For most of the 19^th Century, the State of Illinois was called the “Sucker State” and during that period the Illinois Glass Company produced the Flint Glass, Sucker State Nursing Bottle (see p.40 of the 1906 Illinois Glass Company Price List).

This rare, turtle-shaped, clear glass infant feeding bottle has a flat surface on the front with “ribs” or embossed gradations marking 1-8(ounces) with the word FLUID on one side and OUNCES on the other side. Originally, the bottle came with a corked cap with a hole for a rubber tube attached to a nipple. With the flat surface on one side, the bottle could rest on the baby’s chest or at its side, and the fluid volume gradations became visible as the baby was nursed.

This fascinating and hard-to-find clear glass nursing bottle is from the late 1800s and while the Illinois Glass Company sold the Sucker State Nursing Bottles, they were often referred to as a Victorian Bottle, a Handy Nurser, or a Graduated Nurser. These baby bottles are hard to find, especially in this near-mint condition, as they were produced for a short period; the oval shape with the angled neck made them hard to clean and sanitize. Eventually, the tall skinny bottles were “born.”

I have owned this very special bottle for over fifty years and would be happy if someone else could appreciate it for the next fifty!

Condition is"Used" and will be shipped by USPS Priority Mail.