Should you Invest?

Digger Odell Publications Š2011

Bottle# 1 - Blue Delft Windmill Decanter with Tulip Stopper

The bottle had no contents, no markings of any sort to indicate when or where it was made. Had the original labels been attached (which have worn off or been removed) they would have indicated this was a Delft Vandermint Liqueur Decanter. The original stickers, of which there were two, one smaller on the shoulder and a larger one with the product name on one of the decorated faces read: "Imported From Holland!" "4/5 pint, 60 proof." Also, "Imported and Bottled By Park Avenue Imports New York, NY."

Digger's opinion...leave it on the shelf at the store. With six of these items for sale and none at auction, it suggests that the owners do not think they could recoup their investment or attract any bidder. All of them are hoping to find an unsuspecting buyer who might think this piece is a genuine Holland delft work of art. In fact, these were made for the collectible market and so there are just too many of them available to bring any interest. Your chances of selling it quickly or at all, are slim. Best to keep looking.

Bottle #2 Henry McKenna Bourbon Whiskey

The McKenna jug is not old and was mass produced for the collector market. Google Shopping had more than a dozen for sale today. Asking prices ranged from $10.00 for a miniature version to a high of $85 and a low of $12.95 with the average price a bit above $20. Ebay only had two, one a miniature going for a low priced auction with no bids, and the other similar to the one in the shop. At $15.00, there is not much chance of making a profit, especially with so many being offered for sale. One the other hand, if the item had its original contents and packaging like the one shown below,

it would have been a good buy because none of the 14 up for sale were in original condition. Even common mass produced collectibles can be more easily sold when they have their original contents, labels and packaging. The item with box and contents, is rare, comparatively speaking. I think you could double your money if the item was as pictured above.

Bottle #3 Clear Glass Decanter

This decanter is a fancy ornate decorated bottle. It mimics a cut or press glass decanter from an earlier age. But how old is it? Three clues should tell you that it is fairly modern: 1) the bottle itself is machine made; 2) the embossing 'FEDERAL LAW FORBIDS THE REUSE OR RESALE OF...' marks its age between 1932-1964. 3) the stopper - if the bottle was old, it would have a ground glass stem and not cork or plastic to hold it in place.

Beginning in the 1950s, liquor companies began making these holiday decanters to increase sales of their products. Over the next decades hundreds of different styles were made. While these might someday be collectible, at this there are too many of them and too few collectors. Finding one of these in its original condition with box and contents would be a very different story. This would be a very hard item to sell at any price. The item is marked $3.00 Should you take a chance? Nope. Let it ride?

Bottle #4 Four Compartment Bottle

I get a lot of questions about this bottle. People find them at yard sales, flea markets and thrift stores. Because they have a hand made look and seem to be crudely made, they are easily mistaken for old bottles especially when the plastic stoppers and labels are missing. They are relatively new dating after 1964 and seem to have been improted in great quantity in the 1970s..

The style of the multi-compartment bottle has ancient origins. Early American Glass examples of gemel bottles (two piece bottles) is well documented and they can sell in the hundreds of dollars. These bottles, usually imports, began showing up in the American market immediately after Prohibition ended. Earlier examples, like the bottle at the left date to the 1930-40s (notice the real cork stoppers versus plastic ones) is similar to the four part bottle being discussed, but rarer due to both age and condition, but only a bit more valuable perhaps in the $30-40 range. The four compartment bottles marked "Made in France" on the base rarely bring more than $10 unless they have label and contents. Even then they are difficult to sell. If you can get the item for $1-2 you might make a modest profit otherwise let someone try to turn it over.

Bottle #5 Blue Grecian Urn

The Grecian Urn bottle is one that was made by the Jim Beam company in the early 1960s. Look on the base and you'll likely see the "Federal law forbids the reuse... disclaimer. these again were made for the collector market and thousands and thousand were sold. Today on Google I found 6 on the first page of my search all selling (or should I say not selling) around $15. There are several styles and colors of these 'urns' the one shown is the most common. The also come without Best to leave these on the shelf at any price because of the difficulty selling them.

Other Bottles You Might come Across

I guess by this time you have guessed that the other bottles shown fall into the same category and you would be right. Most of the bottles found in thrift stores and junk shops are not valuable. However, do not let that keep you from looking because from time to time you will get a pleasant surprise and really find a treasure. Meanwhile learn to tell what is valuable and what is not.