CTA
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posted on February 10, 2007 12:30:46 PM new
I've been trying to find out if selling an antique poison bottle with original contents is prohibited on eBay? I know the bottle alone is worth quite a bit, but I'd think with its contents it would increase the value. I have a feeling that selling it with the pills included would not be allowed. However, I can't seem to find any information through eBay on something like that. I'm guessing it would be under "hazardous" materials, but it is not specific. Does anyone know for sure?
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neatstuffusa
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posted on February 10, 2007 12:40:02 PM new
Do you seriously think offering poison pills to a few million anonymous people worldwide is a good idea?
Geeze...
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toolhound
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posted on February 10, 2007 12:41:21 PM new
I am pretty sure you can not sell a bottle with poison on eBay but probably worse than that would be shipping it.
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CTA
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posted on February 10, 2007 12:44:06 PM new
Not exactly neatstuffusa, but collectors out there know the value of an unused/sealed bottle. It certainly increases the value. I wonder if the contents after 100 years old would even be harmful at this point. I'm looking for some educated answers here...
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mamachia
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posted on February 10, 2007 01:01:45 PM new
why not posted on Ebay boards to inquire? Or check the lengthy what you can't sell list!
[ edited by mamachia on Feb 10, 2007 03:11 PM ]
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pixiamom
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posted on February 10, 2007 05:21:58 PM new
You can't sell it if it is now a controlled substance or if now you need a prescription to get it.
From eBay: Drug examples (banned):
Narcotics, Steroids and other controlled substances (including any substance included in Schedules I, II, III, IV or V of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.)
Controlled drugs that require a prescription from a licensed practitioner (such as a doctor, dentist, ophthalmologist or optometrist) are not permitted on eBay; this includes drugs prescribed by veterinarians for animals.
If it isn't a controlled substance or prescription drug, you probably can sell it on eBay if the USPS will let you ship it. (From EBay's hazardous items policy)
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LtRay
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posted on February 10, 2007 06:17:54 PM new
a. What type of poison are you talking about?
b. Check the bottles category. Sealed antique poison bottles are sold all the time and they bring premium prices. The value is in the shape and style of the bottle. There are many bottle collectors who specialize in poison bottles and I have never know any of them to miss use the contents.
c. --- personal vent about buyer's being self-accountable, deleted to prevent a political debate-----
[ edited by LtRay on Feb 10, 2007 06:20 PM ]
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pandorasbox
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posted on February 10, 2007 07:35:45 PM new
You might be interested in this article from Forbes:http://tinyurl.com/27fwuz.
...."Last year, Lee Cantrell, a toxicology professor at the University of California-San Diego, published a study in the Journal of Toxicology documenting 121 eBay auctions of poisons over a ten-month period from 2003 to 2004. Of Cantrell’s documented auctions, 24 involved strychnine, arsenic trioxide and other poisons considered by scientists to be “super toxic,” meaning a dose of 5 milligrams or less would likely kill a human if ingested."
Best,
Michael
---------------------------
Internet Talk Radio
Everything eBay...and More. E-Auction-Air
http://www.eauctionair.com
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roadsmith
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posted on February 10, 2007 09:22:56 PM new
What I would do is to offer it to an antiques dealer with a shop. Either offer to sell it to him, or place it on consignment.
_____________________
Thought for the day: Men are like fine wine . . They start out as grapes; and it's up to the women to stomp the crap out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with. ~Dave Barry
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LtRay
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posted on February 10, 2007 09:55:22 PM new
Hi Michael, interesting article. Could explain why I found no "sealed poison" listings on eBay. They used to be listed all the time, but eBay seems to be policing them more now.
Sad to think that anyone would ruin such a collectable market because of a few screwed up individuals. Such is life in the real world....
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pandorasbox
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posted on February 10, 2007 10:47:59 PM new
Hay Ray;
"a few screwed up individuals"...a few?
Best,
Michael
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Internet Talk Radio
Everything eBay...and More. E-Auction-Air
http://www.eauctionair.com
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zoomin
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posted on February 11, 2007 02:08:02 AM new
there are no childproof tops on antique bottles......
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ST0NEC0LD613
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posted on February 11, 2007 08:57:08 AM new
there are no childproof tops on antique bottles......
Where did that come from?
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CTA
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posted on February 11, 2007 11:15:42 AM new
To those who provided useful information... obviously you (LtRay) understand the value of such an item to the right collector.
I agree, it's too bad there are people out there that would possibly use its contents in a harmful manner. The bottle contains Corrosive Mercuric Chloride by the way. And even if I dump the contents out, the bottle should still get decent money. It is a cobalt blue color and is in the shape of a coffin (pills are coffin shaped too) and bottle still retains its original label - all in great condition.
But I would definitely say that even though the bottle is unused, this would be considered a hazardous material. So, looks like the contents will be disposed of. I still think my chances of selling the bottle are better on eBay than locally.
Found out some interesting information on the uses of this formula. Mercuric Chloride Details
Thanks everyone for the information provided.
[ edited by CTA on Feb 11, 2007 02:04 PM ]
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photosensitive
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posted on February 11, 2007 11:28:34 AM new
CTA, Call me Nervous Nellie but I would check out the consequence of putting something like that in your toilet. Maybe a call to poision control is in order.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
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pandorasbox
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posted on February 11, 2007 12:16:04 PM new
For God's sake, don't flush it!
"What effect might mercury and compounds have on the environment?
Both mercury and its compounds have high acute (short-term) and have high chronic (long-term) toxicity on aquatic life. Eating fish contaminated with mercury has caused poisoning in humans; birds and land animals exposed in the same manner could also be subject to the same effects. There is not sufficient data to determine the acute toxicity of mercury and its compounds on plants, birds or land animals. Mercury and its compounds are highly persistent in water and the environment and will bioaccumulate or concentrate in the tissues of fish. These concentrations will be considerably higher than the water from which the fish is taken."
No matter how little there is in the bottle, the last thing you want to do is to add even a drop of something as toxic and persistent as Mercury into the water supply.
Call Poison Control in your area for disposal.
Best,
Michael
---------------------------
Internet Talk Radio
Everything eBay...and More. E-Auction-Air
http://www.eauctionair.com
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photosensitive
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posted on February 11, 2007 02:35:17 PM new
Pandora is right. In addition to the impact on the environment I would wonder if mixing this stuff with water could cause an unsafe reaction in your own space.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
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LtRay
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posted on February 11, 2007 03:40:12 PM new
CTA, I do not remember where you live, but you might want to check out the local bottle shows or some of the on-line collectible bottle sites. The bottle you have is not that unusual, but it is still a nice bottle.
For the others that have now scared themselves half to death with this thread...
No, mercury should not be flushed. Neither should half of the stuff that ends up in the family toilet.
Harmful chemicals??? Look under your kitchen sink and in your shower. Do you see Comet, Windex, Fantastic, 409, etc? Sodium Laurel sulfate in your shampoo and soap, fluoride in your toothpaste?
This is just a topic of quick death versus slow death. And many people have found themselves creating a toxic cocktail while scrubbing a toilet or sink. Have you never accidentally dumped vinegar into a toilet that has been bleached? That is a serious toxic chemical can gets released.
Not to mention what is in your medicine cabinet in those child-proof bottles.
At least CTA's bottle has POISON embossed on it in big bold letters.
[ edited by LtRay on Feb 11, 2007 03:43 PM ]
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LtRay
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posted on February 11, 2007 03:41:57 PM new
http://www.antiquebottles.com/
http://www.antique-bottles.net/resources.htm
[ edited by LtRay on Feb 11, 2007 03:44 PM ]
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LtRay
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posted on February 11, 2007 03:52:20 PM new
CTA, here is your bottle-
http://www.antiquebottles.com/poison/fame.html
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CTA
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posted on February 11, 2007 09:01:14 PM new
WOW LtRay, you're awesome! Thanks for the great bottle collecting websites. And I also enjoyed your "soapbox" vent.  Was sorry I missed your personal vent about buyer's being self-accountable, deleted to prevent a political debate----- I think I would have enjoyed it! 
Thanks to all who contributed some useful information.
Edited to add, FYI LtRay - I live in Central Maine and I'm not aware of any upcoming bottle shows, etc.
[ edited by CTA on Feb 11, 2007 09:03 PM ]
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jackswebb
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posted on February 11, 2007 09:57:06 PM new
Amonia and Clorox mixed will HIIIIIIISSSSSSSSS some Deadly fumes your way too.....
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LtRay
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posted on February 12, 2007 12:30:51 AM new
JAck, I meant to type ammonia. I did that once. Explains my few remaining brain cells <g>
I must have also been thinking about the vinegar/baking soda combo for cleaning drains. It works great but stand back!
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