...located in the beautiful High Desert of Eastern Oregon
FOR SALE -
Bottles & Bottle Books
& occasional other
collectibles
Click HERE to go straight to the "BOTTLES FOR SALE" pages links
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LINKS TO MY PAGES
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This and the associated linked web pages are my current listings of antique or "historic" bottles, bottle books, and sometimes collectibles for sale.
I try to be as comprehensive as possible in describing bottle condition. Many of the "flaws" or condition issues that I point out are often overlooked by others. I also try to take representative pictures of all the bottles listed, though some bottles can defy accurate pictorial representation. Click on the highlighted link(s) in each listing description to see the picture(s) of the specific item for sale.
If you would like additional digital pictures or information, please e-mail me (link below).
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To help properly describe the bottles on this list or for the people who found this page and have some basic questions about antique bottles, I have another web page that is a glossary of some major antique bottle descriptive terms. It is found at the following link - Bottle Description & Condition Glossary. It includes more links to pictures to help portray some of the bottle characteristic described.
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admin@historicbottles.com - or
just click on the following link:
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Shipping & insurance is additional (except that U. S. shipping at the media mail rate IS included in the price of books) and will be calculated at the actual cost (as best I can determine) via the USPS depending on the weight of the item and your zip code. No additional packaging or handling fees. For an idea of the shipping costs, click on the following USPS link to calculate the cost from my zip code of 97603 - DOMESTIC RATE CALCULATOR. Very small bottles usually ship at under 2 pounds, average size at 2-3 pounds, with larger or heavier glass items at sometimes a 4 or rarely 5 pounds. Multiple bottles are harder to figure. I ship to the U. S. and Canada but typically not to other overseas addresses any longer due to the difficulty in determining shipping costs ahead of time...although feel free to inquire; I do make exceptions. Insurance is extra if you desire it; insurance rates can be also be found at the previous link. I try hard to pack well but one never knows how a package may be treated in transit. I offer a 7 day, no questions asked, 100% (sales price) money back guarantee on everything I sell! It's the only way to do "e-business." I accept personal & cashiers checks and money orders
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I also have a books-for-sale list if you click on the following link: BOOKS FOR SALE. Though limited in scope, this list has a variety of books, with an emphasis on Western Americana books.
ANTIQUE BOTTLES FOR SALE
- The bottle categories are listed in the menu below.
- Click on each category link to move to that section.
- The first - "Western American Bottles" - category is on this webpage below.
- The other categories are on separately linked pages.
- Use the browser back arrow to return to this menu
from any of the category pages.
Click on the thumbnail picture, highlighted title links, or
other links within each listing to see pictures of the bottles described.
My email is - bill@historicbottles.com - or click on the following link:
If the email above does not seem to work, use this back-up one:
jfcutter@charter.net
Western American Bottles
Liquor/Spirits
J.
H. CUTTER / OLD / BOURBON / (crown) / E. MARTIN & CO / SOLE AGENTS
- Sporting the distinctive curved R's of the mythical but otherwise unknown mold
cutter from the Bay Area, this is a very fine example of a popular and
not-so-common San Francisco glob top whiskey bottle. This example is a
nice light to medium golden amber that is actually a bit lighter and bit more
golden than the image shows. 11 1/2" tall, crudely applied "brandy" finish
or lip (click to view close-up),
smooth and somewhat domed base, and ca. mid to late 1870s. Condition is
essentially mint with just a couple small scratches (one on the back is about
3/8" long and a bit deep) and one very tiny (smaller than a pin head)
though shallow open
bubble; no chips, cracks, dings, flea bites, or other issues. The
embossing is bold (click to view
close-up) and the glass itself is waxy and moderately whittled with a nice golden color
which makes this a very esthetic bottle. $595
DURHAM / (motif of bull) / WHISKEY - (Thomas #93) Here is a pseudo Western whiskey which was produced (and sold?) back east but is very similar to one of the rarest of the Western whiskey bottles except missing the all important E. Chielovich & Co. embossing. Thus, it's interest by Western collectors and listing in Thomas's books. This one does indeed have the famous "foot" on the back - click reverse view to see such. Click view of bottle resting on the foot to see it resting on its foot. Bottle has an applied "brandy" finish or lip, was blown in a four-piece mold, smooth base, is a medium orange amber, and is about 11 1/2" tall. This example has been professionally cleaned as the glass used to make the bottles seems to react to about all soils. Although the outside surface has been cleaned to a nice glossy surface, the inside still retains some moderate to heavy staining as it appears the inside was not cleaned due to concerns about the possibility of mechanical damage to the relatively thin glass of the foot. Even with the inside staining, the bottle displays quite well. The bottle itself is otherwise undamaged except for a 3 /4" vertical crack in the top portion of the lip; click close-up of the lip to see such (the crack is the dark line visible). The bottle is an ex-Heckler Auctions item from 18-20 years ago and the crack is entirely stable and not too detracting. Hard to find bottle which, though not perfect, is in pretty decent condition including a perfect, undamaged foot. $350
J.
H. CUTTER / OLD / BOURBON / (crown) / A. P. HOTALING & Co. / SOLE AGENTS -
All this is embossed in this familiar (to Western collectors) fifth sized
liquor bottle from San Francisco. This version (Thomas 44C with the "S" in
AGENTS underneath the "G" in HOTALING) dates from 1884 to 1886 according to the
late Mr. Thomas, has a crudely applied lip (close-up
image of lip), smooth slightly domed base, 2-piece mold, and is embossed
with A No 1 on the reverse not in a circle. Color is
a nice honey amber and the glass has lots of nice stretched teardrop bubbles and
a bit of whittle. Click
close-up image of the
embossing to see such. A very nice solid example that is in essentially mint
condition...in fact, I can't find anything wrong with it (OK one very, very
shallow and small open bubble). $120
G.
ARATA & CO. / monogram / PORTLAND, OR. - The previous is all embossed
within a "slug plate" (aka plate mold) on this "pint" picnic or pumpkinseed
flask from Portland, Oregon and is the earliest of the Arata liquor
bottles. Click close-up of
the embossing to see such. These scarce (like most Western embossed
picnics and coffin flasks) G. Arata flasks date from the 1890s with the
same embossing found on both the pint and half pint picnic flasks and pint and
half pint coffin/shoofly flasks (actually the same plate was used for both the
pint flasks...and same with the half-pints). This is the "pint" size (and
called such by glassmakers) picnic which actually held something like 10-12 oz.
- a common occurrence in the early, non-regulatory era of the 19th century.
(These were referred to as "scant" sizes and eventually lead to the adoption of
the "Full Measure" liquor bottles & flasks in response.) The pint picnic
is arguably the rarest of the four G. Arata flasks. This flask has
a tooled double ring finish typical of the style and is of colorless (clear)
glass like all of the Arata flasks to my knowledge. Condition of
the bottle itself is perfect with no chips, cracks, or other issues. The
bottle does have some light overall - though pretty even - haze on the inside
with a few streaks here and there....all non-distracting to my eye and really
don't show in the image. This bottle was also used for illustrating my
Historic
Bottle Website. $195
G. ARATA & CO. / monogram / PORTLAND,
OR. - I also have a half-pint size picnic flask (smaller flask in
the image to the right) that looks essentially
identical to the above flask - except smaller - and in the same condition with
maybe just a little bit less of the very light - though even haze. This
example is about 5.1" tall, colorless/clear glass, smooth base, and no chips
cracks or other issues beside the very light haze. Virtually
all of these type flasks in the West were dug and the colorless glass tends to
react with the soil, so very few picnic or coffins flasks came out of ground in
sparkling, unstained mint condition; those that appear that way were usually
(but not always) professionally cleaned (which these could be by the new owner of course). $165
Take both picnics (image to the right) for $340.
BOTTLED
BY / THE AP. P. HOTALING CO. / WHOLESALE / LIQUORS / PORTLAND, OR. - All
this is embossed horizontally (click
embossing close-up to
see such) on the front of this relatively "ball neck brandy" bottle that came in
both clear/colorless and amber, like this example which is the more desirable of
the two colors. To be more specific, this wonderful example is a light and
fairly brilliant orange amber with the glass fairly littered with bubbles of
varying sizes. Bottle is just under 11.5" tall, has a tooled "patent" lip
or finish, smooth base, and dates from about 1900-1910, I would estimate.
This example is just about mint with just a tiny fleabite nick on the lip edge
and some light scuffing on the back...otherwise the bottle has no chips, cracks,
staining, or other issues, and nice look to the glass surface. $145
RICHARD
KNOLL / WHOLESALE / LIQUORS / PORTLAND, OR. - This is all embossed
within the circular "slug" plate of this "pint" picnic or pumpkinseed flask
which John Thomas dated (most likely quite correctly) from between 1887 and
1893. As Thomas also noted these flask are quite rare. This example
is just over 6.5" tall, smooth base, colorless/clear glass with a tooled - and
fairly crudely formed - double ring lip or finish. This is an exceptional
example that is essentially perfectly mint - I don't see anything wrong with
it...no chips, cracks, staining, or other issues. (This example is an
ex-Glass Works Auctions "Western Round-up" item from the mid-1990s.) Hard
to find but...here is one. $200
...and
if that wasn't enough, here is the
half-pint size (image to the left) with the same embossing pattern in a
(smaller) circular plate and equal in rarity to its big brother above.
This one is 5.25" tall, smooth base, colorless/clear glass which is very clear
and glossy like the pint above. Condition of this example is also
essentially mint with just a tiny scuff mark on the back and no staining,
cracks, chips, or other problems. Exceptional example. $200
If you want both, take the pair (image to the right) for $380.
Bitters & Medicinal
DR
HENLEY'S / WILD GRAPE ROOT / IXL (in a circle) / BITTERS - This is an
excellent example of these big, bold and popular Western bitters bottles.
This appears to be #40 in Wilson & Wilson's great 1969 Western Bitters
book and dates from the mid-1880s and almost certainly a product of the SF&PGW.
It is almost 12" tall, has a crudely applied "champagne" style lip or finish
(banded collar), somewhat pointed deeply domed base, and has bold embossing.
The color a deeper than usual blue aqua with a little whittle to the the bubbly
glass and stretch marks in the neck. It is essentially in mint condition
with no chips, cracks, flea bites, or other issues...just a bit of a light
staining ring to the inside back side. The outside surface is not stained
or dull at all. I suppose there is a few light scuff marks here and there,
though the bottle is just about as made. Very nice example for a dug
bottle (like most of these were) and way cheaper than a deep blue-green one.
$225
DAMIANA
BITTERS / BAJA CALIFORNIA - This is embossed vertically on two sides of
this tall "fifth" or "sixth" sized Western Bitters bottles from San Francisco,
CA. 11 1/4" tall, tooled "brandy" finish (with some of the original foil
wrapper still remaining), bluish aqua in color, ca. 1890s. Click
Baja California embossed side to
see such. A nice example of an unusual shaped bitters that began
production in the 1870s and continued until about the turn-of-the-century.
This is the variant without "Lewis Hess - Manfr'r" on the shoulder and the last
of the three molds to be used. This bitters (and the Damiana herb in
general) was thought to be a sexual stimulant... Condition is about mint
with just a few light scratches and no chips, cracks, or staining. Has a
bit of body crudeness in the form of bubbles - including some neat teardrop ones
- and stretch marks. $50
KING
SOLOMON'S BITTERS - SEATTLE, WASH. - This is embossed on the two narrower sides of
this rectangular bottle. Medium amber, tooled double collar
("brandy finish"), smooth base (embossed
S. G. CO. which likely indicates a rare product of the Seattle Glass
Company of Renton, WA.), 8" tall,
ca. 1905-1907 (business dates of Seattle Glass). Click
HERE to view a picture of
the reverse side of the bottle. To my knowledge, this and it's slightly smaller
brother (example sold earlier; see below) are the only embossed bitters bottles
from the Northwest with the city of origin embossed on it. A fairly rare
bottle, this example is essentially mint - no problems (e.g., chips, dings, flea
bites, staining) that I can find at all.
Great example all round. $125
"WE
NEVER SLEEP" / MUEGGE "THE DRUGGIST" / BAKER, ORE. - (Bottle
pictured to the immediate right.) A relatively familiar
and very popular bottle because of it's intensely brilliant emerald green color. 6
1/4" tall, tooled "prescription" finish, smooth base (embossed C. L. G. CO. for
the Carr-Lowrey Glass Company), ca. 1905-1915. These bottles come
in three sizes, this being generally the middle (6 ounce) size.
(Note: I've only ever seen 3 sizes, but have heard unsubstantiated rumors
of other sizes.) Condition is essentially mint -
I can find no problems at all. Excellent example of a popular bottle that is
around but becoming harder to find. $75
I am also offering a small (3 ounce, 5") size Muegge in essentially perfect condition. (Bottle pictured to the far right.) $70 for the small one or take the set of two for...$140
C.
L. WILHELM / SAN FRANCISCO - This is a fairly rare and early Western
citrate of magnesia bottle of which I don't know anything of the specific
history of the company/druggist. The noted embossing is within a round
"slug plate" as shown in the images. The base is not embossed, the lip is
a tooled double ring (click close-up of the
shoulder, neck, and finish/lip
to see such), and it has the appearance of dating from the 1870s I would
estimate, possibly early 1880s. Whitall, Tatum & Co. is likely the
producer of this bottle. That company was a pioneer in the use of plates
on druggist type bottles including these type citrate of magnesia bottles as
shown in their 1880 catalog which was reprinted back in the 1970s.
However, this bottle could also have been made by the San Francisco or Pacific
Glass Works (or the combined company) - a fact impossible to determine since it
has no makers marking. Condition of this bottle is about mint with just a
small flash or bruise on the inside edge of the lip; the bottle appears to
have been professionally cleaned. This bottle was also used for
illustrating my
Historic
Bottle Website. $30
Soda/Mineral Water & Beers
C.
& K. /EAGLE WORKS / SAC CITY - The Markota's great book on the subject
of Western blob sodas (page 14) notes that the C & K stand for Casey &
Kelly and that this was the precursor to the Owen Casey / Sac City soda
bottles, dating from between 1858-1866. (Note: Four Owen Casey
bottles - in four different colors - will be listed in the near future.)
This bottle is just over 7" tall, smooth base (click
base view to see such), has an
applied blob top (click close-up
of neck and lip to see such), and is a very pleasing deep sapphire blue in
color (or medium cobalt blue). Condition is near mint with a tiny amount
of faint case wear on the outside surface but no staining and some very, very
light water staining to the inside. This bottle was not noted as being
professionally cleaned when I purchased it at auction many years ago (and given
the existing light haze on the inside) but it could have been a bit on the
outside. This bottle was also used for illustration purposes on the Historic
Bottle Website. Nice example with no chips, dings, cracks or
annoying staining. $195
BAY
CITY SODA WATER / CO /S. F. - (large star on reverse) - To see an image
of the large bold star embossed on the reverse, click
reverse view. These are very
familiar and popular soda bottles with Western collectors and for a good reason
- they are beautiful. The Bay City bottles like this date from about 1871
to 1880 according to Markota's book on the subject. This example has the
typical applied blob finish or lip, is just over 7" tall, smooth base (these are
never pontil marked; click base view),
has very bold embossing, and is in a very nice clear medium sapphire blue.
The bottle is also quite crude - whittled with bubbles in the glass and stretch
marks in the upper shoulder to neck area. This example is near mint
though has been professionally cleaned retaining some light case wear in the
usual spots. It also has two very small nicks on the heel/base related to
the case wear (one within the edge of the base is visible on the left side of
the base in the base view image above...it is the largest and still very small).
Nice example. $195
H.
MAU & CO. / EUREKA / NEVADA - A deep blue aqua in color, this bottle has
the "look" of many soda bottles made at the SF&PGW between about 1875 and 1885,
including the ubiquitous "curved leg R's" which were the product of some unknown
mold engraver that worked in the Bay Area during that era. Click
embossing close-up to see such.
This very nice condition blob soda bottle - one of the very few from Nevada -
has an applied blob finish, smooth base, and stands 6 3/4" tall. Condition
of this bottle is essentially mint with no chips, cracks, digs, flea-bites, or
significant staining...just some very, very light wisps inside which many would
not even note. Great example in great condition...and harder to find every
day. $200
HOFFMAN
& JOSEPH / (lion on a column) / ALBANY, OGN. - A very scarce to rare
Oregon blob top soda bottle from the only other city in Oregon to produce blob
tops soda bottles (and Albany produced two...this and the related H. D. /
ALBANY, O. soda noted earlier). Almost 7" tall, bluish aqua in color,
tooled blob finish, smooth base, ca. 1880s. Like virtually all of these
sodas that I've seen, this one has a few short "flashes" in the glass - one on
the right side of the lip that is 1/4" long and one on the right side of the
base edge that is about 3/8" long. Other than a bit of wear/scratching
here and there, a couple tiny flakes on the base perimeter, and a couple tiny
digs (this all sounds way worse than it is) this bottle is in pretty good shape
with no chips or significant staining. Actually I think this is a
slightly better than average example which I'm selling only because I did locate
a more or less perfect one. A must for the Oregon collector. $40
CRESCENT
/ BOTTLING WORKS / J. A. C. / SEDRO-WOOLEY, / WASH. - According to Ron
Fowler's great (really!) book on Washington soda bottles, James A. Clark (the J.
A. C. on the bottle) was the sole proprietor of the Crescent Bottle Works
in Sedro-Wooley, WA. from 1905 to 1914 - which would be the manufacturing date
range for this soda bottle. It has a tooled crown top finish (lip), was
blown in a four-piece, cup-base "plate mold" (the embossing section was a
removable and replaceable plate), smooth base, has a pale amethyst tint, and is
8" tall. The base is
embossed with 1013 (or 101B...hard to tell as it is faint and "double
stamped", so to speak) which would be a mold and/or design number used by
the unknown glassworks that made the bottle (which was most likely on the West
Coast). I've not seen many of these soda bottles, and indeed, Fowler notes
it as "Very Rare" meaning less than 10 known to that author. The condition
of this bottle is essentially mint with no chips, cracks, or significant
staining (virtually all of the splotchy dirt faintly showing inside was removed
after taking the photo); the bottle has just the slightest bit of wear on one
shoulder spot...very insignificant. Top example with very bold embossing.
$45
"B"
Gravitating stopper bottle from California - This is a Stockton and/or
Marysville, CA. bottle in the typical gravitating stopper shape with the
following boldly embossing on the base (with the mold engravers errors noted;
errors which are not noted in Markota's book on the subject):
GRAVITATING STOPPEP (a "P", not an "R") / MADE BY (with the "Y"
upside down)
/ JOHN MATTHEWS. N. Y. /
PAT / OCT 11 / 1864 in a similar orientation as above.
(The base of this bottle is shown with the stopper in the image to the left.)
This bottle is embossed with a large, thick "B" with diagonal hatch marks
indicating its use by Charles Belding who bottled soda waters for a very long
time in Stockton and Marysville, CA. during the last half of the 19th century,
beginning during the Gold Rush era (1853) until at least 1895. Whether
this bottle was used in only Stockton or Marysville or at both is unknown
according to Markota's great book on California Hutchinson sodas. Bottle
dates from the 1880s and includes the original gravitation stopper as shown in
the image. Condition of the bottle is essentially mint with no cracks,
chips, or notable staining (just some very faint wisps inside that may just be
dirt). The only "issue" is a tiny, almost invisible pin prick mark on the
edge of the lip. This bottle is a well above average specimen and was also
used for illustrating my
Historic
Bottle Website. $45
PORTLAND
/ TRADE MARK / (crude phoenix bird) / SODA WORKS / P. O. - This is an
early Portland, Oregon Hutchinson soda bottle that dates from the mid-1880s.
One of these bottles (different example) was used as an example on the "Soda &
Mineral Water Bottles" page of my Historic
Bottle Website so I will quote from there:
The base is...embossed with NORTHROP & STURGIS whom were the
proprietors of the concern from 1883 to 1911, when it became the Puritan
Manufacturing Co. In 1886 - the era of the pictured bottle - the company
advertised the production of numerous beverages any of which could have been in
this bottle - soda water, sarsaparilla, ginger ale, cream soda, cider, and
more. The Portland Soda Works had a long run of embossed bottles (at least 9
different molds in 3 different bottle styles) under several ownerships beginning
in 1877 with the Cottle, Post & Co. blob-top soda and ending during the early
20th century with an early (mouth-blown), crown-top soda style. The pictured
Hutchinson soda is one of three similar variations with an eagle produced by the
company and likely dates from about 1884 to 1887.
The bottle has a true applied blob finish, is 6.1" tall, and has great stretch
marks on the shoulder/neck and moderate whittle throughout. In my
experience the bottles from this mold are always crudely made befitting the
crudely done phoenix bird in the embossing. They are probably also
products of the SF&PGW, although there is no maker's markings. Condition
of this bottle is very good with some scattered and relatively light inside
haze, some outside scuffing, and a tiny pin-prick flake just inside the lip.
Nice bright example nonetheless and not commonly encountered. $45
PACIFIC
/ SODA WORKS / PORTLAND, OREGON - This is all embossed within a round
"slug" plate on this taller style Hutchinson soda bottle. This bottle is
7" tall, has a smooth base, and a blue-ish aqua glass color. One of these
bottles (different example) was also used in the preparation of my Historic
Bottle Website so I will also quote from there:
The bottle...is a "mug base" (10-sided lower body), tall style Hutchinson soda
with the embossing in a round plate, a tooled blob finish, and was blown in a
cup base mold with no apparent mold air venting. This bottle also has embossed
near the reverse heel - McC - which indicates a manufacture by a William
McCully related glass company (Pittsburgh, PA.) which likely used this mark up
until at least 1899. The first Portland city business directory listing for the
Pacific Soda Works was in 1881 (probably producing the rarer gravitating stopper
type bottle) with the remaining listings under a different owner between 1888
and 1897. The glassmakers mark, business directory information, and the noted
manufacturing related features indicate a likely manufacturing date for the
Hutchinson bottle of the late 1880s or early 1890s which fits the later business
period. This example is in decent condition with no chips,
cracks or major damage, though it has some moderate staining to the inside and
out, some wear to the high points of the embossing and mug base edges, some
lower body wear, and a faint compression bruise on the inside of the lip which
doesn't show very much. It is a decent example of a relatively hard to
find Portland soda bottle that will look nice until you find a mint one (which
are very uncommon in my experience as the bottles from this company were usually used hard and
thrown away worn out...my "keeper" is pretty rough too). $25
FREDERICKSBURG /
(emblem with F B Co inside of a shield) / BOTTLING CO. S. F. / THIS BOTTLE NOT /
TO BE SOLD. This large (24-26 oz. & 11.5" tall), crudely
made, heavily whittled,
applied blob finish, thick olive green glass, champagne style beer bottle is
very reminiscent of the "apollinaris" style mineral water bottles. According
to Tom Quinn (in an excellent article in Thomas's 2002 book which was based on a
lead in May Jones's books from the 1960s) - these bottles, as well as scores of
other different beer (export and champagne) and cylinder liquor bottles, were
made in Germany (like most apollinaris bottles) for various far West Coast
brewing and liquor companies (primarily California with some in Oregon,
Washington, and British Columbia); often for companies with German surnames or
themes (like Fredericksburg). These German-made bottles - or at least the
ones with U. S. specific embossing - seem to be a phenomena of just West Coast
brewing and liquor companies which is believed related to a connection with
several importers in the Bay Area of German ancestry (Abramson & Heunisch in the
early 1880s; possibly others later). Anyway, this example is in about
mint condition with just some very minor wear/scuffing and a small nick at the
base edge (visible at the
linked image at about 11 o'clock). This bottle was used for illustrating
my
Historic
Bottle Website. And interesting piece of Western American history.
$70
GAMBRINUS BREWING
CO. / GBCo monogram / PORTLAND, OR. - All of this is embossed inside of
a circular "slug plate." The base is also embossed with S B & G Co / 2
indicating production by the Streator Bottle & Glass Company of
Streator, IL. (the "2" is a mold mark of unknown meaning) and the
reverse heel is embossed with a very small 99 which might
be a date code for 1899. Click
base view to see an image of the base. This bottle is mouth-blown (aka
hand-blown, like about everything I sell) with a tooled crown cap accepting
finish, aqua in color, 11 1/4" tall "quart" size (about 22-24 oz. actually), and
dates from 1899 to maybe 1905 when Streator merged into the American
Bottle Co. (As a side note, Gambrinus was known as the "patron saint
of beer" and a name used by many American breweries during the late 19th and
early 20th centuries - and even today in one instance.) Condition of the
bottle is about mint with very shiny clean glass and a few light scuff marks
here and there. The only issues are a small (3 mm wide by 1.5 mm high)
shallow flake on the side of the top portion ("bead") of the lip/finish and one
small (2-3 mm in diameter) impact mark on the lower back. This bottle was
also used for illustrating my
Historic
Bottle Website. All things considered, this is a pretty good
example of an Oregon beer bottle that one doesn't see that often. $40
UNION
BREWING / AND / MALTING CO. / S. F. CAL. - This is embossed on the front
of this "select" or "champagne" style quart (24-25 oz.) beer bottle. It is also embossed on
the base with P. C. G. W. which indicates manufacture by the
Pacific Coast Glass Works (San Francisco, CA.) which used this mark from 1902 to about 1924
according to Dr. Julian Toulouse's classic book on makers marks.
The Union Brewing & Malting Company operated under this name
from 1902 to 1916 with this bottle most likely dating to the first half of
that range. This example has a tooled
blob finish, 11" tall, smooth base (besides the noted makers marking), and
in a nice bright deep amber that does pass light well in the window (the image
shows the color well). Click on the following links to see more images of this
bottle:
base view showing the PCGW mark faintly;
close-up of the shoulder, neck,
and finish. The condition is virtually pristine with just a few
light scuff spots on the lower back and no cracks, chips, flashes, staining,
high point wear on the embossing (common on re-useable beer bottles), or other
issues. This bottle was also acquired for and used/pictured on the
Historic Bottle Website.
$40
Miscellaneous
SAN
FRANCISCO / GLASS WORKS - Quart fruit jar. Here is a rare
and desirable Western made wax sealer fruit jar dating from the 1870s. The
glass is a classic "SFGW" bluish aqua, 7 1/2" tall, with applied (pressed on
ring) wax seal type finish. It has the classic SFGW "curved R's" which
were apparently a stylistic trade mark of a particular mold cutter working for
the SFGW and later for the SF&PGW. Click
HERE for a close-up of
the embossing. There is also the usual blanked out plate curving above the
San Francisco where the "Cutting & Co" (I think that is right) embossing was
removed from the original configuration of the mold. After this mold was
used for the SFGW jars, all this embossing was blanked or "slugged" out in order
to make the "M. Seller & Co. / Portland, O." fruit jar in the early
1880s most likely (talk about recycling!). The glass is crude, whittled,
and bubbly and the wax seal lip is crudely applied...the way we like them.
The jar is largely mint though has/had a very small chip on the outer edge of the lip
which has been repaired quite well, though the epoxy/resin does have a slight
yellowish cast to it upon very close inspection. This repair was
reportedly (from the seller I acquired it from) done by Marty Hall who is well
known in the West for quality work. The repair appears to be only about 1/2" + or - long
and very shallow (<1/4"
deep) and something I wouldn't have bothered to have done. Click
HERE to see a close-up of
the repair on the lip which is pointed out with an arrow. There is also
some neat crudeness to the inner ring just inside the repair which is not a
chip, but totally in-making. Bottle used for and pictured on the
Historic Bottle Website.
A very nice jar which makes it easy
to see why someone did take the trouble to repair the small chip - "damage" that
is very minimal but enough to lower the price by several hundreds.
$350
I also have a fine half-gallon
example of this
same jar (pictured to right) with the same embossing details as the quart size
(i.e., ex-Cutting & Co. mold that later morphed into the M. Seller &
Co. jar) except that this jar is essentially perfectly mint with no chips,
dings, flea bites, cracks or staining...and it appears to have never been
cleaned. Both sizes of this jar are are quite rare though the half-gallon
is seen much less often. This is a nice blue aqua jar also. Click
close-up of the embossing to see such
(it is much more distinct than the image shows) as well as some of the seed bubbles in the
glass; the color in this linked image is a bit more bluish than in real life
although the
image to the right is pretty accurate. Email me for additional images or any questions.
Great - and quite rare - examples of glassworks marked Western glass...which are
well undervalued in my opinion. (Note: One of these with a small lip chip
just sold for a bit more than this price [with commission] at Glass Works
Auctions.)
$695
...or both of the above SFGW jars for $995
N.
E. - PLUS - ULTRA - FLUID - The preceding wording is embossed on the
four roof sides of this beautiful little schoolhouse ink which also comes
complete with embossed doors and windows on all the body sides. This
bottle is about 2.5" tall, just over 2" to each side of the square body, smooth
domed base with an embossed dot in the center, a relatively deep blue aqua in
color, the typical "cracked" off straight finish, ca. 1870-1880. These
versions of the every popular schoolhouse inks are thought to have been made in
the West - SF&PGW to be precise - which commonly produced bottles with a deeper
blue tone to the aqua glass like this bottle. This example came from the
West (California) and most others I'm familiar were also Western found -
including one we broke digging when I was growing up in Oregon. The
condition is mint with the usual "roughness" to the rim of the lip which was a
function of the blowpipe being cracked-off - instead of sheared - and not being
refired to smooth it out; an attribute common to ALL of these type of
schoolhouse ink bottles. For more images click
reverse view to see such; click
base view to see the indented
base. Very nice example of a very scarce ink bottle. $425
SOLD ITEMS
KING
SOLOMON'S BITTERS - SEATTLE, WASH. embossed on the two narrower sides of
this rectangular bottle. Medium to darkish amber, tooled double collar
("brandy finish"), smooth base (embossed 384 H - with the "H" possibly
denoting manufacture by the Holt Glass Works for San Francisco?), 7 1/4" tall,
ca. 1900-1910. (Ring K-50) Click
HERE to view a picture of
the reverse side of the bottle. To my knowledge, this and it's slightly larger
brother, are the only embossed bitters bottles from the Northwest with the city
of origin embossed on it. A fairly rare bottle, this example is
essentially mint - no problems that I can find at all. Great example all
round.
SOLD!
EXCELSIOR
/ BITTERS - Here is a very rare Western Bitters that is seldom
encountered with this example being and even rarer variation. It is
embossed "Excelsior" in one indented side panel and "Bitters" on the reverse
indented panel. This example has the even rarer true applied collar
which exhibits spillover 360 degrees around the upper neck. Click
applied finish close-up to
see the crudely applied lip on this bottle. Wichmann's Western Bitters
book notes that the specimen pictured in his book is/was the only known one with
an applied finish; here is #2. Click
"Bitters" side to see an
image of the reverse side of this bottle. This bottle is not air
vented so it has the flattened - but most distinct - embossing of an older
bottle. The Wilson's (and Wichmann who used the Wilson's dating) dated
these bottles from 1888 to 1892, though the manufacturing characteristics
indicate a late 1870's to early 1880's date. Regardless of the date this
is a hard to find bottle. Condition is near mint with one small (3/16" by
1/8") shallow flake on one shoulder (shows in the "applied finish close-up"
picture linked above). There is also a very shallow - "onion" skin - in
making open bubble on one plain side panel that has a small part of it open;
this shows on the enlarged version of the picture to the right. The
open part is has little depth. These condition issues are relatively minor
and the bottle is otherwise very clean with nice crudity to the glass.
SOLD!
NABOB
- Here is about the cheapest "green" glob-top, Western whiskey cylinder that one
can get...and there aren't that many of these around even. This one is
Thomas (2002) #139 which just says NABOB in an oval. Color to my eye is a
light to medium yellowish green with no amber at all. Click on
color
comparison to view this bottle alongside a light to medium amber whiskey
of the same era. This picture shows that the Nabob is distinctly
yellow-green but you be the judge of the color. It has a crudely applied
"brandy" style lip or finish, 4-piece mold, smooth base with a domed "kick-up"
like most all of the Nabob's have, ca. 1870-1880. Bottle is near mint with
a shiny pleasing surface, a scratch or two, and one small body nick on the back.
Rounding out this fine bottle is some nice bubbles in the glass. If you
"need" a green Western whiskey but don't want to mortgage the house, here is the
way.
SOLD!
DURKIN
PINT FLASK. This pint Spokane, Washington whiskey flask is embossed on
one side as follows: 16 OZ / WHOLESALE / & / RETAIL / DURKIN / MILL / AND /
SPRAGUE / SPOKANE. For a picture of the embossing click
HERE. The other side has a 95%+ intact label - some mild staining and
chipping around the edges - that notes the bottle contained "Rich Bourbon."
8 3/4" tall, tooled double collar, smooth base, clear glass, ca. 1905-1915. This
flask has to be considered quite rare with the label. Condition is
essentially mint - no chips, cracks, and only the lightest of content residue in
a few spots.
SOLD!
SIEBE
BROS. & PLAGEMANN'S / ROSEDALE / OK / WHISKEY / SOLE AGENTS - This
particular bottle was found in one of the gold camps of eastern Nevada
(Hamilton-Treasure City area) many years ago by a person who has long passed on.
This one has a nice glob top - click
HERE for a close-up
picture of the top & neck. 11" tall, clear glass with a grayish tint that
will not purple in the sun There is some light external staining that
would clean easily. There is also one very small (3/16"), shallow, and
largely unnoticeable flake under the lower collar on the side and some very
minor flaking to the sharp edge at the heel of the bottle - a common occurrence
on these bottles. All of these issues don't amount to much except to
lower the price significantly below what Thomas listed the bottle at in 2002
($300 average).
SOLD!
OREGON
IMPORTING CO. - Embossed in a "slug" plate oval/circle is: OREGON
IMPORTING CO. / WE NEITHER RECTIFY / trademark / NOR COMPOUND / PORTLAND, ORE.
Cylinder quart whiskey with fancy fluting on the shoulder, tooled "straight
brandy" lip or finish, smooth base, ca 1904-1915 (Prohibition in Oregon began in
1915 and put this and every other liquor company out of business). Color
is a deep, rich chocolate amber with a bit of a reddish tone. Condition is
about mint with one shallow, partially open bubble (1/4" x 1/8" open) to the
upper left portion of the embossing plate and a small peck mark on one of the
shoulder flute ribs. A very esthetic bottle that would look great in the
window.
SOLD!
"WE
NEVER SLEEP" / MUEGGE THE DRUGGIST / BAKER, ORE. - A relatively familiar
and very popular bottle because of it's brilliant emerald green color. 5
1/4" tall, tooled "prescription" finish, smooth base (embossed C. L. G. CO. for
the Carr-Lowrey Glass Company), ca. 1900-1915. These bottles come in three
sizes, this being the smallest one. Condition is essentially mint - I can
find no problems.
SOLD!
DONNELLY
RYE / FULL QUART embossed vertically on one side of this rectangular
liquor bottle. The opposite side (picture to the right) has the original
highly colorful, virtually perfect label indicating it was from the Jno. C.
Connelly Co., Sacramento, CAL. Click
Donnelly Rye embossing to see
a picture of the other side of this bottle. 10 1/2", medium amber in
color, tooled inside thread finish/lip with hard rubber threaded stopper, smooth
base, ca. 1900-1915. Though this is not a particularly rare whiskey (not
that abundant either), ones with the original labels must be considered rare -
it is the only one I've ever seen. Bottle is not surprisingly in
mint condition with some nice bubbles here and there in the glass. Nice
colorful item that would look good next to the following bottle also.
SOLD!
HANLEY
MERCANTILE CO. / SAN FRANCISCO is embossed on one side of this more or
less rectangular bottle (it is a bit rounded in cross section). The other
side has the original label (picture to the left) indicating that the bottle
held Hanley Rye along with the embossing "FULL QUART." Click
Hanley Mercantile Co. to see
the embossing side of this bottle. Again a very nice, virtually perfect
label (one very fine vertical scratch through the label) that must have been
made by the same company as the Donnelly Rye above. 11" tall,
medium to light amber in color, tooled inside thread "brandy" finish/lip with
inside threads and a hard rubber stopper, smooth base, ca. 1900-1915.
Again a not rare whiskey bottle, but one which is greatly enhanced with the
original label. Condition is essentially mint with a small flake on the
edge of the upper lip surface that is about 3mm in diameter (hidden by the cap
and was originally sold as perfect). Other than that there are a couple
light, small spots of dirt inside that would likely wash out. Nice bottle.
SOLD!
JOY'S
- SARSAPARILLA - THE / EDWIN W. JOY CO. / SAN FRANCISCO - The embossing
is scattered on three sides of this rectangular medicine bottle from California.
All of the sides are indented and the embossing is bold and distinct (sometimes
these aren't). Bluish aqua, tooled single collar, smooth base, 8 1/2"
tall, ca. 1890's. A scarce sarsaparilla from the West which didn't produce
many embossed sarsaparilla bottles it seems. Condition is near mint with some
body crudeness and bubbles in the glass adding to its visual
appeal.
SOLD!
ROSEDALE
/ O.K. / WHISKEY / SIEBE BROS / & / PLAGEMANN / S.F. / SOLE AGENTS / PACIFIC
COAST - Here is a great looking and rare "glob-top" whiskey from San
Francisco. Great "full face" embossing pattern - click
HERE for a close up picture of the embossing. The bottle has a nice
crude globby top. Bottle is 11 1/2" tall with some dimpling and/or light
whittle to the glass, domed base with McC embossed in the middle
(for Wm. McCully & Co., an early Pittsburgh, PA. glasshouse). The
color is a medium amber with just a touch of "red" which the picture picks up to
my eyes. This is actually one of the few Western glob tops that have a
glassworks "maker's mark" on the base. These bottles are virtually always
quite stained (as noted in Thomas's whiskey bottle books) though this one has
been professionally cleaned to its original surface luster - very clean and
without any damage (no nicks, dings). The embossing is very distinct
though not overwhelming with the overall visual appearance
of the bottle excellent. Noted as a $2000 average value bottle in the
late John Thomas's most recent whiskey book. I recently saw a regular
amber examples for sale at at major Western shows for $1500-2000+. My price is much
less for a nice & rare Western "glob."
SOLD!
Lash's
Kidney and / Liver Bitters - The Best Cathartic / and Blood Purifier is
embossed on two opposite sides in sunken panels. The other two sides are
plain and not sunken. Click
HERE to view a picture of the reverse side. Tooled long tapered
collar ("oil finish"), medium amber in color, ca. 1890s. Near mint
example of this popular Californian bitters bottle with nice glossy glass that
has quite a few bubbles in it. No problems - chips, cracks, or significant
staining - just a few wisps of very light stain was noted in one corner.
Not much else to say about it except that it is a nice example. SOLD!
CAPE
ARGO / SODA WORKS / MARSHFIELD, ORE. - This is all embossed horizontally
on the front of this somewhat scarce Hutchinson soda from Coos Bay (Marshfield
was the "old" name for Coos Bay). This tooled lip blob top
"Hutch" soda bottle is bluish aqua in color, 6 5/8" tall, four-piece mold
(probably blown at the Pacific Coast Glass Works), smooth base, and ca.
1900-1910. The bottle is about mint with just some very light surface
scratching and a bit of very fine case wear "chipping" to a few of the embossed
letters - very hard to see. Otherwise no stains, cracks, or other issues.
(Please note that the dark spotting on the lettering [visible in the enlarged
photo] is just some specks of residual black water color paint that a previous owner put
on to make the embossing stand out. I removed most of it but didn't quite
get it all.) Start your Oregon Hutchinson
collection right here! SOLD!
J.
F. CUTTER / EXTRA / TRADE (star in shield) MARK / OLD BOURBON -
Here is an ever increasingly hard to find pint Western made (curved "R's" and
all) strap side union oval flask. It is medium amber in color, has some
minor crudeness, but best of all is essentially perfectly mint with no staining,
chips, cracks, flashes, flea bites, etc...maybe just the barest of rubs here and
there. Click view of flask base
to see such. It has the single applied "bead" type finish or lip which is
shown close-up in the image at the following link:
close-up of the shoulder, neck
and lip. A classic Western flask that will only continue to
go up in value AND get much harder to find...and there aren't that many of these
around anyway ("30 to 40" according to Thomas's most recent Western whiskey
book). If it matters, this bottle was also illustrated on the Historic
Bottle Website. Good solid example. SOLD!
PHOENIX
/ OLD / (phoenix bird) / BOURBON. / NABER, ALFS & BRUNE / S. F. / SOLE
AGTS. - All this embossed within an oval on a relatively familiar - the
Western collectors - "full face" Phoenix cylinder "fifth". Click on
embossing close-up to see such.
Thomas #120 for those that have the most recent Thomas book. This example
is the glob top (aka, true applied lip or finish) version, although there is
limited "glob" to it...but it is there; click on
close-up of the neck and lip to
see such. This nice example is essentially mint with no chips, cracks,
dings, flashes or staining. However, it has been professionally cleaned
but retains some subtle evidence of ground wear if one looks close.
Listed at $2000 in Thomas's recent book this one is priced at about what some
tooled lip ones are going for these days. SOLD!
PHOENIX / OLD / TRADE (phoenix bird) MARK / BOURBON / NABER, ALFS & BRUNE / SAN FRANCISCO / SOLE PROPRTS. - Embossed on the front of this "half-pint" (probably more like 4-5 oz.) shoo-fly flask which was also almost certainly produced at the San Francisco & Pacific Glass Works in the late 1880s or early 1890s. It does not have the curved "R"s like the other two Phoenix bottles as the famous SF "curved R mold engraver" seemed to have ceased his work in the mid-1880s. This bottle also has a tooled "brandy" lip or finish, 6 1/4" tall, and also in a very nice light to medium golden amber color. Condition of this bottle is very good with a faint "matte" type surface (never cleaned either) that is kind of esthetic to my eye and no cracks or noticeable staining (besides maybe the matte surface appearance which is very even) though it does have a small flea bite on the edge of the lip (click close-up of both flasks lips to see such) and also a very small, extremely shallow, and hard to see flake on the base just below the heel on the lower left front corner. Both of these flasks were acquired from the late Bob Barnett. Another nice flask priced to reflect the small nick on the lip. SOLD!
CARLSON
BROS / WHOLESALE / AND / RETAIL / ASTORIA, ORE. - The preceding is
embossed within a round plate (i.e., "slug plate") on this "pint" (10-12 oz.)
Dandy flask from the oldest U. S. settlement in the West - Astoria, Oregon.
There is also a very faint "179H" (I think) on the base. According to John
Thomas's great book on Oregon liquor bottles, the Carlson Brothers were in
business from about the late 1890s to 1915 when statewide Prohibition shut down
all liquor establishments in Oregon several years prior to the insanity of
National Prohibition seized the country. Thomas also notes this as
the "rarest of the Carlson Bros. flasks." Condition is very good with a
few short scratches or abrasions on the body, some very light though somewhat
splotchy water staining on the interior, and a small (2 mm long, less in width)
flat flake off the lip rim. Hard to find liquor flask from a small town in
Oregon that displays very well. SOLD!
TEA KETTLE / (tea kettle) TRADE MARK /
OLD BOURBON / SHEA, BOCQUERAZ & McKEE / AGENTS / SAN FRANCISCO - This is a
very familiar bottle to most Western collectors and quite popular with them due to the
neat embossed tea kettle and the connection of these bottles with the most famous of
all Western mining camps towns - Virginia City, NV. - where most all of these
bottles were dug. Like so many bottles, these used to "be around" and not
to hard to acquire, but these days they sure show up way less often. This
example is about 11.6" tall, has a smooth somewhat domed base (click
base to see image), has an applied lip with some spillover, some
bubbles in the, is a medium chocolate amber in color, and dates from the mid-1870s - the
"Big Bonanza" era of Virginia City. Condition is essentially mint with no
staining, cracks, dings, or such...the only flaw is a tiny (2-3 mm)
cooling "check"
in the back shoulder which is very hard to see. This bottle was purchased
from the late Bob Barnett about 20 years ago. Embossing is good -
probably average in intensity at least with the rounding typical of the older non-air
vented bottles; click embossing
image to see such (embossing also shows on the base view above). Not
lots of crudity, but still a nice example of a classic Western whiskey.
This bottle used for and pictured on the
Historic Bottle Website.
SOLD!
COTTLE, POST & CO / (eagle) / PORTLAND OGN. embossed around a phoenix bird rising from the ashes. Medium to deep blue-green, tooled blob top, round, smooth base, 7" tall, ca. 1877-1881. Here is the top Oregon blob soda - if color is the criteria. The Cottle sodas are the only real colored soda bottles from Oregon and come in several distinct shades of blue-green as well as the extremely rare and desired amber version. (Note: The H. D. / ALBANY blob soda from Albany comes in a deep blue aqua - almost teal color - but that is as close to "color" as any other Oregon blob soda's gets to my knowledge.) All of the Cottle bottles have a tooled lip - unusual for this era which saw almost exclusively true applied lips on sodas and mineral waters. The phoenix bird on this bottle is virtually identical to the phoenix on the older (Sole Agent) Phoenix Bourbon bottle from San Francisco...both are probably products of the San Francisco & Pacific Glass Works though there are no curved "R"s on the Cottle's and the manufacturing technique looks different, so it could be a product of an eastern glassworks. The example offered here is of the deeper blue-green variety with a slant towards the blue - there is also a lighter teal green version and a equally deep blue-green version that leans a bit more towards the green than blue. These bottles are around but not common by any means and quite popular given the color. This one is in very good condition though appears to have been lightly cleaned as it has some minor evidence of case wear on the sides and high points of some of the embossing and a few pin prick peck marks (case bumping) on the surface of the glass and heel. (One of these recently sold at the Grapentine auction for over $850 and appeared to not be that much better than this one as it had a bit of embossing wear also.) SOLD!
LACOUR'S
BITTERS - SARSAPARIPHERE - These very distinctively shaped bitters -
presumably a stylized rendition of a lighthouse - come in a variety of colors,
this being the most "common" in a nice bright light to medium amber.
Bottle is 9" tall, has an applied
"stovepipe" style lip or finish (one of the few bottles to sport such a
finish), smooth indented base, and dating from around 1870. Condition is
about mint with perfectly clean, glossy glass inside and out with no wear or
scratches. The only "issues" are a couple very small flea-bites on the
edge of the lip (click to see
image) and a very short (1/8"), in-making - and very hard to find - "check"
or "stress mark" where the lip was applied. Really not damage but want to
note it. This bottle was also used for illustrating my
Historic
Bottle Website. Nice clean almost mint example of a bottle that
(like so many) is becoming hard to find. SOLD!
G.
ARATA & CO. / monogram / PORTLAND, OR. - And if that wasn't enough, I
also have the half-pint coffin flask which is in about the same condition
(bottle itself is perfect with some very light haze) but does have a small
in-making indentation on the shoulder above the "R" in ARATA where the glass
sagged a bit when the bottle was blown. This shows in the image and isn't
too distracting on and otherwise very nice condition item. The small line
showing at the top of the rim is an in-making line (i.e., crudeness) and not a
"flash" or short crack.
SOLD!
DR.
HENRY.S / WORLD'S. TONIC - & / BLOOD PURIFYER (sic) - Here is a big bold
mystery tonic bottle that is often attributed to the West the few times I've
seen one for sale. It is just over 9" tall, has a crudely applied double
ring lip or finish (click
close-up of the shoulder, neck and finish to see such), no evidence of air
venting, and appears to date from the 1875 to early 1880s range. The
embossing is very bold and distinct (and as noted above with vagrant punctuation
and misspelling) and there is a flare to the legs of the "R"s that is much like
the multitude of Western bottles that have that same attribute; all the products
of some mystery mold engraver in the Bay Area. The glass itself is wavy
and a bit whittled with some nice bubbles of various sizes scattered about.
The glass color - as the images show - is also a deep blue aqua that is typical
of many products of the SF&PGW...like the Henley's listed above. Condition
is about mint with no staining, chips or cracks. The only issue is a very
tiny pin prick sand grain (it is that small) that has just the hint of
iridescence around it and isn't hardly even visible (the grain or the
iridescence) and something most wouldn't even note. The price I've listed
it at splits the difference between the few examples of this bottle that I've
seen in recent years (eBay). Exceptional example.
SOLD!
S.
B. / CATARRH CURE - Base is also as boldly embossed SMITH BROS / S.
B. C. C. / FRESNO, CAL. How many bottles can you think of that come
from Fresno? Aqua, tooled single collar ("patent" finish), almost 8"
tall, smooth base (except for embossing), ca. 1895-1905. Bottle is a
bluish aqua and very boldly embossed with some bubbles in the glass.
Condition is essentially mint - I can't find anything wrong with it at all and
it has nice brilliant glass.
SOLD!
C.
P. MOORMAN / ONLY / MANUF'R OF / J. H. CUTTER / OLD BOURBON / A. P. HOTALING &
CO / SOLE AGENTS / S. F. - All this embossed on the face of
this pint, medium amber shoo-fly flask blown by the SF&PGW (curved "R"s and all)
and familiar to most Western collectors. This example has a crudely
applied long tapered collar lip (click
shoulder, neck and finish close-up
to see such) and some body crudeness. The glass is pretty heavy and the
color a medium golden amber which shows accurately in the images.
Condition of the bottle itself is perfect with no chips or cracks. It was
dug and has some light to moderate - and not too distracting (as the images
show) - haze/staining to parts of the inside and out. It has never been
professionally cleaned and would respond well to such although it looks pretty
good as is. Nice example and as with most good Western bottles, not seen
as often as years back. (Note: This bottle is my brothers and I'm selling
it for him.)
SOLD!
PHOENIX
/ OLD / TRADE (phoenix bird) MARK / BOURBON / NABER, ALFS & BRUNE / S. F. / SOLE
AGTS. (Pint flask is to the left in the image; 1/2 pt to its right has been sold) - All this bold/sharp
embossing is on the front of this "pint" (probably more like 12 oz.) shoo-fly
flask blown almost certainly at the San Francisco & Pacific Glass Works
in the 1880s (it has the famous "Western" curved "R"s). Tooled "brandy" lip or finish, 7" tall, and
in a very beautiful light to medium golden amber color. This bottle is
essentially mint with a nice original glossy surface (never professionally
cleaned it appears) with only a few wisps of very faint water staining inside
the shoulders and some light scuff marks on the back; no chips, cracks, flea
bites, dings, etc. As with most
all good Western items - and flasks in particular - these used to be "around" at
the shows frequently, but are much harder to find these days.
SOLD!
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