A Guide to Collecting Antique Bottles

Are antique bottles worth anything? If you’re even a little intrigued by old bottles consider collecting them. We are fans of old glass. Here is a guide to collecting antique bottle plus some examples of a dupe, a vintage bottle, and a real antique.

Why People Love Collecting Antique Bottles

They Tell Stories

Every bottle hints at a different time — from snake oil cures and Civil War bitters to early soda and milk bottles. You’re literally holding history.

Some Are Worth Good Money

Even if you start for fun, you might stumble on something valuable. The thrill of a $2 flea market find turning into a $100 collectible? Very real.

Treasure Hunting Is Part of the Fun

You can:

Bottle dig (with permission!) in old homesteads or dump sites
Check estate sales, thrift stores, and antique malls
Swap with other collectors online

They’re Just Plain Cool Looking

Unique shapes, rare colors (like cobalt blue, amethyst, teal), and embossed labels make for beautiful, vintage home décor.

It’s Educational (in a chill way)

You’ll learn a ton — about glassmaking, medicine, advertising, even Prohibition laws.

What Makes a Bottle Valuable?

Age – Older usually means rarer, especially pre-1900 bottles.
Condition – Chips, cracks, or stains lower the value a lot.
Color – Rare colors like cobalt blue, emerald green, and amethyst can be very desirable.
Embossing – Bottles with unique or elaborate embossed labels/logos are more valuable.
Type & Use – Medicine bottles, soda bottles, poison bottles, and bitters are often collected.
Rarity – If it’s a bottle that wasn’t mass-produced or was made by a specific company for a limited time, it might be worth more.
Maker’s Mark – Some glassmakers are sought after (like early Owens or hand-blown varieties).

Examples of Valuable Bottles

Civil War-era bitters bottles – Can go for hundreds or even thousands.
Cobalt blue poison bottles – Popular with collectors, often $50–$200+.
Pontil marks (scar on the bottom from hand-blowing) – These usually indicate pre-1860s and add value.

Here’s an Example of a Dupe

Notable Features:

Color: That amber/brown glass is attractive and somewhat collectible, especially if it’s older.
Design: The embossed woman’s profile in a medallion-style frame is decorative and could mean it was a vanity, perfume, or apothecary bottle — often associated with the early 1900s.
Shape: Squat, ribbed design is unique — bottles like this were often used for specialty or high-end contents.
Condition: Looks excellent, no visible chips or cracks, which helps.

Is it Antique?

This bottle might not be truly antique (i.e., over 100 years old). The glass looks machine-made rather than hand-blown (no pontil mark, uniform neck), which suggests it’s probably mid-20th century or a reproduction in an antique style. Still, decorative bottles like this can sell in the $10–$40 range depending on the buyer and setting (Etsy, antique shops, collectors).

Here’s an Example of a Real Antique

This bottle is absolutely collectible, and it could have some real value, especially to historical medicine or apothecary collectors.

Here’s what makes this bottle special:

Embossed Text: “M.M. Townsend’s Specific for Hay Fever, Asthma and Autumnal Catarrh – 1880” — classic patent medicine style.
Label Intact: The original paper label is still on it and legible — that’s a huge plus. Most bottles this old have long lost their paper labels.
Embossed + Labeled Combo: Collectors love having both; it confirms authenticity and increases display value.
Age: Likely late 1800s to early 1900s. The “1880” on the embossing may be the trademark or product creation date.
Condition: Bottle appears very clean, and the embossing is strong. If there are no cracks or chips, it’s in excellent shape.

Here’s the back.

Estimated Value:

Depending on the market, a bottle like this can sell for $50 to $150+ — especially because it has that rare combo of full embossing and the original label. Searching eBay or WorthPoint are great resources to fact find. There are even collectors that specialize only in quack cures or 19th-century medicine bottles. Yes, this bottle is collectible and potentially valuable. It is worth holding on to or getting appraised.

Example of a Collectable Vintage Bottle

Bottle Overview

Amber Glass: Common for pharmaceutical, chemical, or beer bottles — amber protected contents from sunlight.
Applied Lip: The lip looks a bit thicker and less refined, which might suggest earlier manufacturing (late 1800s–early 1900s), though it could also be machine-made from the early-mid 20th century.
Seam Line: If it goes up through the lip, it’s machine-made (post-1900); if it stops below the lip, it’s likely older and hand-finished.
No Embossing: That hurts collectibility a bit unless it’s rare or from a specific maker.
Condition: It looks solid — no cracks or chips.

The Bottom of the Bottle

Maker’s Mark Decoded

There is a diamond shape with a number inside on the bottom which is classic Owens-Illinois Glass Company. Here’s a cool story about how it started.
Founded in 1929, they were a major player in U.S. glass manufacturing.
The number “5” below could represent a specific plant or mold, depending on the year.

If there was a two-digit number (like “45” or “62”), that would usually be the date code — but here it’s likely a plant or mold ID. Some older bottles from the 1930s–40s were like that.

Estimated Age:

With that Owens-Illinois style and looking at the overall form and color: 1930s to 1950s is a safe bet.

Value:

It is around $5–$25, depending on local interest or use as decor. The amber color, size, and embossed bottom give it some appeal — especially for vintage-style interiors, bars, or apothecary-style displays.

What It Likely Was:

Probably a pharmaceutical or chemical bottle — amber glass was used to protect contents from sunlight. Could’ve held iodine, tinctures, or lab chemicals.

Where to hunt for old bottles?

Hunting for antique bottles is like treasure hunting with a touch of mud. Here’s where people commonly find them.

Top Spots to Find Antique Bottles:

1. Old Dump Sites

Best bet for quantity and age.
Look behind old houses, barns, or fields — especially places with dips in the land or where people might’ve tossed trash 100+ years ago.
Pre-1950s dumps often have privy pits or ash pits filled with old glass.

2. Privies & Outhouse Sites

Sounds wild, but people threw bottles down outhouse holes.
Use old maps/sanborn fire insurance maps to find where outhouses once stood.
Bottles tend to be well-preserved in the muck.

3. Riverbanks & Creeks

Glass doesn’t rot, so rivers often reveal washed-out bottles after storms.
Check near bridges, old mill towns, or along trade routes.

4. Construction Sites

Old neighborhoods being dug up can uncover bottle troves.
Ask permission and be careful — you never know what’s just below the surface.

5. Antique Stores & Flea Markets

Higher prices, but still great for rare finds.
Also good for identifying bottle styles if you’re still learning.

6. Estate Sales / Barn Clear-Outs

Sometimes you’ll find boxes of them in basements or sheds.

Tools of the Trade:

A small shovel or trowel
Gloves
A soft brush for cleaning dirt without damage
A flashlight or UV light for inspecting embossing
GPS + old topographic maps

How do I identify antique bottles?

How to Check Yours

If you’ve got some bottles and want to know what they’re worth:

Look for embossing or markings.
Compare on eBay’s “Sold Items” filter.
Sites like Antique-Bottles.net are great for ID help.
You can also take them to an antique dealer or appraiser.