Upcoming Auctions
Bidding will begin Friday May 8th. Don't forget to add your shipping address when registering (if you registered in a previous auction, you do not need to re-register). Additional photos can be seen once you click into the lot details page for each item. The 10 minute timer starts at 6:50 PM. If no bids between 6:50 and 7 PM, the lot closes at 7 PM. If any bids after 6:50 PM, the new lot close time will be extended 10 minutes from the most recent bid time. If you forget your username or need help resetting your password, let us know.
D.L. Fonseca & Co Jamaica Champagne Beer S.F.
1870s. A rare Western soda that doesn't show up very often. These come in both aqua and blue, with both being very rare. This example has a few small issues. There is a small probe impact on the shoulder, a shallow divot peck below the A in Champagne, and a tiny flash in the neck about 1" below the top. Regardless, the bottle displays well.
Lot # 21
$150.00
Taylor & Co Soda Waters San Francisco Eureka
1850s, iron pontil. A scarce Gold Rush soda that everyone loves. This example has some light whittle and the typical gold rush soda case wear, but no issues.
Lot # 22
$150.00
Italian Soda Water Manufactory San Francisco
1850s, iron pontil, variant with Union Glass Works slugged out on reverse. A nice green Italian with a strong strike. There is a shallow open bubble on the neck and a few surface fisheyes on the reverse, see photos.
Lot # 23
$150.00
Williams & Severance San Francisco
1850s, iron pontil. A strong example of this popular Gold Rush San Francisco soda. There is some case wear, but overall a solid example with no major issues.
Lot # 24
$150.00
M.R. Sacramento
1850s, iron pontil. An early Sacramento soda in a beautiful deep cobalt blue with some light whittle. There is some light case wear and a few fisheyes typical of pontiled sodas, but overall a stronger example than many we have seen. A small open bubble in the neck below the lip, see photos.
Lot # 25
$150.00
B&G San Francisco Superior Mineral Water
1850s, iron pontil. Another early soda, and one of the few Western mug base sodas. Some light interior stain and the usual exterior wear, but a solid example. Small area of wear on the side of the lip, see photos.
Lot # 26
$150.00
Congress & Empire Springs E Saratoga N.Y.
1860s-1870s, applied top, 9 1/4", 2 on base. A rare colored Saratoga with nice clean glass and some whittle in a tobacco amber with slight puce tones.
Lot # 27
$100.00
M.M Battelle Brooklyn N.Y.
1850s, iron pontil. Dug in the 1970s in California's gold country. A very crude soda that was possibly melted during a fire in one of the early California gold rush fires. Lots of iron left on the pontil.
Lot # 28
$40.00
C.W. Stewart's Extra Kentucky Whiskey
Late 1870s-1880s, applied top, C&I on base. A very rare Western 5th with about ten known examples that is rarely offered for sale. This example is a medium orange amber with a nice large top and no issues. Thomas # 146
Lot # 29
$500.00
Teakettle Old Bourbon
1870s, applied top. One of the most iconic Western whiskey 5ths, popular in the Comstock area of Nevada. This is an outstanding example with a strong strike, lots of whittle and a bright color with a good dose of yellow-olive mixed in. Tea Kettles don't get much better than this! There is a small flake off the bottom of the base, see photos.
Lot # 30
$500.00
McKenna's Nelson County Extra Kentucky Bourbon
1870s-1880. Here is a classic Western whiskey 5th full of large embossing that everyone loves. This example is in a medium amber with a nice top and a decent strike.
Lot # 31
$500.00
Simmond's Nabob Pure K.Y. Bourbon Whiskey
1880s, applied top. A fantastic looking picture 5th featuring a Nabob smoking a hookah. This example is loaded with whittle in a reddish amber. A beautiful bottle that will add character to any whiskey run. Thomas # 142-A
Lot # 32
$500.00
W.A. Gaines Private Stock Old Bourbon Livingston & Co Sole Agents
1870s-80s. A great Western 5th loaded with embossing. These often have an average to weak strike, but this one is very strong. There is some light whittle on the face of the bottle and the color is a bright honey with a click of olive that looks fantastic in natural light. There are two dips in the lip that appear to be natural. A very strong example. Thomas # 110
Lot # 33
$400.00
Newmark, Gruenberg & Co Old Judge Bourbon S.F.
Applied top, early 1880s. There are several variations of the early applied top Old Judge 5ths, and this is the rarest of them all with the patent date on the base reading "Pat Apr 2 1876 SF & P.G.W Cal". There is a small 1/8" impact near the front base and an even smaller one on the side of the lip, see photos. Overall a very strong example of a scarce 5th. Thomas # 76A.
Lot # 34
$100.00
Jesse Moore Old Bourbon
1870s, applied top. Here is a nice non-vented Jesse 5th with some light whittle. Some light surface wear on the front shoulder area, see photos.
Lot # 35
$40.00
J.H Cutter Circle Cutter 'Benicia Glass'
1880s, applied top. Here is a stunning piece of 'Benicia' glass discovered in the San Francisco Bay mudflats years ago. This is the type of golden patina that collectors typically can only dream of. Watch this one closely, as it will be a while before another piece of 'Benicia glass' this extreme is offered to the public.
Lot # 36
$300.00
J.H Cutter Circle Cutter A.P. Hotaling & Co.
1870s, applied top. This is the A No 1 on reverse variant of the popular Circle Cutter with a solid strike and a dose of yellow olive mixed in.
Lot # 37
$60.00
J.H. Cutter Old Bourbon Full Face A.P. Hotaling
1870s. An early Western 5th put out by the legendary San Francisco liquor merchant, A.P. Hotaling & Co. This example is a darker amber with some mild crudity and a strong strike. A touch of dirt on the inside near the base. A few surface 'lines' on the base from the manufacturing process, see photos. Thomas # 47
Lot # 38
$100.00
J.H. Cutter Old Bourbon E. Martin & Co. Sole Agents
1870s, applied top. Here is a solid example of an E. Martin & Co. shoulder crown Cutter 5ths. These are often plain, but this example has a decent amount of whittle and crude swirly glass. There is what appears to be a small open bubble on part of the H in J.H., see photos.
Lot # 39
$200.00
J.H. Cutter Old Bourbon C.P. Moorman Manufacturer Louisville K.Y. A.P. Hotaling & Co Sole Agents Bird Cutter
1870s, applied top. A medium dark amber bird Cutter with a solid strike and some whittle. The top has a large, almost 360 drip. Much better than your average bird. The strike is stronger than it appears in the photo. There is a small partially open bubble above the T in Cutter, see photos.
Lot # 40
$70.00