Would you like to own a little piece of history? You can. Antique bottles are more affordable than most antiques. Though the rarest and most desirable can sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars, many can be had for less than $30.
Among the categories that have robust collectors’ markets…
Historic glass whiskey flasks from the early-to-mid-1800s are extremely desirable collectibles. Some sell for many thousands of dollars, but other relatively common examples can be found for $50 to $70.
Examples: An aqua-colored pint flask made between 1855 and 1870 and embossed with the word “Union” and clasped hands on one side and an eagle on the reverse side can be found for $60 to $70. An 1826 brilliant deep sapphire blue flask commemorating the deaths of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson recently sold at auction for $100,620.
Medicine bottles from the 1800s are very popular because they’re so much fun. The names of some of the quack cures sold during this era are laughable. Common examples often sell in the $25-to-$30 range.
Examples: This pair of R.R.R. Radway & Co., New York, medicine bottles, dating between 1870 and 1885, sell for $25 each. Three early medicine bottles—“Dr. Jayne’s Alternative,” “Jayne’s Limimentor” and “J. Cristadoro’s Hair Preservative,” dating between 1860 and 1875, sell for $22 each.
Whiskey bottles made between 1860 and 1900 are popular collectibles. These usually are 11 to 12 inches tall, cylindrical and often embossed. They tend to sell for $25 to $100, though very rare examples can bring significantly more.
Examples: These four amber western whiskey bottles, dating between 1880 and 1895, sell for $25 each—“McDonald & Cohn, San Francisco”…“J.H. Cutter Old Bourbon, Bottled By A.P. Hotaling & Co.”…“Shea Bocoureaz & Co., San Francisco, CAL”…and “Hanley Mercantile Co., San Francisco.”
Alternative: Whiskey bottles from 1860 to 1900 that lack embossing often sell for just $5 to $10. Some are made from beautiful straw-yellow or amber glass.
Perfume bottles from the 1940s or earlier can be extremely valuable. The best look like elegant glass sculptures and are prized as works of art, not just collectible bottles. Deep pockets often are required in this corner of the bottle-collecting world—prices often reach well into four or five figures. Still, there are some attractive and collectible perfume bottles from the early 20th century that can be had for less than $50.
Example: The five perfume and cologne bottles, pictured at the top of the previous page, range in height from three inches to six-and-a-half inches. They date between 1850 and 1860 and sell for $15 each.
Fruit jars made between 1850 and 1920 are collected. Pre-1870 jars often sell for hundreds—particularly if they still have their original closures—but many fruit jars from the early-20th century sell for just $10 to $30, sometimes less.
Example: This Canadian aqua quart “Excelsior,” dating between 1875 and 1885, sells for $25 to $30.
Jars by the best-known jar maker, Mason, tend to be quite common and affordable, though Mason jars in rare colors such as amber can be worth hundreds.
Soda pop bottles from the 1950s and earlier are quite popular among collectors. Those dating to the 19th century can cost hundreds of dollars—as can rare Coke and Pepsi bottles—but many pop bottles from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s cost just $5 to $30. Soda pop bottles usually have applied color labels (ACLs), where the label is applied directly to the glass, not on paper.
Examples: A Chief Muskogee Fine Beverages (Muskogee, Oklahoma) 8.5-ounce bottle with red, black and white lettering, made between 1950 and 1952, sells for around $30. A Daniel Boone Mix (Spencer, North Carolina) seven-ounce bottle with black-and-white lettering, made in 1946, sells for around $12.
Beer bottles made between 1860 and 1930 are collected. (Prior to the 1860s, beer typically was sold in pottery jars, not glass bottles.) Very rare beer bottles and beer bottles made before 1890 can get pricey, but many made between 1890 and 1930 can be had for $20 to $35 when their paper labels are intact—less if their labels are badly damaged or missing.
Examples: An aqua pint Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association (Norfolk, Virginia Branch) beer bottle, produced from 1905 until 1920, typically sells for $20 to $30. An amber quart National Bottling Co. (San Francisco, Adolph B. Lang), dating from 1885 to 1900, sells for between $30 and $40.
Milk bottles from the 1940s and earlier are increasingly popular. Because dairies are extremely regional, a huge number of different milk bottles are available. Many from the first half of the 20th century sell for just $10 to $20, though there are some particularly rare and desirable examples that bring hundreds. Milk bottles from World War II with patriotic themes and images are a popular collector subcategory.
Example: A Midwestern round red quart bottle from World War II with a picture of a soldier, Marine and sailor and the phrase “They Guard Your Home—We Guard Your Health” sells for around $35.
Antique bottles are sold everywhere, from flea markets to eBay, but the best way to explore the hobby is to attend a bottle-collecting show. A list of upcoming shows can be found on the Web site of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors (www.fohbc.org). You won’t just see a lot of old bottles at these shows—you’ll meet people who are knowledgeable and passionate about bottle collecting. And unlike some corners of the antiques world, bottle collectors and sellers typically are happy to chat with novices who ask questions. Some bottle-collecting shows even include barbecues or breakfasts to add to this social aspect.
Alternative for the adventurous: Would-be bottle collectors who have limited budgets or a desire for outdoor activity need not buy bottles at all—they can dig them up! Lots of collectible bottles simply are waiting to be found in the ground right where they were thrown away in the 19th and early-20th century. Spots include old (no longer used) dumps and trash piles. There are various ways to find such sites. For example, Sanborn Map Co. fire insurance maps from the 19th century, available in some libraries and chambers of commerce, show the locations of old trash pits.
Consider joining a bottle-collecting club that sponsors group digs to learn how it’s done effectively and safely before trying to dig up old bottles on your own. These clubs are listed on Web sites such as the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors and Antique Bottle Collector’s Haven (www.AntiqueBottles.com/clubs.html). Bottles pulled from the ground often are in less-than-ideal condition, which could detract from their value, but they still are very collectible and exciting to find.
