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Books About Antique Bottles

Antique Western Bitters Bottles

by Jeff Wichmann

Written by well known bottle expert and American Bottle Auctions founder, Jeff Wichmann, this new and exciting book examines the colorful world of western bitters bottles and is sure to be an excellent reference for years to come. We’ve included virtually every western bitters known, many shown in different color variations, all in beautiful full color. With over 130 pages and hundreds of photos in an 8 1/2" x 11" format, you’ll see why these beautiful bottles are so highly prized by collectors. After traveling the west, photographing collections, we’ve taken the best of the best and produced a book which is sure to be a favorite in your antique and bottle library.  To order, contact us at American Bottle Auctions.

The Auction Price Report for Antique Bottles

by William E. Brown

Colored sections with 632 pages. If you collect bottles and need to know what they're worth, you need this book. With descriptions of virtually every category and most bottles within that category, Brown has managed to compile prices from 1988 up to the present. He has ingeniously made every category i.e. Bitters, Medicines, etc., in a different color so all one has to do is flip to a different color and find the bottle they're looking for. The Auction Price Report has listings for virtually every auction house worth mentioning and in doing so includes prices realized for different auctions for different years. The result is a reference that is indispensable for anyone interested in collecting bottles.  Available from the authors at 4627 Oakhollow Drive Sacramento, CA 95842.

A Look at California Hutchinson Type Soda Bottles

by Peck & Audie Markota

Second edition, 153 pages, black and white with drawings of the embossing of every bottle. Why wouldn't the authors of the best blob style soda book written, write one on Hutchinson style bottles? Well, they would, and an excellent job they did. Once again, Peck and Audie cover the area of this popular collecting area with great energy and focus. Another must have, it contains loads of history, detail and descriptions on variants and little known facts about Hutchinson style sodas. Another must have for your bottle library.  Available from the authors at 4627 Oakhollow Drive Sacramento, CA 95842.

Western Blob Top Soda and Mineral Water Bottles

by Peck & Audie Markota

Black and white with 122 pages of photos and drawings. Since 1970, this has been considered the Bible of soda and mineral water bottle books. Listing virtually every bottle worth mentioning, it's amazing that even after 30, it still covers all of the bottles made for the western companies. Contains invaluable historical information, the best book ever written on western sodas. A must have for the beginner or advanced collector.  Available from the authors at 4627 Oakhollow Drive Sacramento, CA 95842.

Bitters Bottles

by Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham

Hardcover, 618 pages with 16 pages of color photographs. The original version of this book called, For Bitters Only, was written over 20 years ago by Carlyn Ring. This new version, written in conjunction with Ring, has the entire book and added many new examples and variants. The result is the most comprehensive reference guide on bitters to date. With loads of beautiful color photographs and accurate drawings to accompany the descriptions.  $129.95.  Available from the author at P.O. Box 427 Downieville, CA 95936. (530) 289-0809.

Warner's Reference Guide

by Ed Ojea

Wire bound with color cover and pictures, 39 pages. Another excellent
reference, this is really the only book ever done on this one subject,
collecting Warner's bottles. In addition to a listing of virtually all of
the Warner's bottles known, it has a very informative forward which
differentiates tops and colors. The content page is especially helpful,
dividing the Warner's bottles into the different areas for which they were
produced. You can't collect Warner's without this one. Price $ 25 including
postage, (U.S.) Available from Ed Ojea: 1192 San Sebastian Ct. Grover Beach,
Ca 93433 or edojea@charter.net or edojea@aol.com

American" Applied Glass Seal Bottles Second Edition

by Dale L. Murschell

Wire bound with full-color covers. Lots of black and white photos and a terrific chart system used for reference. Loads of information about seal bottles, it would be tough to find an example not listed. Contains information on types of seals, different forms and what they mean, bottle profiles and much more. Even if you don't collect seal bottles, this is a great reference for that occasional "flea market" find. Available from Dale L. Murschell, HC 65 Box 2610 Arnold Stickley Road, Springfield, WV.

Zanesville, Ohio and the Glass Industry An Enduring Romance

by J. William Barrett II

Wire bound 178 pages with full-color covers and pictures inside. First printing 1997. Loads of valuable information in this terrific reference guide, which deals with a very important area of collecting in the United States. Includes information on why glass was made in Zanesville in the first place and outlines the glasshouses, the tools they used and how the trade flourished. Illustrations include references to the glasshouses and layouts of factories, along with a pictorial display of Zanesville glass.

Antique Glass Bottles Their History and Evolution (1500-1850)

by Willy Van den Bossche

Full-color cover with 440 pages. Includes pictures of almost every bottle in full-color. Certainly one of the best books on bottles to every come out, Van den Bossche has outdone himself with the first major comprehensive book on the history and evolution of antique glass made from 1500 to 1850. There are over 770 color photographs all done with exquisite taste and professionalism. It also includes a bibliography on glass bottles with over 1,150 listings, unsurpassed to date. A true work of art and a book which no serious collector should be without. To order, contact Market Street Industrial Park Wappingers' Falls, NY 12590 (845) 297-0003.

Pike Peak Gold

by John M. Eatwell and David K. Clint III

Full-color covers and photos, 228 pages. This is more than a bottle book but a reference guide for all that is and related to the Pike's Peak gold rush. Eatwell and Clint III have done a marvelous job describing topics like the Louisiana Purchase, Denver City, and the miners and of course the bottles that came with them. Lots and lots of beautifully done color photographs and virtually everything you wanted to know about this colorful period of the United States is included in the hardcover reference guide. Regular edition hardbound is $67.50 and a deluxe limited edition with padded leatherette and foil embossed dust cover, signed by the authors is $97.50.   To order, contact John Eatwell, 2345 So. Federal Blvd., Suite 100 Denver, CO 80219.

The Collector's Guide to Old Fruit Jars 9

by Douglas M. Leybourne, Jr.

Color covers 422 pages with black and white drawings and descriptions. For those who collect fruit jars, they know they wouldn't be without the "Redbook". In its ninth printing, Leybourne has managed to assemble a reference guide unequaled by anything on the market. While still finding a new variant now and then, it's a certainty that this book has almost every fruit jar ever made listed. A wonderful area of collecting, here's the Bible for fruit jar collectors. Available from Douglas Leybourne Jr. P.O. Box 5417 North Muskegon, MI 49445 (231) 744-2003.

Western Whiskey Bottles No. 4

by R.E. Barnett

196 pages with color covers and black and white drawings and descriptions. Another book considered the overall Bible for western whisky collectors; this book covers almost every whiskey bottle made for the west. If it isn't in here, it isn't. Unlike the late John Thomas', Whisky Bottles of the Old West, this book covers the tooled top bottles in addition to various shapes and sizes often seen by collectors of western whiskies. Many collectors actually organize their collections by this book. Available from Bruce Silva / Jefferson State Glass / P. O. Box 1565, Jacksonville, Or. 97530 Call (541) 899-8411 or FAX (541)899-9114. Email jsglass@intergate.com

Here's to Beers Bob Top Beer Bottles 1880-1910

by Byron & Vicky Martin

Full color cover, 64 pages with black and white photographs of almost every bottle listed. A longtime favorite of western beer collectors, this book has helped simplify the numerous companies that produced beer in the west during the last couple decades of the century. Martin has continually kept up with additions, which he sends out to buyers of the book. Another must have for the western collector, this is the best book ever written on the subject.  To order contact the author at 4307 Ranch Road PO Box 838 Angels Camp, CA 95222.

A Collectors Guide to Arizona Bottles & Stoneware

by Michael R. Miller

Wire bound with 124 pages. A book written for the Arizona collector in mind, this concise reference guide is organized by cities in Arizona, with each city having various bottle works attributed to it. It's great to see books like this as collectors know how difficult it can be to track down a specific bottle from a specific town. Includes rarity and prices with black and white drawings of each bottle. Lots of neat early photos, another good one for the bottle library. Available from Miller Antiques 9214 W. Gary Road Peoria, AZ 85345.
(623) 486-3123.  helgramike@uswest.net

California (Embossed) Drug Store/Pharmacy Bottles & Dose Glasses Second Edition

by Michael R. Miller

Black and white format with over 200 pages of references. Includes old time photographs of drug stores inside and from the street. The first half of the book lists virtually all the drug and pharmacy bottles known with pictures of the bottles in the second half. With each bottle clearly listed in order of what city they were made for, Miller has also ingeniously simply photocopied the bottles for a clear and concise rendering of every one. A must have for the drug collector, each bottle is graded by rarity. In addition to the bottles, Miller also covers dose glasses and some dose spoons. Only a long and devoted collector could have compiled this invaluable reference. Order from Edrick J. Miller 3257 Idaho Lane Costa Mesa, California 92626.

Ketchup Pickles Sauces 19th Century Food in Glass

by Betty Zumwalt

Full-color hardbound 480 pages. Includes historical background and loads of early photos of both the bottles and other go-withs. For those who have collected bottles over the years, they know that Betty Zumwalt has been a premiere contributor to the hobby, almost in a league of her own. Her first book she wrote with her husband, Bill Wilson, was called Spirit Bottles of the Old West and set the standard for western collectors and their pursuit of western spirit bottles. Next came Western Bitters and a couple years later, 19th Century Medicine in Glass. Today, over 30 years later, those three books are a highly sought after collectors item and can sell in the hundreds of dollars. With Ketchup Pickles Sauces, Zumwalt has captured the essence of this area of collecting the way she did in her earlier works, with superb historical information and well written descriptions and informative photographs. Another must have for the bottle enthusiast, when you find a pickle or food bottle you haven't seen, there's only one place to look it up. Includes their star rating system, which to this day has been an invaluable measuring tool to judge rarity and value. First printed in 1980, here's a book that has stood the test of time. Order from Mark West Publishers P.O. Box 914 Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Kovel's Bottles Price List 11th Edition

Full color covers with 262 pages with over 350 color and black & white photographs. It includes prices for bottles made from the 1700's into the 1990's. There are over 12,000 all new, appraiser-approved prices. A good book for the general bottle enthusiast, the Kovels have done a fine job of cataloging prices of bottles in virtually every area and age of collecting. A great book for the collector who can't seem to find that particular bottle any other place. Available in most books stores, through the Internet and at Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

The Hemingray Glass Co. A Most Colorful History

by H.G. "Bea" Hyve

First Edition. Full color cover with 482 pages. Color chapter separations and loads of photos and other interesting diagrams. Here's another great book for the collector of Insulators. Hyve tells a interesting and complete history of the Hemingray family from their beginnings in Ohio in the late 1840's to their final production. In addition to insulators, Hemingray also made bottles and lamps among other things. Theirs is a long-lived story, which is told from year to year, family member to family member and is documented every step of the way. Certainly the best, and probably one of the only, books on this colorful family.

Insulators A History and Guide to North American Glass Pintype Insulators

by John and Carol McDougald

Wire bound with 232 pages. Full-color cover with black and white drawings and photos of all the insulators listed. One of the mainstays of the insulator diets, this book includes almost every insulator of interest to the American collector. A superb resource for that occasional insulator find, it's amazing the popularity insulators now have and continue to generate. Included is a clear and concise description of how to use the book, colors, pricing and all the different types of insulators out there. This is a super reference guide that no well-prepared glass collector should be without. Available from The McDouglalds at Box 1003 St. Charles, Illinois 60174-7003 for $29.95 postpaid.

Historic Shot Glasses The Pre-Prohibition Era

by Barbara Edmunson

224 pages / softbound. Contains detailed drawings of hundreds of glasses produced for the liquor market prior to 1919. Loaded with information about the wholesalers and their brands, this is an invaluable text for researching both western and eastern whiskies. A must have companion to Western Whiskey Bottles 4th Edition. $23~ postpaid.  Available from Bruce Silva P. O. Box 1565, Jacksonville, Oregon 97530. Call (541) 899-8411.