ANTIQUE CIVIL WAR ERA J & I.E.M. IGLOO AKA MONITOR INK BOTTLE
You are a 19th century J & I.E.M. igloo aka Monitor ink bottle. It stands 1-3/4″ tall by 2-1/8″ diameter. It is aqua in color with some light haze issues. This great little early ink bottle has some very interesting history.
John Moores first style of ink bottle was the Igloo, with three different designs. The first was unembossed with a label, the second and rarest example is embossed “J.M.& Son,” with the most prolific being embossed “J. & I.E.M.” It was Johns son Isaac Elijah Moore, born April 7, 1839, who would join his father as a Junior Partner in 1860 and add the other initials.
Moore’s most recognizable ink bottle is today called the “Turtle” style by most ink collectors and yet it was not called that by John Moore. Listed in his price catalog was the term used by Moore to describe this bottle. He called them “Monitors” after the famous Civil War Naval Ship. The patent model for this famous design is another treasure in Ron’s collection, along with the actual Patent Papers, dated Oct. 31, 1865, #2,211. This date was also embossed on the first Monitor ink bottles produced. A final ink bottle design, that never reached production, was patented as #303,310 in 1884.
A hand written note on the back of an office invoice, and signed by I.Walter Moore, gives insight into the creation of their Hyperion Ink. It states “Hyperion Writing & Copying made August 14, 1907. Written and not blotted copy made in copy book page 386. Written Sept. 21, 1907. Drawn from bottom of barrell.”
Three metal stencils seem to round out all this material and they are for the “Ebony Black Writing Ink”, “Zulu Black Writing Ink” and “Moore’s 1893 Improved Excelsior School Ink”.
John Moore passed away on March 21, 1878 and his son Isaac Elijah Moore on April 16, 1921. The last Moore to operate the Ink business, before it closed in the mid 1930’s, was Isaac Walter Moore. Ron Rainka personally knew I. Walter Moore, as he was called, before his passing on December 8, 1968 at age 92.
This excellent J & I.E.M. ink bottle is in outstanding condition with no cracks, a few very minor lip flakes otherwise no damage.
You will receive the exact bottle shown in the auction if you are the successful bidder.
Buyer pays $3.97 postage and very secure, prompt shipping.
As always, please review my feedback profile and bid with absolute confidence.
Keep your perspective. Remember you are just a custodian. Unless you’re buried with them or break them
someone else will own them a hundred years from now.
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