| Why collect bottles? I suppose the simple answer | | | | events like the revolution, elections, etc holds |
| to that question is "Why Not?". Collecting anything | | | | appeal to many. |
| is a truly personal and subjective endeavor. It | | | | 4) Advertising and marketing people would find a |
| could be because your father or mother did and | | | | collection of bottles used as a advertising medium |
| your carrying on the tradition. It could be because | | | | of interest. |
| the color or design of a particular bottle caught | | | | 5) For the artist/decorator in addition to color, the |
| your fancy or because you see an opportunity to | | | | size, shape and decoration of the bottle would |
| make some money. The reasons are as | | | | hold appeal. |
| numerous as there are collectors. No matter what | | | | 6) Collecting bottles by region, regardless of bottle |
| your motivation it's important to follow certain | | | | type is another popular approach, |
| principals that will that help insure your collecting | | | | The combinations and permutations are endless. If |
| activities are effective and fun . | | | | you think you'll be alone in an esoteric |
| The Sport of Bottle Collecting | | | | subcategory of cobalt blue, medicine bottles |
| The "sport" of bottle collecting does have a | | | | produced before the civil war don't be alarmed. |
| number of advantages when compared to other | | | | After a bit of searching you'll find a whole |
| forms of collecting. | | | | community who shares you interests and |
| 1) It is relatively inexpensive to become activity | | | | enthusiasm and will be more than willing to lend |
| involved. While it's true that there are bottles that | | | | you a helping hand. |
| are worth thousands of dollars most bottles, even | | | | Regardless whether you decided to be a |
| those of relative rarity, can be purchased for | | | | generalist or a specialist, you'll need to develop a |
| $200 or less. | | | | rationale to use as a framework for your bottle |
| 2) You can approach bottle collecting from a | | | | collecting activities. Early on it needn't be detailed |
| number of different perspectives some that may | | | | nor set in concrete but it should point you in a |
| enhance and support other aspects of your life. | | | | general direction and set some basic parameters |
| You can collect bottles based upon their historical | | | | to guide your activities. |
| significance, their color, their use, their shape, | | | | Getting Organized |
| method of manufacture, their historic significance | | | | The first element of that rationale to do is to set |
| and many, many other aspects. | | | | a budget for yourself. A budget of the amount of |
| 3) The bottle you collect can be quite appealing | | | | time you are willing and able to spend on your |
| and beautiful to view. They display well so others | | | | collecting activities and a budget of the amount of |
| can enjoy your hobby along with you. | | | | money you have available to spend. If you are |
| 4) It's something the whole family can do. | | | | busy 24/7 with work, kids, home, other hobbies |
| Working the flea markets, garage sales, trade | | | | perhaps you should take a pass on starting |
| shows or actually going out on a dig can be an | | | | something new. Its not that bottle collecting is |
| adventure that friends, partners, children and | | | | especially time consuming but with other daily |
| other relatives can enjoy. | | | | pressures, the hobby will either languish or will |
| 5)You'll become a member of a community of like | | | | result in feelings of guilt . My rule of thumb is if |
| minded people with whom you can trade or | | | | you aren't will to spend 8 hours a month on |
| exchange information or treasure hunting stories. | | | | studying and collecting bottles, don't bother. The |
| 6) Finally, you can make money at it. While | | | | next step is establishing how much money you |
| unlikely to fund your retirement, bottle collecting | | | | can afford to spend. This too is subjective and |
| can be a profitable endeavor. | | | | predicated upon your income and current |
| Approaches to Bottle Collecting | | | | demands on that income. Again if money in your |
| Typically an individual gets involved in the collectible | | | | household budget is tight don't start. If you begin |
| bottle market purely by chance. He/ she comes | | | | to spend money you can't afford, what began as |
| across a box of old, antique bottles in a garage or | | | | a harmless hobby can quickly become a source of |
| inherit a collection of Jim Beam collector bottles | | | | friction. If you decide to specialize, chose your |
| from a relative or come across a bottle that | | | | collecting category carefully. If money is short |
| piques their curiosity. Whatever the starting point | | | | don't decide to collect ancient Roman bottles. Get |
| is it's important that you approach the collecting | | | | a collectible bottle price guide and look at the price |
| process in a structured and organized way. Why? | | | | ranges of categories you find interesting. Make |
| At the end of the day, getting organized upfront | | | | sure you can afford to actively participate. Set a |
| will save you time and money. Buy taking a bit of | | | | dollar limit on your bottle searching excursions to |
| time to plan and develop a collecting strategy an | | | | the flea market. Other things to consider when |
| individual will be better able to find that special | | | | budgeting are display and storage. Are you going |
| "deal" when your out hunting, you'll be able to | | | | to display your collection? Do you have adequate |
| focus you collecting activities toward specific | | | | space in your home? How are you going to |
| types or styles of bottles and not be distracted | | | | display your collection? Do you have sufficient and |
| or "sold" something that you don't really want or | | | | suitable storage? Be sure to include you significant |
| need and finally it will enable you to detect a fake | | | | other in the decision making process. Be sure that |
| or reproduction, the bane of all collectors, with | | | | the money and time allotment is OK with him or |
| greater confidence and ease. | | | | her. Be sure that the category you select is |
| So how do you get organized? The first step is | | | | something that he/she does not find objectionable. |
| to decide which "style" of collector you intend to | | | | Who knows, you might end up with a partner |
| be. There are two basic approaches to consider; a | | | | helpmate. |
| general collector and a specialized collector. A | | | | If your a generalist you planning is pretty much |
| general collector approaches the collectible bottle | | | | done at this point and you can get at it. If you |
| effort in a broad, highly subjective manner. They | | | | decide to be a specialists there are a few more |
| collect bottles that simply appeal to him or her. | | | | issues to consider. |
| They see it, they like it, they buy it with relatively | | | | There is a general rule in collecting that " it's easier |
| little or no concern for the inherent value of the | | | | to sell one five hundred dollar bottle and fifty ten |
| price in question. They enjoy the hunt but beyond | | | | dollar bottles". The principal being that it's better to |
| the like and dislike issue, they don't have a very | | | | collect expensive bottles than cheap ones. While |
| clear idea of what they are buying or why they | | | | certainly true for the established collector, it |
| are buying it. They buy a price guide and hit the | | | | doesn't necessarily hold true for the novice or |
| markets. The second approach is that of a | | | | even the intermediate collector. When first |
| specialist. This approach requires a bit of study | | | | starting out It's important to remember that, |
| and research. Maybe they started out a generalist | | | | while you may have spend quite a few hours |
| but their interest in a particular type of bottle | | | | studying a category, you are by no means an |
| deepens or they were burned by an ill conceived | | | | expert. You want to avoid making a big mistake |
| purchase and don't want to repeat their mistakes. | | | | right out of the gate. So buy lower priced items, |
| They may realise that a well conceived and | | | | get familiar with the intricacies of the category. |
| execute collection can have a higher total value | | | | Examine, touch and feel the higher priced items. |
| than the individual pieces that it composes | | | | As questions of dealers. Your expertise will grow |
| Whatever the rationale, they take the time | | | | only with time and hands on experience. Do build a |
| necessary to become more familiar with what it | | | | collection but start with the common and move |
| is they are collecting. | | | | to the rare. Yes you may end up with a few |
| Either approach works but each has distinct | | | | dollars tied up in bottles that you can't sell but it's |
| advantages and disadvantages. A generalists | | | | better than having a lot of dollars tie up in a fake |
| doesn't waste time during his searching activities, | | | | or in a bottle you overpaid for. |
| important to someone who doesn't have much | | | | Record Keeping |
| time to spend on his collecting activities. He find | | | | The final issue to consider when collecting is |
| something of interests, looks at the price, makes | | | | record keeping. It's extremely important to |
| a judgment and pulls the trigger or not. He can | | | | compile a complete record of all your bottle |
| build his collection quickly using the full range of | | | | collecting transactions and activities. It's important |
| bottle sources available. His collection is often | | | | for your learning process and to help value your |
| often more interesting and personal to him and to | | | | collection for your own edification and insurance |
| a casual observer. Each item in his collection has | | | | purposes. |
| its own unique story and not a shared history of | | | | The typical item record should contain the |
| cobalt blue bottles or civil war era flasks. A | | | | following information: |
| specialists, on the other hand, after a brief period | | | | 1) Detailed description of the item: size weight, |
| of study will be able to quickly spot value or | | | | color, labels, manufacture, manufacturing method. |
| knowledgeably negotiate the appropriate price for | | | | 2) Photo of the item |
| an item. Their collection often mirrors their other | | | | 3) Where , when and from whom you purchased |
| interests Unlike the generalist, a specialists has | | | | the bottle |
| access to a community of persons with similar | | | | 4) How much you paid for the bottle. |
| interests to trade with or queried for knowledge. | | | | 5) Value of the item from reputable price guide |
| A bit more about the specialist. There are any | | | | 6)Any information about the item given to you at |
| number of ways to specialize. | | | | the time of purchased or that you have |
| 1) Collecting bottles based upon to which it was | | | | discovered on your own. |
| put is one approach common among specialists | | | | 7) Ownership history |
| collectors. There are roughly 34 different | | | | 8) Original or photocopy of receipt |
| categories and subcategories of bottles based on | | | | 9) Location ie on display, in storage |
| usage. An individual can collect ink bottles, medicine | | | | 10) If you sold it, record when, to whom and for |
| bottles, tonic bottles, barber bottles, gin | | | | how much |
| bottles,perfume bottles, etc. Within each catalog | | | | Be sure to keep a copy of your records, whether |
| there can be additional divisions based on color | | | | on paper or digitally, off site. You would hate to |
| and design. | | | | lose you collection and you records at the same |
| Another specialization is by age. The age range of | | | | time. Be sure to include the value of your |
| bottles make over the last three hundred years | | | | collection in your household insurance policy. Some |
| can often be established and collecting colonial, | | | | policies will require a rider so be sure to check |
| pre-civil war, post civil war, pre or post mass | | | | with you agent. |
| production are approaches used by many | | | | There you have the basic tenets of bottle |
| collectors. | | | | collecting. By taking a bit of time up front to |
| 2) Glass color is another approach. Cobalt blue | | | | study you chosen category, budgeting you time |
| color sometimes call black glass is highly desirable | | | | and money and keep good records you will be |
| and collectible. Concentrating on other single colors | | | | well on your way to developing a endeavor that |
| or multi-color glass is also a popular approach with | | | | will provide you with hours of pleasure and fun. |
| collectors. | | | | You can point to you collection with pride and a |
| 3) For the history buff, bottles tied to historic | | | | sense of accomplishment. |