Bottles For Sale

Bottles That Are In My Inventory For Sale

Below are a few old bottles and antique inks that I have for sale. All are antique bottles - nothing new. Most are 100+ years old. If you seek something that is not here, please ask. Shipping is by Priority Mail I will establish costs when I know your zip code (with the rise in mailing costs, this is essential). Due to shipping difficulties/expenses, I have to limit sales on bottles to US only. Shipping is from Richmond, VA. A 7-day return policy applies if the bottle is not as described, as I am very careful about mentioning all problems. More pictures by request. If you have any questions or wish to order, please email me. I accept payment by check or money order. Contact me by email for questions about payment. Prices often get lower if I get tired of seeing the same bottles, so check the whole page from time to time. Also, I place new items at random over the whole page, not just the top.

There are now some group pictures of types too numerous to list individually. You can search the Names & Places page for embossed names on many others not pictured.

Recently I have had several people interested in a particular bottle who decided (apparently) that the cost was too high, primarily due to the shipping cost. I have tried to keep the cost of my bottles reasonable and the shipping I state is what the USPS charges (or sometimes less). Considering the PayPal fees, shipping materials and gas to the PO, what I charge is usually as low as I can go. Unless the USPS drops their fees (good luck!), this is the best I can do. In order to make it easier for you to tell what you are actually paying for a bottle, I am using a "Price + shipping" listing. If you ask about an item, include your zipcode & I will reply with the total price for that item. Shipping usually will be less for more than one bottle. Please keep in mind that postage on a bottle will be between $12 and $15 on average (the minimum is now about $12.00). Compare identical bottles that sold on Ebay & add in the shipping & I think that you will find my prices reasonable or better.

If you live in the vicinity of Richmond, VA I may be able to save you some money & myself some packaging by meeting somewhere convenient for the sale. If this is feasible for you let me know what you want and I will quote you a "local delivery" price.

In case you are concerned about such things - almost all my bottles have been tumbled to get them looking close to their original condition. Just a polishing powder is my main cleaning agent.

I sold much of my inventory at the Richmond show, priced below my cost. I am trying to downsize and reduce my bottle space as much as possible. I have a few odd things like a small Clevenger Brothers collection that I haven't photographed yet. If you collect something & don't see it, ask me as I might have one stuck in a corner somewhere.

If you try to reach me by phone, I don't usually answer unless I recognize the caller name. Leave a message & I will call you back ASAP.

This page last updated on 11/29/24

I. W. Harper Whiskey Jug - I don’t know my whiskey pottery enough to know the age of this, although I’m sure it dates to the 1800’s. It is 7” tall and has a 3.5” diameter base. It is sort of a cream gray color with blue printing. There are no chips or dings but lots of crazing due to age. There are 2 sides of a medal shown indicating the whiskey won an award at the Worlds Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition of 1804-5. It gives the name of I. W. Harper of Nelson County Kentucky, $85 + shipping.

Wicker Wrapped Blob Top Teal Flask - I always have been intrigued by wicker wrapped bottles as they were surely covered by the hand of someone very skilled. This 7.5” tall flask is no exception. You can only see the color in the blob but it appears to be a medium teal color. It seems to be a flat-bottomed canteen in shape with small wicker handles on the sides. No problems whatsoever that I can detect. I think this is a bargain at $45 + shipping.

OPEN PONTIL GROUPS: The 3 groups below are of my oldest bottles for sale. All the unembossed one sold at the show and these are harder to find. They are all OP and clean. The letters “OP” in a listing is short for “open (tubular)-pontiled”, bottles dating from the early 1800’s to the 1850’s. These are often reasonably priced considering being around 200 years old. The ones listed below are all clean. Any problems are listed. Shipping will probably be about $15 per group east of the Mississippi. Individual pix can be provided on request.

OP Group 1 (L - R)     Cond.
Embossing City   State   Ht   Lip (1-10) Price
F Brown Druggist Cor Ches & 5 Phila.   PA 5.5   F` 6    30
   (weak embossing)
Dr. Rose’s (lip damage) Phila.   PA 5.5   T 6 10
Schenck’s Pulmonic Syrup 8 sides   Phila.   PA 7 T 9 70
Dr H Swayne’s Compound Syrup of
Wild Cherry (lip damage) Phila.   PA 6 F 6 40

Individual bottles on sale 15% off, better prices for multiple bottles.
Group price 11-15 to 12-31-2024   20% off $120 + shipping

Lip types: T-tapered R-rolled F-flare

OP Group 2 (L - R) Cond.
Embossing City   State Ht Lip (1-10) Price
Barry’s Tricopherous Fot Skin and
   Hair (Dir. In The Pamphlet) NY NY 6 T 9.5 30
Dr S S Fitch 707 B.Way NY NY 2.75   F   4 15 8
     (lip missing
R R R Radway & Co Entd Accord To
Act of Congress (pinhead bubble) NY NY 4.75 R 4 10
Dr Tobias Venetian Liniment NY NY 3.875 R 6 15
T & M on 2 sides of cube (OP hinge mold)
(Alfred Taylor & James More)   Rochester NY 2.375   R 8.5 20

Individual bottles on sale 15% off, better prices for multiple bottles.
Group price 11-15 to 12-31-2024   20% off $60 + shipping

Lip types:   T-tapered R-rolled F-flare

OP Group 3 (L - R) Cond.
Embossing City   State Ht Lip   (1-10) Price
Dr Evans Camomile Pills 3 F 9 20
M 3.75   R 7 10
Like above w/o M but with horizontal bridge 3.75   R 7 10
Spalding’s Glue, wide mouth 3.25   R 8 10

Individual bottles on sale 15% off, better prices for multiple bottles.
Group price 11-15 to 12-31-2024   20% off $40 + shipping
TAKE THEM ALL for $200 + shipping.

Lip types: T-tapered R-rolled F-flare

Stoneware inkwell - This is an early inkwell, produced by any of the existing potteries in 17th-18th century (according to Wm. Covill and similar to Fig. 1560 in his book). It is 3.5” in diameter and 1.5” tall and is a grayish tan in color with a clear glaze. It has 4 quill holes and a larger center hole where the ink was held. It was poorly (and cheaply?) made and has a rough spot and a missing flake on the side. Over the many years it has developed several fine cracks running around the base but I believe it would still serve its purpose if needed. This is a very nice example of an early inkwell. Only $75 + shipping.

Double Strength Sugar Beverage - I am not a soda collector but I love this bottle. Talk about Truth in Advertising! The embossing reads. “Double Strength / Sugar / Beverage” on both sides and “Design Pat-No / 86036”. I checked and the design patent was applied for the bottle (not the text) in 1929 and was granted in 1932 to Charles Davis Little. I believe this a design sample and the text was added to show what a bottler could put on the bottle. I just found out that this bottle was used, at least some, by Dr. Pepper and there are several examples out there with town names on them. Since this does not have a town on it I'm thinking that it is earlier than ones that do. The bottle is clear with a yellowish tint, about 8.5” tall and clean. There is a hint of lip roughness in one spot but it is not visible. No problems that I can see. I would grade as a 9.5+ with its complex embossing and great condition. Just a fun bottle for your collection. $15 + shipping

Wooden sanders - Sanders have long been overlooked by many ink collectors despite their widespread and necessary use. Originally writing paper was made from cloth and other fibers and was very porous. A fine powder, pounce (aka sand), was spread over the paper surface and wiped off so the ink wouldn’t run and smear. later, as paper was improved and made smoother, something was needed to make the ink dry quicker and not run. Again, pounce was the answer. In the later case it was sprinkled over the wet ink and excess poured off for reuse. Hence the design of the sander - a small wooden bowl over a container for the powder with holes in the bowl bottom to allow the sand to be sprinkled over the document and allow excess to be returned through the same holes. Most that I have seen were turned on a lathe and made of a fairly light wood such as maple. The two shown here appear similar but probably be made of different woods. Both are 2.75” tall and a bowl slightly more than 2.5”. They both have a 6-point star pattern of holes and 5 holes in the middle. Everyone of this period needed a sander and an interesting collection can be made of all the varieties they come in. Either one only $95 + shipping or both for $180 + shipping

Large Chestnut Shaped “PICNIC” Flask - This is larger than many chestnut flasks, being 7” tall and 4.75” at the widest point. The only embossing is the word “PICNIC” in 3/4” capital letters. It is very clean with lots of tiny bubbles, a ring & collar lip and a flat oval base. It was blown into a 2-piece mold and is free of any problems that I can see. It isn’t in McKearrin’s book so it has no ID number. $95 + shipping.

Early black glass bottle with long neck - I took the last piece of black glass from this website to the Richmond bottle show in October and sold it almost immediately. I think someone got a bargain. Here is your chance for a piece of early black glass. It is 9.5” tall with 4” of that being the neck. It is a medium olive color with a light iridescent sheen that I associate with being in the ground for a long time. It has some light inside stain seen only when the bottle is held to a bright light and a sheered lip with a tiny flake above a ring. There is an odd kickup on the bottom that looks like it would match half of a ping-pong ball. I don’t know my old glass well enough to give a date but it appears to be similar to some from the 1700’s to early 1800’s. It has an overall nice appearance and the long neck is interesting. NOW just $15 + shipping.

Mrs. Guilmard Eau Sublime - I am reasonably sure that this small (3.75") bottle held a perfume but whatever it held, it must have smelled really nice! It is clear, clean and free of problems. I put it on a dark background to make the embossing more legible. The embossing is bold and reads, "Mrs. H. Guilmard / Eau Sublime / New York". Add it to your collection for NOW $7.00 + shipping.

Newport Mineral / Water Co. / Newport, KY- I haven't looked up where this is in Kentucky but I have traveled enough of the state to think that it not a large city. The embossing on the front pretty much tells everything about the bottle. It is a nice medium aqua, clean but with some light contents haze, ABM and about 7.5" tall. A nice Kentucky mineral water NOW for only $10.00 + shipping.

Dr. Kilmer's Swamp Root Kidney Liver And Bladder Remedy - Whoever made the mold for the Heart Remedy (above) must have made the one for the 2 bottles on the left, as the style is identical. They are both 7" tall with a ring and collar lip & very clean. Both are embossed on one recessed panel, "Dr. Kilmer's (in an arc) / Swamp Root / Kidney Liver / And Bladder Remedy (or Cure) / Binghamton (in a reverse arc) / N. Y. U.S.A." Due to the 1906 FD Act the word "Cure" on the bottom one was replaced by "Remedy" on the top. NOW I'm selling them as a pair for $30.00 + shipping.

Different Hot Drops With a Great Promise - These are almost the same size, 5.25" and 4 7/8" tall due to a difference in the neck. Both were hand-blown around the turn of the 20th century. They seem to have held the same amount of contents but have slightly different dimensions. They are embossed on 3 sides, "The Herb Medicine Co. // Lightning Hot Drops / No Relief No Pay / Springfield, O." How is that for a sure cure? Both are clean but do have the lightest of inside stain in places. A couple of neat little meds. $12.00 each plus shipping or NOW both for $16.00 + shipping.

Red Ravin Sauce – This bottle presents a small mystery. It obviously had a paper label but the embossing "Red Ravin" on the bottom posses the question: was this a location, product name or perhaps a manufacturer? I've looked but didn't find any other examples. (I have been told that this was a PA bottle but that is not verified.) It is a pretty bottle, clean and graceful but does have some case wear, esp. on the bottom, as shown Also there is an 1/8" fish eye on one side. NOW I'll send it on to you for $6.00 + shipping.

Odd Morlee's Buchu Gin – The first thing you notice is the shape: the base is 2.75" square (with cut-off corners) and the height is 12". Sparkling clean with just a hint of inside contents stain. Great display. Handblown with a tapered tooled lip, late 1800's. No chips or dings. It will look great on your shelf! NOW $7.00 + shipping.

Motevideo, Minn. Bottling Works - I tend to pick up bottles from distant (to me) states even if I have no clue as to their value. Case in point, a hand-blown (pre-circa 1910) soda embossed, "Motevideo / Bottling / Works / Contents 7 1/2 Oz. / Mintevideo, Minn." and with a large " S M" on the bottom. Clear and clean with some faint ground abrasions but no chips or dings. NOW I'll send it to you for $10.00 + shipping.

Black Oil Dressing- I assume that this was for boots and shoes. The bottle is about 4.5" tall and1.5" square. The embossing is divided into 2 parts by a vertical line: the left side reads "The / 400 / Trade / Mark" and the right "Black Oil Dressing / Welmer Callaway / Jersey City, N.J. / U.S.A." slight contents haze but will display nicely - no chips or dings. NOW I will send it to you for $8.00 + shipping

Three Wisconsin Beers / Sodas - I'I don't get`many mid-west bottles here in VA but now I seem to have several. Going left - to - right, I have 1) "Shawano / Speciality Co. / Shawano , Wis. / Contents 8 Fl. Oz.". Probably a soda, 8.75" tall, clean with just a hint of inside stain, no chips or dings. 2) "Theo. Dietzler & co. / Contents 8 Fl. Oz / Hartford, Wis. // T. D.". It is 8.25" tall, clean but, again, with a hint of contents stain and some small outside pitting from being in the ground. Overall about a 8.5-9.5 on a 10-pt scale. 3) "Farmers Brg, Co. / Shawano, Wis. / Contents 8 Fl. Oz." 8.0" tall , some light surface abrasions from being in the ground and a horseshoe shaped burst bubble from manufacture.
I am asking $10.00 each + shipping. but can NOW offer all 3 for $20.00 + shipping.

Weston, WV Soda - Not a lot to say about this little soda other than its somewhat scarce origin. It is embossed on opposite sides of the shoulder ith large block letters, "Weston" and on one side at the the bottom, "Coca-Cola Bottling Co. / Weston, W.VA" and the other, "Minimum Contents / 6 1/2 Fluid Oz." It is very clean and the only problem about a 3/16" flake on the back bottom edge below the embossing. It is pale aqua, and ABM. Let's make a deal - NOW sent to you for $10.00 + shipping.

Dr. August Koenigs / Hamburger / Tropfen - This is an unusual little bottle. By the size it would appear to be a medicine. The embossing is just what is stated in the header. It is clear, 3.75" tall (with a slight lean when upright) and 1" in diameter. The "Hamburger" is less distinct in the picture but NOT on the bottle. (I have been told by someone with knowledge of German that Tropfen refers to medicine administered by the drop, so that mystery is solved) NOW $8.00 + shipping.

Feigenspan P. O. N. (Pride of Newark) Beer - I didn't know what PON stood for until a fellow collector told me. This 9.5" tall, light aqua has an applied crown top closure which dates it between 1892 and about 1915. It is clean with no problems that I can see. The embossing reads, "Feigenspan / P O N (inside a shield) / Trade Mark / Newark, N. J." in bold letters. NOW I’m asking $8.00 + shipping

These are my remaining historical flasks other than the ones pictured above -

Flasks With No McKearrin number

Grapes on one side, lion wearing a crown & wielding an axe on other. OP
Probably European(?) $125 + shipping

Clevenger Bros. diamond pattern flask, amber w/Label. This is the only Clevenger bottle that I have seen with the original "factory" label. This is a scarce bottle, probably one of very few known. Probably 1970's. $25 + shipping