THE SOUTH CAROLINA DISPENSARY ~ Phillip Kenneth Huggins

A classic collector’s guide to old Dispensary bottles. The Dispensary system was South Carolina’s effort to regulate the sale of liquor around the turn of the century. The unique bottles produced during this time are today rare and collectable. This guide provides information on the dispensary characteristics of the bottles and trace their origin.

An invaluable resource for collectors of South Carolina dispensary bottles from both a historical perspective and as a resource for the many variations of containers the system produced. This compilation contains an overview of the history of the system including the colorful creator (Gov. Tillman) and the events leading to and following the "whiskey rebellion". It recounts an interesting time in South Carolina history when prohibitionist compromises helped to create one of the most corrupt government-run businesses of the time. The dispensary idea was sold as both a means to control the flow of alcohol and raise revenue for the state education fund...an interesting parallel as South Carolina currently embarks on building support for a state run lottery, also "to improve education".