There are a few things to keep in mind as you get into antique bottle collecting.
When it comes to antique bottle collecting, you may ask yourself "Where do I start?" Perhaps you have acquired an old bottle, and you are curious about it's age and history. Perhaps you have seen antique bottles on display, and you are eager to start building a collection of your own. No matter what your motivation is, there are several things to keep in mind before you head out to auctions, antiques stores, flea markets, and estate sales, in search of new discoveries. Here are several tips for collecting antique bottles:
Knowledge
It's always a good idea to educate yourself by reading everything that you can get your hands on. This should be the first step for the new collector. The more you know, the better informed you will be. Look for full color reference materials at libraries and book stores. If these places don't have a particular book that you want, they may be willing to order it.
Start Networking
Learn about bottle collecting news, events, history, and culture by talking with other antique collectors. It will help you immensely to contact antique bottle collecting clubs and associations. Doing so will put you in contact with bottle enthusiasts; both new-comers, and seasoned collectors. Members of associations have access to events (including appraisals and auctions), newsletters, mailing lists, special opportunities, and miscellaneous information that outsiders would find it hard to obtain.
Watch a collector in action. By attending bottle auctions, shows, and events with an experienced collector, you will learn valuable things about auction culture and etiquette, firsthand.
Learn To Recognize Clues
Before you seek out antique bottles to build your collection with, it's important that you learn to recognize the differences between reproduced, repaired, and cleaned bottles. It will save you time and money!
A reproduced bottle has the look of an antique, but if it is sold to you as something older, you will end up paying more than what the bottle is actually worth. A repaired bottle is worth much less than a bottle that is undamaged, and a cleaned bottle is worth less than one that is uncleaned, or one with it's original fluids intact. Always pay less than market value for bottles that are reproduced, repaired, or cleaned.
It is true that most sellers are honest, but some are not. If you ever have doubts about a particular piece, don't make the purchase. It is also true that a general antiques dealer will know less about antique bottles than someone that specializes in this area.
Damaged Bottles
Never buy a damaged bottle because you fear that you may not come across another of it's kind. It is better to hold out with the hopes of finding something better. Be patient, and an equal, or better opportunity,may eventually come your way.
Digging
Digging for bottles is a hard task, but your efforts will sometimes yield discoveries. The best places to dig are sites that once held the foundations of homes, outhouses, and trash dumps. The best areas in the United States to dig for glass are in the east, where most of the old glass houses were first built, and in the west, where bottles were buried during the gold rush.
You can expect to find buried items about 4 to 15 feet down, with the newer bottles buried closer to the surface. Also, depressions in the ground will often signify that something is buried beneath.
