openPR Logo
Press release

Wormser Brothers vintage bitters bottle, made circa 1867-1871, brings $18,480 at American Bottle Auctions

09-21-2011 08:44 AM CET | Leisure, Entertainment, Miscellaneous

Press release from: Ken Hall Press Releases

This vintage 19th century Wormser Brothers barrel bitters bottle sold at auction for $18,480.

This vintage 19th century Wormser Brothers barrel bitters bottle sold at auction for $18,480.

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) – A Wormser Brothers barrel bitters bottle, made between 1867 and 1871 and quite possibly the only green example in existence (most are amber in color), soared to $18,480 in an Internet and catalog auction that began Aug. 29 and ended Sept. 8 by American Bottle Auctions (www.americanbottle.com). It was the top lot of the 146 bottles sold.

“That very same bottle in amber would probably only fetch around $1,800,” said Jeff Wichmann of American Bottle Auctions. “Color is everything, and this is the only green example I’m aware of. It is also heavily whittled, something you don’t often see in Wormser bottles. The top was crude and perfect and we graded it 9.6, only because of a light cleaning.”

Wormser barrel bitters were an early western bitters made in San Francisco, mainly in the 1860s. They were considered extremely rare until a group was found in Virginia City, Va., some years ago. Then the bottle just sold plus seven others (all amber) were found near the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon more recently. The owner consigned the green one for this sale.

The auction, which grossed just over $182,000, was a success by any measure, Mr. Wichmann said. “The page received over 60,000 views, and we had 192 bidders and 98 winners. Some, but not many, phone bids were also recorded. The average bottle sold for around $1,200, and usually it’s more like $1,000. That was a big plus, and bidder participation was very strong.”

The sale featured mainly historical flasks, bitters and food jars (such as pepper sauces). “Once again, quality excelled,” Mr. Wichmann observed. “A good number of bottles sold in the $3,000-$15,000 range, and that to me is a strong sign that the overall market for rare and vintage bottles is very healthy, even in a down economy. And we continue to get in killer consignments.”

Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a 12 percent buyer’s premium.

A very early General Lafayette portrait pint – with the “La” and the “Fayette” broken up, plus a reversed “N” – went for $6,720. The bottle had a wonderful pebbled surface and a light to medium bluish green coloration. The reverse side depicted an eagle and stars. It was graded 9.8 out of 10 for condition. “It would be difficult to imagine a better example,” Mr. Wichmann said.

A Greeley’s Bourbon bitters bottle with an applied top and pure green coloration, rose to $5,600. American Bottle Auctions sold the bottle in 2007 and presented it again in this sale. It had a couple of little scratches, but there was also nice crudity, a perfect top and wonderful hue. The condition (graded 9.6) and overall character made this bitters bottle about as good as it gets.

A Zanesville Shepard & Company (Ohio) pint flask with Masonic emblem on the reverse side climbed to $5,376. The bottle isn’t generally rare, but few are seen in this yellowish green color (most are deep red or aqua). This one boasted a superb strike, heavy whittling and loads of crudity throughout. It also had some strong embossing. The flask posted a respectable 9.7 grade.

A Hogan & Thompson (San Francisco) Western soda bottle, with Union Glassworks (Philadelphia) on the reverse side, went to a determined bidder for $4,704. The bottle is one of the rarest Western sodas ever made, and the one sold is considered the best-known example of all. It was a beautiful deep and brilliant blue, but scratches and pitting added up to an 8.8 grade.

A Pacific Congress Water Springs (Saratoga, Calif.) pint bottle with “Sage’s Pacific Congress” on the reverse side and an embossed running deer breezed to $3,808. The example was heavily whittled and had a perfect top and brilliant green coloration. A hint of an interior stain indicted the pint had never been cleaned. It was a top specimen, with a superior 9.8 grade.

A J. (Jane) McCollick & Co. (New York) pickle jar with keyhole design, applied mouth and iron pontil garnered $3,360. The 8 ½-inch-tall jar, made circa 1850, is desirable to collectors in part because women generally weren’t businesspeople in the mid-19th century. This jar was in super condition (graded 9.5), with medium blue color and only slight wear to the highest points.

A Pitkin type pint flask (probably New England, circa 1785-1820), 7 inches tall with sheared lip and open pontil, realized $2,912, a record for this bottle. The flask had a beautiful bluish green color and had loads of bubbles and an overall strong pattern. It had a somewhat flattened body and was fairly sizable. Graded 9.7, it showed just a little bit of wear near the base.

A Hopatkong Whiskey bottle (J.C. Hess & Co., Philadelphia), 10 inches tall and with an applied band and smooth base, knocked down at $2,688. The cobalt blue specimen, with a series of varying blue striations throughout, was consigned by Mr. Sandor Fuss, a notoriously finicky collector. As a result, this is quite possibly the only perfect example known. It was graded 9.8.

American Bottle Auctions’ next big sale will go online sometime in November (watch the website for details as November approaches, at www.americanbottle.com). Mr. Wichmann said he expected there would be around 150 bottles in the auction. Like the recent sale, it will also have historical flasks, bitters and food jars, plus some sodas, which he said are surging.

American Bottle Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single bottle or an entire collection, you may call them toll-free, at 1-800-806-7722; or, you can e-mail them at info@americanbottle.com. To learn more about American Bottle Auctions and the company’s next Internet and catalog sale, log on to www.americanbottle.com.

30 -

American Bottle Auctions is an Internet-based auction company that specializes in rare and vintage bottles.

American Bottle Auctions
2523 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
Press Contact: Jeff Wichmann
info@americanbottle.com
Ph: (800) 806-7722

This release was published on openPR.

Permanent link to this press release:

Copy
Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release.

You can edit or delete your press release Wormser Brothers vintage bitters bottle, made circa 1867-1871, brings $18,480 at American Bottle Auctions here

News-ID: 192637 • Views:

More Releases from Ken Hall Press Releases

Leather jacket worn by the late rapper Biggie Smalls (The Nortorious B.I.G.) will be auctioned April 19-21
Leather jacket worn by the late rapper Biggie Smalls (The Nortorious B.I.G.) wil …
(OCEANSIDE, N.Y.) - The original black leather jacket worn by the late Brooklyn rap artist Biggie Smalls (aka 'The Notorious B.I.G.'), plus a full-year sheet of Chinese Year of the Monkey stamps from 1980 (est. $100,000+), Disney items, Hollywood memorabilia and more will be sold at a three-day, four session sale planned for April 19-21 by Philip Weiss Auctions. The event will take place at Philip Weiss Auctions' spacious gallery, located
The assets of a large, established welding operation in Chesapeake, Va., will be sold at auction April 11-12
The assets of a large, established welding operation in Chesapeake, Va., will be …
(CHESAPEAKE, Va.) – The assets of Steeltech Industrial Fabrication, Inc. – a large-scale, established industrial welding shop – will be sold at auction April 11-12, at the firm’s facilities located at 1401 Precon Drive in Chesapeake. The building and property will not be sold, just the vehicles, equipment, warehouse items and some office furnishings and fixtures. Offered will be heavy-duty vehicles and forklifts, more than 35 welding machines, drill presses, burning

More Releases for American

Foam Molding Market 2020 Business Outlook – American Excelsior Company, Americ …
Global Foam Molding Market Growth (Status and Outlook) 2020-2025 The report will make detailed analysis mainly on in-depth research on the development environment, Market size, development trend, operation situation and future development trend of Foam Molding Market on the basis of stating current situation of the industry in 2020. SPECIAL OFFER (Avail an Up-to 20% discount on this report) Request a Sample Report: https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/04061953295/global-foam-molding-market-growth-status-and-outlook-2020-2025/inquiry?source=OPENPR&Mode=NG23
American Vertex Trading Corporation opens door to new Latin American Private Cli …
TSAT TSZ MUI/HONG KONG - American Vertex Trading Corporation today announced that they have launched their offshore Latin American Private Client Division. American Vertex Trading Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer said: “We serve our private clients globally and can enhance that with local presence in particular markets. We are excited to offer a full service platform including the delivery of onshore investment products and services to clients in Latin America”. American Vertex Trading
Cables and Snakes Market Share 2017 AirTurn, American Audio, American DJ, Analys …
Cables and Snakes Market Research A market study ” Global Condenser Microphones Market ” examines the performance of the Cables and Snakes market Size 2017. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Cables and Snakes market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Cables and Snakes market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail. The Global Cables and Snakes Market 2017 report
Bathroom Vanities Market 2017- Albemarle Countertops, American Woodmark Corporat …
Apex Research, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the "Bathroom Vanities Market" across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360° analysis of "Bathroom Vanities Market" from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global Bathroom Vanities industry, and estimates the future trend of Bathroom Vanities market
An American Hero Remains An American Prisoner
George Martorano remains behind bars without recognition of the lives he has saved and his service to society. He is still denied his right to resentencing. (Philadelphia, July 26, 2011) -- Today, Federal Prisoner George Martorano (ID# 12973004) informed us of a major, potentially lethal incident on a Bureau of Prisons flight from Philadelphia to Oklahoma on his way back to Coleman Federal Prison in Florida. George wrestled a handcuff
Steve’s Wood Fired Pizza appears in American Airlines American Way magazine
Boca Raton, FL. Steve’s Wood Fired Pizza of Boca Raton FL recently appeared in the American Way magazine, the in-flight magazine for American Airlines and American Eagle flights. In an article entitled “A Slice of Heaven, Steve’s Wood Fired Pizza was listed in America’s 10 best pizza parlors. Owner Steve Greenberg said It’s a great honor with all the hard work we put in to be recognized by American as