The Curious World of Bottle Collecting and the People Who Collect Them

The Curious World of Bottle Collecting and the People Who Collect Them


Bottle collecting has long been a hobby and even a passion for serious collectors. Many of the most desired bottles have historical significance and all tell a tale of years gone by. This history is fascinating and the bottles being collected are often unique works of art.

History of Bottle Collecting

Classic Bottle ShapesHistorically, people have held on to and passed down bottles of all types, often due to their looks or useful purposes. While they may not have been recognized as professional bottle collectors, the preservation of the bottles has allowed collectors of today to see a legitimate piece of history right in front of their eyes. Collectors also put a lot of physical effort into expanding their collection. Digging into the Earth has procured vintage bottle finds for experienced collectors. Different bottle styles will be discovered in different parts of the country based on where the bottle manufacturing took place and the types of bottles being used locally and on a regional basis throughout history.

Many collectors are attracted to the world of bottles due to the clues they hold about the past. There are also avid collectors who can turn a sizeable profit on the selling or auctioning of their collection. Bottle collecting is also an important part of the equation for professionals like archeologists and educators of history.

There are hundreds of thousands of innovative and uniquely-designed bottles produced in North America starting in the 1800’s and progressing through the 1950’s which are of interest to collectors. Due to the enormous amount of bottle types and designs available, it is impossible to cover every single aspect of the history of bottles. Notably, it is the most sought-after collectibles which are the focus of many collectors. There are a number of factors which makes certain bottles stand out above the others including the manufacturing date, typography used, the style of glassmaking used, glass colors, base types, and finishes.

Dating Bottles

There are a number of characteristics used to date a bottle. A visual inspection of characteristics including physical aspects and manufacturing details are used to date the bottle, or at least achieve an estimated year of creation. There is no simple solution to dating a bottle outside of diligent research, which can sometimes become intense.

There are bottle experts available both online and off to help amateur collectors confirm a date or design. Bottle collecting organizations like The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors and general collecting websites like Collector’s Weekly which provide up-to-date and historically accurate information for serious and amateur bottle collectors.

Most Prized Bottles

Notably, the most popular historical bottles for collectors come from the 19th and early 20th century. Bottles from these eras are loved for their impressive shapes, unique colors, and historical significance. Collectors seek out the most prized bottle design – the mouth-blown bottles which were created by humans and not machines. These bottles are both very much desired and also a rare find. Mouth-blown bottles originate from the 1800s. While rare marks, typography, and bottle design count towards value, it is the condition of the bottles which matters significantly.

Valuing Bottles

In addition to the physical condition of an antique bottle where value is concerned, other factors influence the worth of glass bottles. More valuable bottles will contain special warning labels such as for poisons or medicines of the past. Rare colors will also increase the value of a bottle. Bottles were made in a variety of colors throughout history including:

  • Antique Bottles
    Antique bottle collection.

    Amber

  • Aqua
  • Cobalt Blue
  • Puce/Purple
  • Straw
  • Strawberry Puce
  • Emerald Green
  • Black
  • Clear

The most common bottle colors were clear and aqua. These colors were used for nearly everything except poisons. Similarly, the colors amber and black were never used for fruit jars so these types of jars are rare and collectible. Flask bottles which are cobalt blue in color are also rare collectibles. As an example of the color differences where value is concerned, a flask bottle in the common aqua color may be worth around $100. Conversely, a flask found in the dark cobalt color could fetch thousands of dollars.

In addition to the rarity of the color in a glass bottle, the condition matters in the valuing of the bottle. Mint condition is the most prized condition because it means the glass is in perfect shape. Many bottles found in attics and steam trunks are considered mint. Bottles found underground are likely never in mint condition. The condition scale ranks from “mint” to “damaged”. Damaged includes bottles with large cracks or missing pieces. Bottles with defects will also affect the value. Bottle collectors have a number of defect categories for even the smallest issues including dings, hairline cracks, and bubbles.

Categories for Bottle Collecting

Aroma Bottles
Antique bottles of essentil fragances and oils lined up. fragances and oils lined up.

There are a number of complex bottle terms used for the identification of bottle types. AntiqueBottles.com offers a full glossary of the technical terms used by collectors. There are also general categories of bottle types being collected. These types include:

  • Milk bottles – milk used to be delivered fresh from the dairy in glass bottles throughout the United States. Milk bottles are far back as those from the 1800s are still being collected today. The first known milk bottle was introduced in 1884 by a druggist from New York and patented by a different man in 1878. In the middle of the 20th century, waxed cartons replaced the classic milk bottle in many homes.
  • Soda bottles – bottles created to hold soda water date as far back as the late 1600s. In 1832, the first carbonated water was introduced and bottles were designed to stand the pressure of the carbonated beverage. These soda bottles were typically short with long, straight bottle necks. Eventually they grew in size to accommodate pint and quart sizes.
  • Beer bottles – until the late 1800s, beer was sold in kegs. It had to be consumed in a short period of time before the beer would go bad. When the process of pasteurization was introduced in 1876, the fermented drink was bottled and sold along the railway system. While most beer bottles were made of colored or clear glass, the first beer bottle in America was made from ceramic stoneware.
  • Ink bottles – while ink has been used for centuries, the original ink used was in powdered or cake form. In the late 1700s, liquid ink became more common and wide-bottomed glass ink bottles were commonly used. The difference between the common ink bottle and the more unique inkwells of the time is their purpose. Ink bottles held ink for use. Inkwells were a decorative item and typically much more expensive.
  • Aqua BottlesPerfume bottles – these bottles may be the most unique of all categories. Perfume bottles were often intricately designed by expert glassblowers throughout the 19th century. Starting in the 1800s, US glass manufacturing companies started designing the bottles in various colors and decorative shapes. The glass caps or stoppers were often the most elaborate part of the bottle.
  • Liquor/wine/ spirits bottles – there is a significant amount of different designs and styles for antique liquor bottles throughout the years. Liquor, in fact, was one of the first reasons bottles were used for starting in the early 16th century. The most collectible liquor and spirits bottles are those made before 1919 when Prohibition started. At that time, the prohibition was the only hope for extricating those who indulged in debauchery. But today, there is hope for NYC residents and ones who live in its environs struggling with addiction. Garden Heights Recovery serving NYC residents, offers outpatient addiction treatment help.
  • Snuff bottles – snuff, or powdered tobacco, was first used in China in the early 1600s. Tobacco was mixed with spices and herbs. Many Chinese believed snuff had medicinal benefits including migraine relief. Snuff was inhaled through the nasal cavity which triggered a sneeze. People believed that sneeze was the body’s way of getting rid of illnesses. Snuff bottles originated when the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty ordered glass bottles to be created to protect his snuff in 1684.
  • Apothecaries – Drugstores have been a staple of America’s small towns in the early part of the 20th century. However, glass bottles used for medicinal items dates back to the medieval times. Shaman and the revered medicine man used a variety of apothecary bottles to store their herbs and remedies.

Finding Your Own Collection

The convenience of the Internet has made bottle collecting and treasure finding much easier than in decades past. Anyone looking to start their own collection have many online and offline options to consider. These options include:

  • Old antique glass bottles
    Many old antique vintage glass bottles big and small

    eBay, online collectors – eBay and many niche bottle collecting or auction sites are a great place to start looking around for your collectibles. Both amateur and professionals use their online platforms to research, buy, and sell vintage and collectible bottles.

  • Antique stores – Professional antique dealers will likely have a nice collection of glass bottles form all different eras. Antique dealer are also a good resource for valuing and dating bottles you already have.
  • Yard sales, estate sales, auctions – This may be the jackpot spot for you to find valuable glass bottles. Many people have no idea or interest in glass bottle collections passed down through the years. Rather than store or display the bottles, they innocently place them up for sale, dirt cheap, just to be rid of them. If you know what you are looking for based on your interest and research, yard sales and auctions may be the ideal starting point for your collection.
  • Your own home – You may already have a treasure trove of glass bottles of value waiting for you in your attic or basement. Read up on what to look for in a collectible bottle then sort through the old boxes sitting around your house or in storage.

Looking to Sell a Vintage Glass Bottle?

The most popular question about bottle collecting is “How much can I get for my bottles?”. The only way to answer that question is to do your research. Start by searching online for bottles like it already for sale on auction sites or bottle collecting sites. The values you find should not be taken as law but will give you a good starting idea of the value of your bottles. If you have an entire collection of valuable bottles, you may want to consider selling them to a professional. Appraisal services are also available to confirm the value of your bottles or collection.

There are many occasions where bottle owners believe their bottle is worth more than they actually are. Before getting your hopes up too high, seek professional help to assess the true value of your bottles. On the other side of the coin, if you find bottles in your storage area check online for similar bottles before tossing them. You may end up finding a buried treasure.

If you are looking to get into the business of bottle collecting, plan to spend a lot of time visiting auctions, estate sales, and online sites to learn everything you can about the particular bottle type or bottle manufacturer. The more you know, the keener your eye will become at finding value in a bottle.




36 thoughts on “The Curious World of Bottle Collecting and the People Who Collect Them”

  • Can I send a picture of a bottle that I am looking to identify… this site will not allow a picture attachment. Thank you, J. grover. Posted 05/09/2018

  • i am stumped…i have two amber bottles both have emblems right below the neck of a bird landing sideways. smaller bottle has the foster ff emblem on bottom. 84 18 08 on bottom. Big one has 84 18B 8 LINES IN THE MIDDLE 14 AND 3 LINES WITH TWO DOTS..

    IM BAFFLED..THEY ARE NOT THE ONES WITH THE A ON THEM…YIKES..GOING CRAZY, WHAT ARE THEY?

  • I have a post medieval dutch ceramic gin bottle , just below the handle is the mark No.30 and underneath that is the letter B
    Could someone tell me please how I can get it valued. Thanks. Carole.

  • Good morning, Please l have a very old two Schnapps bottle white in color, Dated 1923. Please can someone tell me it value
    Thank you.

  • I have bottles from the 60’s and 70’s that were decorated soda bottles given out at the bottling conventions (shows). Are they of any
    value?

  • I Am Located In Vallejo California. I Have An Old Bay City Soda Water Bottle – Blue, With A Star. Is There A Location Near Me That Would Be Interested In Buying Such A Bottle?

  • I have a large collection of old purple bottles and I’m in selling them where is the best place to see a large amount of bottles at.

  • Hello, I have a few friends who started collecting old bottles. They seem to be under the impression that the bottle should not be cleaned or it will lose its value. I don’t understand this theory. The bottles still have dirt or sand inside and they look awful on their shelves. In addition is the fact that some have company stamped names into the glass and a location where it was made. The dirt inside disguises the name. i think they should be cleaned out and shiny clear and clean looking for display purposes. Please let me know the answer recommended Marlene

      • Please give me a call at 9412965665I’ve been collecting for like 20 years and I also dig these bottles up out of the ground I have flask from the 1700s and bitter bottles all the way up into the late 1890s I do it for the Love of American history and also I don’t sell them at is for purely passion and the main reason to pass on to my only child my daughter when she grows up and I’m going to teach you the importance of American traditions and values and what a beautiful way to start then well the bottles in the colors will capture any little girl’s heart so pretty I believe in heirlooming a lost American value please call me I will actually give you money for them if you would you would like and I will give you this fair market value if you send me pictures of them my email address 6677 jer @gmail.com I usually have about 300 bottles and always looking for more beautiful bottles to add so I will gladly pay the postage and whatever the market value is for them don’t get cheated and you deserve something for them

    • Your friends are misinformed. Unless it has a paper label or a painted-on label or original contents, there’s no benefit to keeping them dirty. Millions of collectors around the world will tell them the same thing and they should clean them. Cleaning is also important for detecting hairline cracks, bubbles in the glass, and for dating them. Tell them to look at any bottle auctions or bottles for sale on eBay, or in books and there are no bottles with dirt all over them or in the bottle. They are not well informed.

  • I have a one of a kind misformed Coca-Cola bottle looking to sell have had it for a couple of years now. Please email me if interested. D Jay

    • If you found the bottle in an old dump or from someone else’s collection, the bottle w2as most likely in a fire. Years ago they used to burn the dumps every so often and that can any glass in that burn layer to melt. I’ve seen bottles melted completely flat and there’s misshaped like yours. If you like, send me a photo of the entire bottle about 2 feet from the camera and I’ll tell you if it was an era when made or if in fact it is melted

  • I found a barqs bottle made in 1889 found in dirt under school built in 1898
    on one side Biloxi artesian bottling works e. barqs prop it is light green anyone with info

  • Have over 50 or 60 Champagne bottles ranging from cheap to expensive I’ve been collecting for about 12 years as a keepsake of what we’ve drunk to decorate my bar area…now there are too many. Maybe someone out there wants the collection for their bar/ drinking area for decoration. They can be kept and passed down to future generations. Meanwhile I’ll count them for exact amount and take some photos. Thank you. Please send reply by email and I’ll send my phone number so you can call me..Larisa

    • I have a Rouyer Gillett cognac wine bottle . Label still attached. 1801 founded 1865 Bottle. Wine still in. Cannot find another one like it. I see different years from this company. What or how do I find what bottle is worth?

  • Would I be able to get someone to come and look at all my old bottles I’ve got about 50-60 bottles thank you

  • got a bunch of old bottles looking for a home/shelf/somewhere they will be loved. please contact me if your interested got about 10 bottles.

  • I have 4 boxes of “antique” apothecary type bottles that I want to sell . I
    am neither a collector or a seller I just want to get rid of them. I want $100.00
    for all 4 cases, bound to be something of value here, I don’t know, If interested
    call or email, no pictures, all wrapped up so let me know if interested.

  • I’m looking for a bottle of rum and cola premixed already. I believe it was originally from Germany. Ive been trying to track one down, and have no idea where to look any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

  • Hello I am a digger drived and dug up vast collection of all sorts of bottles 5 meter down in Selhurst, Croydon area dating back to 1840. I would like to know if anyone is interested, I have cleaned and not cleaned bottles around 100 bottles ceramic, stone and glass I have the torpedo shape and the water bottles with marble great for collectors or decoration txt me on 07455025076 or email me on properjob@email.com

  • Have an 50 year old red wine bottle never opened from Italy in its original carton shaped like an elephants leg. Can anyone tell me if its worth anything? Please reply.
    Walt

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