So I swung by this merchant today while doing the Burning Rapier quest and thought, "oh kewl, I'll pick up my mortar and pestle while I'm here." So I purchased what I thought was a mortal and pestle because I remember the graphic very well.
I ended up buying a "Component Mortar" which upon looking it up, is a quest item given by an Iksar shaman in Cabilis for a quest there (source:
http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=55963). The Component Mortar is LORE ITEM NO TRADE so I don't believe someone could have sold it to him (might be wrong).
I did not go back to see if the actual Mortar and Pestle was on him but I thought this might be a bug, so reporting it. Thanks.