November 23, 2008
Antique 19th and early 20th century bottles have long attracted collectors, due to their beautiful shapes and colors, historical interest, and availability to anyone willing to do some sleuthing and some digging.
The rarest and most prized bottles include mouth-blown (as opposed to machine made) bottles from the 1800s, especially those in interesting shapes (e.g. figural bitters), with dire warnings (e.g. medicine or poison bottles) or other interesting embossings. Collectors often seek pontil marks and rare colors, and of course, condition is paramount.
There are in fact dozens of categories of collectible bottles, including milk bottles, soda bottles, beer bottles, flasks, ink bottles, perfume bottles, fruit (Mason) jars and Ball jars, liquor bottles, snuff bottles... the list goes on.
Many collectors also focus on specific brands or regions (e.g. the West), or bottles that were used in certain venues (e.g. pharmacy).
My maternal grandfather and uncle got into bottles in about 1965 or ‘66 when I was in high school, and we s… [more]
One of the most common fruit jars ever produced is the lowly Ball jar. Historical figures show that from betw… [more]
“The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors is a non-profit organization for collectors of historical bot… [more]
Bill Lindsey's fantastic bottle identification and information site. Loaded with detailed descriptions and diagrams… [more]
Ed and Mark Runyon's wonderful guide to the antique bottles of Cape May County, New Jersey is a great site for anyo… [more]
There's a ton of information here, but as with bottles, you have to dig to find the best stuff. Start with the famo… [more]
This great site, from British diggers Darren Gray and Jeremy Kemp, is rich in information about hunting for antique… [more]
Assembled by Gunther Rademacher with the help of several other contributors, this collection of over half a million… [more]
Norbert Lamping's collection of 600+ ceramic bottle stoppers, Hutter stoppers, swingtops, swivel stoppers, and ligh… [more]
Lather up with Creighton Friceks complete chronology of collectible Old Spice shaving products. Start with the bott… [more]
Got a site to suggest? Let us know.
Are we missing one? Tell us.
Community Advocate, MA -
Shrewsbury - Cub Scout Pack 114 will be holding a bottle collection drive Saturday Nov. 15 at Shrewsbury Town Hall, 100 Maple Avenue, from 8:30 to 11:30 am ...
MarketWatch -
CHICAGO, Nov 18, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Champagne Cattier has entered the United States after decades of enjoyment in 65 countries around the globe ...
Elmira Star-Gazette, NY -
DEPOSIT CAN & BOTTLE COLLECTION, in support of window restoration project; St. James Catholic Church, garage area behind the rectory, 503 Clark St., ...
Dailyrecord.com, NJ -
He enjoyed digging and collecting antique bottles, amassing a collection of over 2000. After retirement, he spent endless hours gardening, antique hunting, ...
Hartford Courant, United States -
Vintage treasures like these Antique Leaded Crystal Perfume Bottles and Mirrored Tray make a romantic gift. Each bottle is $70 and the tray is $30 at Edith ...
The Coloradoan, CO -
She wrote poetry; liked fishing; loved animals and flowers; and collected antique bottles. She was in touch with nature and preferred to be out of doors. ...
The Age, Australia -
Inside is, you guessed it, a bottle collection with a vast range of bottle types dating back to the early 19th century and deriving from all over the world. ...
Antiques and Arts Weekly, CT -
Antique Bottles - over 100 lots-Flasks-2 Keene dbl eagle, Masonic eagle, 2 RR(as is), S Hoffsey Jenny Lind; Stoddard/ Keene- 2 ink, blacking, snuff, ...
Brazil Times, IN -
TERRE HAUTE -- The Wabash Valley Antique Bottle and Pottery Club is inviting all to attend its 11th annual Illiana Antique Bottle and Pottery Show and Sale, ...
Charleston Dug Bottle , Blue, Superior Soda Water $1,400.00 Ends Saturday 6 bids
Colored Iron Pontiled Morse's Celebrated Syrup Green$1,327.88 Ends in 15 hours 13 bids
Usa Hospital Department - Lime Green! Applied Top!$998.00 Ends Monday 13 bids
Usa Hospital Department - Honey Amber! Applied Top!$609.99 Ends Monday 7 bids
Very Rare Silver Mounted Westerwald Gr Tavern Jug 1715$532.00 Ends Thursday 14 bids
Antique German Schafer & Vater - Bottle- Flask - Bowler$430.00 Ends in 10 hours 12 bids
Victoria Toothpaste Pot Lid Melbourne Mr Iliffe$381.49 Ends in 14 hours 11 bids
Usa Hospital Department Bottle Honey Amber Color$362.77 Ends in 11 hours 9 bids
Beautiful Light Amber Hp Herb Wild Cherry Bitters Buy it Now$355.00 Ends Thursday 5 bids
Rare Australian Pot Lid Auguste Horton Crundall$350.22 Ends in 15 hours 6 bids
Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne 2000 $305.00 Ends Wednesday 7 bids
Absolute Killer "mason's 1858 Quart" Yellow Green !$301.99 Ends in 13 hours 13 bids
South Carolina Dispensary Bottle Pint Cylinder $300.00 Ends in 12 hours 1 bid
1/2 Pint Milk Bottle (versailles,ohio)$300.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid
Rare C1770 Apothecary Pearshape Globe$288.00 Ends Thursday 8 bids
Amber Scroll Flask With Graphite Pontil$272.50 Ends Thursday 11 bids
Rare Early San Antonio Texas Esser Hutch Soda Bottle$271.66 Ends in 13 hours 7 bids
Rare Old Unlisted Named Mountain Dew Acl Soda Bottle$261.94 Ends in 13 hours 15 bids
Rare 1860s "j.w. Poland / Headache Killer" Real Nice !$246.50 Ends in 13 hours 7 bids
Super-crude, Stoddard Iodine Spring, South Hero, Vt. $235.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids
Knickerbocker Soda Water, Ny, Iron Pontil (blue 7 1/4")$233.50 Ends Monday 11 bids
Brown's Celebrated Indian Bitters- Bottle-pat.1868$227.50 Ends in 10 hours 8 bids
1733 T'vleigenthart Wreck Slavaged Onion With Contents$224.72 Ends Tuesday 3 bids
Kettle Ink Bottle Cobalt Blue Sandwich Glass 1840s Gold$202.50 Ends Wednesday 7 bids
South Carolina Dispensary Bottle Half Union Flask$200.00 Ends in 12 hours 1 bid
Sam Adams Utopias 2007 Limited Edition W/reidel Glass$200.00 Ends in 13 hours 20 bids
Drugist Elmer Smith Front St Douglas Alaska Est 1900 $195.50 Ends in 12 hours 4 bids
Scarce 1860s "voldner's Aromatic Schnapps" Nice Color$180.00 Ends in 13 hours 14 bids
By Aa Cooley Hartford Conn Pontil Medicine Bottle Olive$177.77 Ends Sunday 8 bids
Olive Green Amber Swirl Ball Mason Qt.canning-fruit Jar$175.50 Ends in 14 hours 16 bids
H.w.cortes & Co Txs Bottling Works Brenham Texas$175.27 Ends in 13 hours 16 bids
*wow*belguim/german~sand Pontil~black Glass~magnum$165.50 Ends in 12 hours 8 bids
Teal Green Mineral Water Bottle White Sulphur Springs, $165.00 Ends Monday 12 bids
Pontil, Jumbo Udolpho Wolfe's Schnapps Olive Green Mint$160.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids
Old Amber Trade Mark Quart Lightning Fruit Jar With Lid$158.05 Ends in 8 hours 14 bids
Antique Fruit Jar Patented 1865 Patent$158.05 Ends Monday 4 bids
Puce Lyon's Powder Bottle Open Pontil Very Rare Color$158.05 Ends Monday 10 bids
Boericke & Tafel Homneopathic Medicine Case With Key!$157.50 Ends Wednesday 6 bids
Aqua Qt.gilbert Improved Star Canning Fruit Jar 1885 Ld$157.50 Ends in 14 hours 9 bids
Rare Blue Poison / Medicine Godding Apothecaries Boston$152.50 Ends Monday 3 bids
South Carolina Dispensary Bottle Pint Jo-jo Tree$152.50 Ends in 12 hours 2 bids
Very Scarce 3-qt Size Masons Cfjco Improved Butter Jar$152.49 Ends Tuesday 4 bids
Sparkling Mint Aqua Cornucopia & Urn,just Beautiful!!!$150.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid
Emerald Green Hutchinson Soda Bottle Blob Top Savannah$150.00 Ends Wednesday 6 bids
Western 1870's Bay City Sodawater S.f. Killer Swirls!!!$150.00 Ends in 13 hours 8 bids
Early 8 Sided Pepsi Cola Bottle Richmond Va$149.50 Ends Tuesday 18 bids
Hawaiian Dug Hamakua Soda Works Rare Hutchinson Top $148.55 Ends in 11 hours 6 bids
Gii-73 Pt. Eagle - Cornucopia, Rare In Aqua! Pontil.$147.50 Ends Tuesday 5 bids
1871 Cobalt Blue Hayward’s Fire Grenade Extinguisher$147.50 Ends in 14 hours 11 bids
Revelstoke Wine & Spirit Syphon Seltzer Bc Canada$142.50 Ends in 11 hours 3 bids
Sun Trade Mark Pint Fruit Jar Sharp All Original$142.50 Ends Tuesday 9 bids
Killer "j.b. Marchisi M.d. Utica N.y." 1860s & Crude !$139.50 Ends in 13 hours 8 bids
Lewis Packing Co. San Francisco Labeled Pickle Bottle$139.00 Ends in 12 hours 1 bid
Seitz-bro Mineral Water Cobalt Blue Glass Bottle I.p$138.39 Ends in 14 hours 9 bids
Masons (cross) Patent 1858 Amber Qt Original Fruit Jar$137.00 Ends Tuesday 8 bids
Mist Of The Morning Sole Agents Barnett & Lumley Barrel$135.50 Ends in 12 hours 3 bids
Antique School House Ink Bottle Ca.1880's$135.00 Ends in 11 hours 7 bids
Calders Aerated Products Clear Syphon Kelowna Bc Canada$129.99 Ends in 10 hours 1 bid
