The world of bottle collecting and who collects them
Bottle collecting has been a hobby and even a passion for serious collectors. Many of the most desired bottles have historic significance and all tell a tale of years gone by. Historically people have held onto and passed down bottles of all typed. Collectors put a lot of effort into expanding their collection. Different bottle styles can be discovered in different parts of the country based on where the bottle manufacturing took place and the types of bottles being used locally 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 off 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 1800s and through the 1950s, which are of interest to collectors. It is the most sought after collectible. There are a number of factors which makes certain bottles stand out above the others including the manufacturing date, the typography used, 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 live to help amateur collectors confirm a date or design. Bottle collection organizations like The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors provide up to date and historically accurate information for serious and amateur bottle collectors. The most popular bottles for collectors come from the 19th and early 20th century.
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.
Categories
There are a number of complex bottle terms used for the identification of bottle types. There are also general categories of bottle types being collected. They include milk bottles, soda bottles, beer bottles, ink bottles, perfume bottles, liquor/wine/spirit bottles, snuff bottles, and apothecaries.
The convenience of the internet has made bottle collecting and treasure finding much easier than in decades past. There are also other options that include antique stores, yard sales, estate auctions and even in your own home!
If you are looking to get into the business of bottle collection, 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.
