RS273d World’s Dispensary Medical Association, Proprietary Stamp

In 1873 Dr. Pierce organized a group of “medical gentlemen,” as Holcombe delicately puts it, as the World’s Dispensary. In 1878 he opened a hotel in Buffalo for treatment of chronic diseases, The Invalids’ and Tourists’ Hotel. In 1879 he merged the Consulting Department of the World’s Dispensary with the hotel, and the World’s Dispensary Medical Association was born. The company was known for producing a line of patent medicines, including “Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery” and “Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription”. The company marketed its products extensively using materials such as letterheads, calendars, and memorandum books. These materials often featured the company’s trademark of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, standing on a globe.