Surgical Instruments Bulletin (6 pages, newspaper size)

Portland, ME: Geo. C. Frey Surgical Instruments, 1900. Very Good. 6 pages in two parts. First part is on thin yellow paper, folded single sheet, newspaper size (10 1/2 x 17 inches folded). The second part a single leaf printed both sides on blue paper, same size. Both folded multiple times as if for mailing. Many woodcuts on each with "FRYE" identifier. Yellow part with several stains, and a few edge tears on each. Remarkable survival given the quality of the paper. George C. Frye (1843-1921) started out as a apothecary, and gbegan importing and then manufacturing surgical instruments according to widely scattered online sources. The only date on these bulletins is a patent date of 1897 on one item, but the prices are about the same as an advertisement we discovered in Canadian Journal of Medicine and Surgery, Volume 15 from 1903. NLM also has a surgical instruments bulletin in their collection (unclear if it is the same) but they date it to c1900. The listing of items supplied include the usual tools, but more women's needs than others we've seen, with elastic hoisery, uterine supporters, etc. His apothecary background shines through with a full page devoted to Frye's Emulsion and Frey's Pancreomismuth and Pepsin (with testimonials). Vintage maine images adds some information about his wife: "Eunice Nichols Frye of Portland (1852-1923), a native of Vassalboro, was the founder of the Woman's Literary Union in Portland in 1889, and of the Maine Federation of Women's Clubs in 1892. She and her husband, George C. Frye, were active in a number of philanthropies, including the "Wayside Rest or Home for Worthy Women," of which Mrs. Frye was the first president. It later became the "Invalid's Home," the "Mary Brown Home for Women." George Frye made a large donation to the home with the stipulation that it be renamed the "Eunice Frye Home."

The Canadian Journal advertisement states in part: "Geo C Frye Portland ME. By consulting page xxiv of this number of the Journal our subscribers will be able to secure some splendid bargains in surgical instruments and supplies generally. The firm is George C Frye of Portland Me who handles a large stock of practically everything needed by a medical practitioner from elastic stockings and abdominal supports to a large operating case." It goes on to highlight some items with prices.

Davis & Dreyfus (The Finest Instruments ever Made), note a catalogue from 1881 and a bulletin at NLM, plus one other item.