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).
Interviews & Articles
Bill Lindsey on How To Read a Bottle

My maternal grandfather and uncle got into bottles in about 1965 or ‘66 when I was in high school, and we started digging. My uncl… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
Historic Glass Bottle Identification

Bill Lindsey's fantastic bottle identification and information site. Loaded with detailed descriptions and diagrams… [read review or visit site]
Antique Bottle Collector's Haven

There's a ton of information here, but as with bottles, you have to dig to find the best stuff. Start with the famo… [read review or visit site]
Bottle Cap Index

Assembled by Gunther Rademacher with the help of several other contributors, this collection of over half a million… [read review or visit site]
Plopsite.de

Norbert Lamping's collection of 600+ ceramic bottle stoppers, Hutter stoppers, swingtops, swivel stoppers, and ligh… [read review or visit site]
Old Spice Collectibles

Lather up with Creighton Fricek's complete chronology of collectible Old Spice shaving products. Start with the bot… [read review or visit site]
Clubs & Associations: Bottles
- Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors
- Little Rhody Bottle Club
- International Perfume Bottle Association
- Midwest Antique Fruit Jar & Bottle Club
- Findlay Antique Bottle Club
Discussion Forums: Bottles
Other Great Reference Sites: Bottles
Top eBay Auctions
Recent News: Bottles
Source: Google News
Dundee takeover: Characters out of Dallas
Evening Telegraph, May 22ndHead of the family, 72-year-old James H Keyes, even boasts a cellar with 3,000 vintage bottles of wine — at least a couple of which he could be uncorking if he takes control at Dens Park. Keyes senior is understood to have a supervisory role in the...Read more
Moneague tops REAP
Jamaica Observer, May 21stThe students in the core programme were asked to use creative and imaginative ways to promote conservation in school, as well as tree planting and bottle collection exercises. In all, 2,500 trees were planted and 20,000 plastic bottles collected. "This...Read more
Zions Bank now accepting Smart Women Grant applications
The Idaho Statesman, May 20thUsful Glassworks will be holding a bottle collection drive called Bottles uP! on Sunday, May 26, at its donation center, 5858 West Franklin Road in Boise. Staffers will take donations from noon to 3 p.m. They need spirit and soda pop bottles as well as...Read more
Korkage Wine Bar Relocating to Three Square Grill Space
Portland Monthly, May 20thThe wine bar—which will continue to offer a large Northwest-centric bottle collection and live entertainment at the new location—has gained a loyal following in and out of the Hillsdale community. Now, Boleyn and Johnson hope to leverage that loyalty...Read more
Area Snapshots
Montana Standard, May 19thThe Montana Bottle Collectors Association will present its annual bottle, antique and collectibles show Friday, May 31, 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Butte Civic Center, 1340 Harrison Ave. Admission is $5 on May 31, which...Read more
15th annual antique bottle show at Appalachian Fairgrounds May 4
Elizabethton Star, May 1stThe State of Franklin Antique Bottle and Collectibles Club will hold its 15th annual Antique Collectibles and Bottle Show and Sale on Saturday, May 4, in the Farm and Home Building at the Appalachian Fairgrounds in Gray. Admission is free during show...Read more
Antique bottles, collectibles association to hold show Saturday
Kingsport Times News, April 28thAntique bottle collectors looking to add a few new items to their collection will find plenty to choose from at the State of Franklin Antique Bottles and Collectibles Association's 15th annual Antique Bottles and Collectibles Show, happening Saturday...Read more
Crowd finds plenty at annual Bottle Collectors' Show
Salisbury Post, April 24thSALISBURY — Buoyed by good weather and other events in Salisbury, the Seventh Annual Bottle Collectors' Show at the Civic Center drew a good-sized crowd last Saturday. “Lots of people don't know what a Bottle Show is until they come,” said Show...Read more
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Gloriously Grotesque 19th-Century Pipes
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Love at First Kite: How Pizza and Pente Led to One Oklahoman's High-Flying Obsession
Blood, Sweat, and Steel: My Afternoon with the Ace of Swords
'The Great Gatsby' Still Gets Flappers Wrong
Say Ahhh: An Oral Surgeon's Quest to Reimagine the Garage-Band Guitar
Forget TV Pickers, Meet the Real Mavericks of the Antiques World
Coveting The Craziest Cat-People Collectibles

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