AMERICAN PROHIBITION ERA (1920–1933)

An original medicinal whiskey prescription is a historical document from the era of American Prohibition, when the production and sale of alcoholic beverages were prohibited, while licensed physicians retained the right to prescribe limited quantities of whiskey for medical purposes. Documents of this kind became one of the most recognisable symbols of this remarkable chapter in American history.

The prescription presented here is an authentic pharmacy form that legally authorised the purchase of whiskey as a medicinal remedy. During this period, whiskey was commonly prescribed for colds, influenza, and general physical weakness, and could only be obtained with a written prescription from a physician.

The composition is complemented by an original period pharmacy bottle preserved from the same era. The artist-designed presentation brings together the historical document, period imagery, and the authentic artefact into a single collectible display dedicated to the history of American medicine and pharmacy.

The combination of a genuine Prohibition-era medicinal whiskey prescription and an original bottle from the period creates a tangible connection to everyday life in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. It is a museum-quality collectible that reflects the intersection of medicine, law, and social history.