage pharmacy signs, and an almost complete set of Chemist and Druggist reference books covering the years 1853 to 2015 — one of only two such sets known to exist worldwide.
The collection was meticulously assembled over several decades by Professor Darrin Baines, a health economics academic. Motivated by his scholarly work on the history of pharmacy, Baines filled his early Victorian townhouse in Leominster, Herefordshire with period pharmaceutical objects, creating what he described as an immersive research environment.
“Writing about the history of pharmacy, I began to collect pharmaceutical objects — from early Georgian pharmacy bottles through to things from the Victorian age — because it gave me an understanding of how the profession evolved,” Baines explained. “Every object tells a story, and each is a witness to the past.”
The decision to part with the collection comes as Professor Baines prepares to relocate following the sale of his home.
Auctioneer Lindsey Braune expressed admiration for the collection, calling it “a great privilege” to oversee its sale. “This was clearly a labour of love, and we hope these fascinating objects find an equally loving new home,” she said.
Due to the scale of the offering, a large section of the auction house’s Cirencester saleroom has been dedicated to the display. Public viewing will be available in the days leading up to the sale.
The auction will take place over two days, on Tuesday, June 24, and Wednesday, June 25, with the apothecary collection serving as the centrepiece.
The Cotswold Auction Company is known for handling everything from individual antiques to entire house contents. The firm provides full-service support including at-home valuations, item transport, marketing, photography, and post-sale processing.
