How to Sell Antique Glass Bottles

Antique glass bottles are typically placed into six primary categories.

One of the first glass bottle makers was Baker & Cutting Company, which was founded in San Francisco in 1858 and was followed by the San Francisco Glass Works company in 1876. Another early glass bottle company was Union Glass Works in Philadelphia, which made bottles for soda water companies. Early companies made glass bottles for a variety of products such as whiskey and medicine. Many enthusiasts collect antique glass bottles, and there are a few ways to sell these collector’s items.

Instructions

1. Learn the categories of early glass bottles: fruit jars, inkwells, bitters, sodas, medicines and whiskeys. When selling antique glass bottles, identify the correct category and provide as much information about the bottles as possible, such as their date of manufacture and maker. Your local library should have reference books that you can use to identify your bottles.

2. Examine your bottles closely for characteristics that can help determine their value. For instance, early glass bottles were crudely made, with bubbles in the glass or an uneven top. These early glass bottles have a higher value than bottles made after 1890, when mass production began. In addition, curious factors, such as a backwards S on some of the early bottles made in California, make the bottles desirable for collectors.

3. Advertise in special publications, such as the "Antique Bottle & Glass Collector Magazine." These magazines offer a classified section in which sellers can advertise directly to a primary market.

4. Contact local auctions to place your bottles for sale. Glass Works Auctions provides listings for local glass bottle auctions, as well as absentee auctions.

5. Join antique bottle enthusiast websites, which often offer forums for selling items. Examples of websites include antique-bottles.net and antiquebottles.com. When posting your bottles, provide a detailed description of each item with as much history as possible. Include several detailed photographs that show any defects or identifying characteristics. Provide contact information, purchase price and shipping fees as well.

6. Consider selling your bottles on auction websites such as eBay.com or Bonanzle.com. Look at other listings to determine the current market value of your bottles. Create a post with detailed information and photographs, and be sure to include the cost of properly packaging and insuring the bottles when you're estimating shipping costs. Offer a refund or satisfaction guarantee to increase the number of interested buyers.

References

• Sedona Antiques: A History of Glass Bottles

Resources

• "Antique Bottle & Glass Collector Magazine" and Glass Works Auctions
• “Antique Trader Bottles Identification and Price Guide”: Michael Polak; 2009
• Antique Bottles: Forums
• Antique Bottles: Antique Bottle Collector’s Haven
• “Antique Glass Bottles: Illustrated Price Guide”; Gordon Litherland; 1979