Places to find/buy/sell new/used antique bottle books.
Also be sure to see the listing cross-referenced by state.

1. The Auction Price Report, last done in 2002, has been taken over by Jim & Lynn Mitchell, who have completely rewritten it and added prices from all major bottle auctions thru Spring 2008. This is an extremely helpful guide to determine the values of bottles whose value typically starts around $50. The guide include prices realized from virtually every bottle auction house in the country. The guide lists six different categories and includes only prices realized at auctions, which gives the collector a fair market value of a particular bottle. To order this indispensable reference, send just $79.95 (recently reduced price), which includes postage in the USA, to:

   Jim & Lynn Mitchell
   645 Timber Pond Drive
   Brandon, FL 33510
   

   or call toll free 1-888-684-2834 or 813-684-2834.
   Email at inkbottles@verizon.net

2. Kovels' Bottles Price List by Ralph and Terry Kovel.
   This is the new 13th edition.
   Excellent guide if you want something that also covers the common bottles.
   Info/Ordering Kovels' book from Amazon

3. Official Price Guide to Bottles 13th edition by Jim Megura
   Info/Ordering Megura's book from Amazon

4. Bottles: Identification and Price Guide by Michael Polak
   Info/Ordering Polak's book from Amazon

5. Antique Glass Bottles: Their History and Evolution (1500-1850) by Willy Van den Bossche, Email: wvdbossche@planet.nl
   Here's a review of Willy's book by Paul Hanrahan: The publication of Willy's book marks a major milestone in the field of black-glass collecting. It is the first real effort at a comprehensive and authoritative guide on European bottles aimed at a broad English-reading audience worldwide. For years, collectors and others have waited for just such a book to appear. The numerous colour photos are outstanding. The text is clear, to the point, and easy to read. Any collector, no matter where he lives or what he collects, will, after reading the book, be able to pursue his passion in a much more informed way. I highly recommend the book, which should be on the book shelf of every serious bottle collector and student of historical glass containers.
   Info/Ordering Willy's book from Amazon

6. Bottle Pricing Guide by Hugh Cleveland
   Info/Ordering Cleveland's book from Amazon

7. Bottle Collector's Book by Bob Ferraro, Pat Ferraro
   Info/Ordering Ferraro's book from Amazon

8. Bottles and Bottle Collecting by A.A. Hedges.
   Info/Ordering Hedges' book from Amazon

9. Bitters Bottles by Carlyn Ring and W.C. (Bill) Ham. The bible for Bitters collectors, this is a complete rewrite of the original "For Bitters Only" book.
   See Bill Ham's web page for ordering details.

10. Antique Western Bitters Bottles
    written by well known bottle dealer and auctioneer, Jeff Wichmann. This new and exciting book examines the colorful world of western bitters bottles and will sure to be an excellent reference for years to come.
    For more info and how to order, visit the Pacific Glass Auction web page and click "New Book".

11. The Collector's Guide to Inkwells : Identification & Values by Veldon Badders.
    Info/Ordering this book from Amazon

12. Collector's Guide to Inkwells, Book II : Identification & Values by Veldon Badders. Feature different inkwells than those in his first book.
    Info/Ordering this book from Amazon

13. Books available from Antique Bottle & Glass Collector include the following (plus many more):
    • Bill Agee's Collecting All Cures.
    • John DeGrafft's American Sarsaparilla Bottles.
    • Donald Tucker's Collector's Guide to the Saratoga Type Mineral Water Bottles.
    • On the Trail of Stoddard Glass

14. The American Whiskey Jug by Jack Sullivan, 192 pages with pictures and historical info, available from the author: Jack Sullivan, 4300 Ivanhoe Place, Alexandria, VA 22304 or Email jack.sullivan9@verizon.net. Price of book in US is $20 plus $4 shipping while supplies last.

15. Here are the books written by David Graci. For questions or to order any of his books, contact David Graci, PO Box 726, South Hadley, MA 01075, Phone: (413) 594-8655, Email: stonebotle@aol.com
    Here are the official reviews of his books:
    1. American Stoneware Bottles is the only publication dealing with the truly early hand made Americana utilitarian product known as stoneware bottles. This 8½x11" publication has 107 pages containing information on over 1,500 stoneware bottles, with many being identified as to location and date. Illustrated with numerous color, black&white, and line drawings of these early pottery items, together with chapters on "Potters and Their Advertising", "Design, Function and Capacity", "Marketing and History", "Dating and Decorations", plus "Identification of Contents", and a note on a "Value Guide". With a Forward by William Ketcham, Jr., who says: "All in all a useful guide for the collector of stoneware bottles and a valuable addition to the library of any pottery buff." Priced at $24.95 with shipping of $2 per book.

    2. (More) American Stoneware Bottles is an updated listing of new names since the publication of "American Stoneware Bottles". New names have been continually recorded in the hope of compiling this update, which now adds 371 new listings and 165 more variations of those already listed. Of those recorded in the first book, 51 names have been identified as to location and/or date. Spiral bound, with 40 pages, offerred at $10 plus $2 postage.

    3. Eastern Mass. Embossed Milk Bottles is a new milk bottle book that features the counties of Barnstable, Dukes, Nantucket, Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, & Worcester. With over 150 pages listing over 3,902 embossed milk bottles and over 1,578 milk bottle rubbings. Each county is represented in it's entirety, in alphabetical order, followed by actual bottle rubbings reduced by 50%. Bottles are identified by location, size, and assigned a rarity guide number from 1 to 4. There is also a listing of "Mass Seal Bottles Only" with over 400 listed, many identified as to location. The most complete listing of Eastern Massachusetts embossed milks ever offered. Priced at $25 plus $3 postage.

16. The Poison Bottle Workbook Volumes I & II
    Rudy passed away in Spring 2000, but his ex-wife Terry Kuhn has taken over distribution of his book, which is the standard for poison bottles. The Workbook sells for $20 per volume, plus $5 postage (in US) per order. Total for one volume would be $25, or $45 for both volumes (I and II). Postage for Canadian orders is $7, and $20 for international orders. Make checks payable to Terry Kuhn and mail to 3954 Perie Lane, San Jose, CA 95132

17. The Collector's Guide to Old Fruit Jars - RED BOOK No. 8 by Douglas M. Leybourne Jr. The standard for identifying and pricing fruit jars. Available at some of the web links listed above or directly from Doug - phone (616) 744-2003. Costs about $22.

18. One Thousand Fruit Jars by Schroeder
    Info/Ordering Scroeder's book from Amazon

19. Flasche Bottle und Bouteille is a highly scientific standard work concerning British and Continental bottles from the end of the Middle Ages to the Owens patent time and has been published by Rainer Kosler. Measurement of the book 8.85'' x 12.2''. Cloth bound with laminated dust cover. Click here to see photo of book's cover. 496 pages with approximately 360 coloured and 60 black and white pictures. An English translation of the 119 paged coloured picture part is included. Price $135 postage included. Order from Rainer Kosler, WKD-Druck GmbH, P.O. Box 1302, D-85731 Ismaning - Germany. Email: Kosler@wkd-druck.de

20. Pontiled Medicine Price Guide 6th edition on floppy diskette for use with Microsoft WORD program. View and add to the 700 plus page definitive reference to pontiled medicines. Includes detailed descriptions and auction pricing on over 2000 pontiled medicines. Also get historical cross references to over a dozen sources including the 1800 plus lot Sam Greer collection, Frederick Nielsen's Great American Pontiled Medicines, Joseph Baldwin's Patent and Proprietary Medicine Bottles of the 19th Century and many others.
    Mail $15 to Jim Holst, 3669 Southwick Drive, Kennesaw, GA 30144.

21. Savannah Sodas - An Illustrated List
    A complete list of all known blob top sodas used in Savannah, Ga. from 1840 to 1890. Each entry is accompanied by an accurately scaled line art drawing of the bottle and a rating of relative rarity for each color variation. The booklet also includes an estimated dollar valuation for each bottle. Price $10.00 + 2.00 postage (USA only, inquire for International orders) to:

    Russ Butler
    P.O. Box 264
    Havana, FL 32333

    Email any inquiries to oldglass99@yahoo.com

22. Deco Soda Bottles - A Guide to Collecting Those Fancy Embossed Soda Bottles of the 1920's and 30's by Brian Wade. Published in 2003, this 103 page book provides an alphabetical listing with descriptions of over 400 of the best and most frequently found deco-era specialty soda bottles, with over 250 bottles photographed. Includes price estimates, a brief history of the evolution of these soda bottles and a bibliography. This is the only volume devoted solely to these fascinating soda bottles. Can be purchased on eBay, or directly from the author for $21.95 (price includes shipping in USA). Brian Wade, 39 East 16 Street, Huntington Station, New York 11746. Email: brian.wade@att.net

23. Watt White Collection1996/97 Auction Catalog with 453 lots of ink bottles from the Watt White Collection. Hard bound book with color pictures. John Brandt of Historic Glasshouse may still have a few copies left.

24. The Collector's Price Guide to Bitters Bottles A to Z (1992) by Glenn Poch. Email: oldbottles@yahoo.com

25. Digger Odell Publications sells the following antique bottle books:
    • Vol. 1 Barber Bottles
    • Vol. 2 Bitters
    • Vol. 3 Flasks
    • Vol. 4 Inks
    • Vol. 5 Medicines
    • Vol. 6 Poisons, Colognes, Pattern Mold, Label Under Glass
    • Vol. 7 Sodas and Mineral Waters
    • Vol. 8 Whiskies
    • The Secrets of Privy Digging
    • Indian Bottles and Brands
    See Digger's Ordering page for instructions or send him an Email at jaok20@bottlebooks.com

26. Pepsi:Cola Bottles Collectors Guide by James Ayers.

27. PENSACOLA'S SODA WATER LEGACY 1837-1998 The book is 8.5" by 11", it has 100 pages, contains 90 plus illustrations, soft cover, retails for $19.95 plus shipping of $5.00 first class/priority or $3.00 book rate. Mail payment to Philip A. Pfeiffer, 1617 N. Baylen St., Pensacola, FL 32501-2103. Phone 850-433-2906. Email: papfeiffer@cox.net
    This work contains the history of the "ONLY" bottler which used the "Hutch Soda Water Bottle" embossed with the "Pepsi-Cola" logo on its surface, The ESCAMBIA PEPSI-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY PENSACOLA, FLA.
    Another one of the histories is that of the Pensacola bottler which used the equally rare "Codd Marble Stopper Bottle" in bottling his soda waters in the 1870s.

28. See Coca-Cola Book List on the Antique Coca-Cola Bottles web page.
    Also see Soda Bottle Books

29. Old Owl Drug Bottles & Others by Al & Margaret Jensen. This 1968 book is out of print, but remaining copies are for sale direct by the authors' daughter, Linda Monk, Email: lmonk@cruzio.com. Mail check for $22 ($19 plus $3 postage - International buyers inquire for postage rates) to: Linda Monk, 516 California St., Watsonville, California 95076.

30. White House - The Collection of Charles Perry

31. Reggie's Bottle Books with some marked for sale

32. Hair Raising Stories is a 169 page book about antique hair bottles, written by Don Fadely, Email: donfadely@hotmail.com

33. Warner's Reference Book by Ed Ojea and Jack Stecher was just released in Feb 1999. The new bible for Warner's bottle collectors that was written by two of the leading Warner's experts.

34. CD-ROM Windows version of Seeliger's Warners Book

35. The Antique Bottles of Iowa 1846-1915
    The book was published in March of 1998 and lists all known embossed Iowa bottles from 1846 to 1915. There are 676 pages of information containing nearly 1800 original drawings. Included is a great amount of historical information for each company listed. The book represents 1300 different Iowa towns. Also included are 36 great color plates of some of Iowa's more colorful bottles. Bottles included in the book are: cures, drug stores, bitters, blot top & Hutchinson sodas, beers, inks, whiskies, liniments and remedies. Crown top sodas and milk bottles were excluded. Co-authored by Mike Burggraaf and Tom Southard. The hard cover is one volume and sells for $74 plus $5.00 shipping. Only a few copies are left.
    Book can be ordered directly from: Mike Burggraaf, 305 E. Burlington Ave., Fairfield, Iowa 52556
    Email: QRSglass@iowatelecom.net

36. The Collector's Gide to Civil War Period Bottles and Jars With Prices
    Latest addition with 500 new entries. Like most specialty publications, this edition is self-published in a large 8-1/2-inch by 11-inch format. The price is only $20.00 plus $1.50 postage (Book Rate), but will increase in mid-January due to increased Postal rates. Order from:

    Mike Russell
    401 Virginia Avenue
    Herndon, VA 20170
    Email: relicshop@earthlink.net

37. THE "WILLIAM J. ELSHOLTZ COLLECTION These auction catalogs document an extremely important collection of early American pressed and blown glass. This set of 3 hard cover books contains over 1800 lots all photographed separately (many in full color). Photography and layout are of very high quality. Includes the prices realized list. A lovely set to either just browse through or continue one's well rounded glass education. They are a definitive reference for all bottle and glass collectors that have any interest in early 19th century American pressed and blown glass such as Sandwich, Pittsburg, blown 3-mold, and bottles. This is your one chance to own these since they are out of print and extremely difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. These books are used as an industry standard for pricing and referencing and they can help you make the find of the century! The set of 3 hard cover books is only $130.00 plus $5.00 shipping from John Brandt Email: JBrandt716@aol.com.

38. Victorian Tradecards, Historical Reference & Value Guide by Dave Cheadle.
    See ordering info.

    Soda Bottle Books (embossed, painted label, commemorative)

39. Bottle Books (& Clubs) for specific states in the USA:
    1. Arizona: Handbook of Soda Bottles from Arizona by Paul Bates
       Info/Ordering this Arizona book from Amazon

    2. California:
       1. California Soda Bottles by Paul Bates
          Info/Ordering this California book from Amazon

       2. Los Angeles Historical Bottle Club

    3. Colorado: Handbook of Soda Bottles from Colorado by Paul Bates
       Info/Ordering this Colorado book from Amazon

    4. Illinois: Illinois Bottles (Interactive Book) by Paul Bates
       Info/Ordering this Illinois book from Amazon

    5. Indiana: Indiana Soda Bottles (Interactive Book from the Collectibles Database) by Paul Bates
       Info/Ordering this Indiana book from Amazon

    6. Iowa:
       1. The Antique Bottles of Iowa 1846-1915

       2. Iowa Antique Bottleers club

    7. Florida: PENSACOLA'S SODA WATER LEGACY 1837-1998.

    8. Maryland: Baltimore Bottle Book was sold directly by the Baltimore Bottle Club but the book is now SOLD OUT. Understand a new version is in the works.

    9. Missouri: Another Interactive Book from the Collectibles Database : Missouri Bottles by Paul Bates
       Info/Ordering this Missouri book from Amazon

    10. New York:
        1. Collectors Guide to New York Bottles by Paul Bates
           Info/Ordering this New York book from Amazon

        2. The Greater Buffalo Bottle Collectors Association

        3. Genesee Valley Bottle Collectors Association in Rochester, New York

    11. North Carolina:
        1. Southeast Bottle Club.
        2. Raleigh Bottle Club.

    12. North Dakota: North Dakota Soda Bottles by Paul Bates
        Info/Ordering this North Dakota book from Amazon

    13. Ohio:
        1. Ohio Bottles - 1999 Edition by the Ohio Bottle Club.

        2. Collectors Guide to Ohio Bottles by Paul Bates
           Info/Ordering this Ohio book from Amazon

    14. South Carolina:
        1. SC Dispensary Bottle Price List by Matt Bramblett

        2. Handbook of Soda Bottles from South Carolina by Paul Bates
           Info/Ordering this SC book from Amazon

        3. South Carolina Bottle Club

    15. Tennessee: Collectors Guide to Tennessee Bottles by Paul Bates
        Info/Ordering this Tennessee book from Amazon

    16. Utah: Soda Bottles from Utah by Paul Bates
        Info/Ordering this Utah book from Amazon

    17. Wisconsin:
        1. Wisconsin Soda Water Bottles 1845-1910 covers about 1400 Hutchinson and blob sodas, quart blob sodas, spring water bottles and soda water company Weiss beers. Over 1100 bottles illustrated (all major varieties). 209 pages, fully indexed. Available for $30 plus $3 priority mail. Contact Roger Peters, Email: rpeters@facstaff.wisc.edu or postal mail to 4333 DeVolis Parkway, Madison, WI 53711. Roger is also working on a book about Wisconsin crown top sodas.

        2. Handbook of Soda Bottles from Wisconsin by Paul Bates
           Info/Ordering this Wisconsin book from Amazon

40. Kevin's Antiques Page has several copies of McKearin's "American Bottles & Flasks & Their Ancestry" for sale.

41. Books on ... Glasses, Bottles, ... from the The International Arts, Antiques and Collectibles Forum

42. Antiquarian, Rare and Collectable Books in England

43. Out-of-Print, New & Used Books about Antique Glass from Ms. Information

44. Books on Glass from the Glass Museum

45. Books on Glass from Joslin Hall Rare Books

46. Eaton's Glass Books On The Web operated by Robert Eaton, Email: reaton@concentric.net

47. Bookerworm's Books with some Books on Antiques.

48. ACSES Book Search to compare books available from over 20 online shops.

49. Search for a book at Amazon:
    

    Books Music	Enter keywords...

50. Books.com then enter "antique bottles" in the Quick Search box and click "Go". This will produce a list of books with the words "antique" and "bottles" in their title. Can also try other words to search on like "bitters" or just "bottle".

When buying books, be careful about buying stolen library copies.

Bottle Books In Progress

1. A book on Turlington bottles is being written by Walter DeVault and Mitch Brown

2. Ralph Van Brocklin is writing a Western Flask book and would credit any contributions. Contact him at 403 Elm Street, Johnson City, TN (zip ?) or phone (423) 928-2615.

3. Scott Miller at Email: jwpshm@concentric.net is seeking any literature on pharmacy/related in America. Bottle reference books, old manufacturer's catalogs, medical/pharmacy journals and any other pharmacy ephemera. This is being used towards completing a book on the History of Pharmacy Americana that will serve as a comprehensive representation of the bottles used in American Pharmacy industry--Patent, proprietary, up to and including the screw cap medicines (little info on value, rarity, uniqueness exists). There is a strong market (medical) for many of the newer bottles with labels and contents, because these semi antiques illustrate the evolution of medicine. This book will be published in near future and profits are designated for College of Pharmacy Scholarship Fund (University of Houston). Any contributions would be gratefully accepted and acknowledged. This book will ultimately enhance bottle collecting because the goal is to introduce this as an educational resource in colleges, as well as to the general public--which will enhance interest. Please email jwpshm@concentric.net w/comments. Thank you in advance for your time!