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View Auction 49

American Bottle Auction's Auction 49 opens Friday January 8th. Meanwhile, you can view the online auction catalog starting Thursday at noon PST. Catalogs have been sent and if for some reason you haven't received one, please let us know by calling 1 800-806-7722 or emailing us at [email protected]. We thank all of our customers for checking our bottle auctions out, we think this one will be a good one. We will be sending you the online auction link and it will remain on our home page throughout the auction. Thanks again and good luck.

Bottle Thief Charged
Gigs up for theft of rare western flask

Mr. Paul Wisnyi

When a rare Ferguson Whiskey flask was stolen last April at the Golden Gate Historical Bottle Society show at the Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo, collectors were left frustrated and dismayed. American Bottle Auctions had brought many of their rarest and most desirable bottles coming up for their spring auction for public display and soon after set-up, a rare coffin flask was missing. Collectors and dealers alike were left feeling that even a bottle show was now unsafe to present items for sale and for auction. That a person could just walk into a bottle show and steal something right off the table of unsuspecting victims left both the organizers of the show and participants with a feeling of dread.
Soon after the show, the same bottle (valued between $1,500-$2,000), right down to three very distinctive bubbles appeared on Ebay, a well-known international auction site. It wasn’t long before various people began calling American Bottle Auctions informing them of a very similar bottle to the one stolen in Santa Rosa being sold on Ebay. After contacting authorities in the Vallejo police department, the seller of the flask was contacted and within months police had a suspect. His picture was available online and soon his address and a profile of this would be thief became readily available and the Vallejo District Attorney’s office had a case.

After being interviewed and denying he’d taken anything, a Mr. Paul Wisnyi was under investigation and before police could make an arrest, Mr. Wisnyi disappeared. Not long after, police issued an arrest warrant and Wisnyi was captured, now awaiting an appearance before the Vallejo County judges.

The theft at bottle shows is not a new thing; bottles have been missing from shows for years. A couple years ago at a show in Lodi, American Bottle Auctions lost a rare M.R. Sacramento soda bottle, which was never recovered. This time was different as a number of individuals came forward and helped the police in uncovering evidence that helped them find the right person. According to the Vallejo police, they are not sure what consequences will occur regarding the thief but at least he’s been given a stern warning and hopefully this arrest will make other thieves think twice before taking other people’s property.

This last weekend at the Auburn Bottle Show, a number of bottles were missing from tables so its apparent Wisnyi has company. When presenting bottles at a show, make sure you keep an eye on your bottles at all times. We even set up a camera connected to a computer that records any movement at our table. This was most likely enough to fend off any would be thieves and it might be something to think about. Needless to say, we didn’t lose a thing at Auburn. Cameras are available at any Radio Shack and for $30 you can plant it on your table with a sign that reads, “You are on camera.” We can all get rid of this distracting and selfish behavior by simply paying more attention to our tables and looking out for our neighbor’s table. All it takes is a little extra precaution.

One of the rarest and most desirable bitters bottles ever found, the Bryant’s Bitters, was recently purchased in a private sale by Ferdinand Meyer and his lovely wife Elizabeth shown here. With only a few Bryant’s in existence, this example is arguably the most famous antique bottle known having been on various television programs including the Travel Channel’s, Cash and Treasures and CNN along with other news shows. Articles on the bottle have appeared in numerous publications and it has almost become a symbol for the bottle collecting community. Its real claim to fame is the fact that it set a record for the most ever paid for a bottle at auction. Sold by Pacific Glass Auctions, now known as American Bottle Auctions in 1999, it brought in a staggering $68,750, still a record for any bottle sold at auction. The original buyer of this 1850’s bottle, Robert Frank, decided it was time to let someone else enjoy it. The bottle was originally unearthed in what is now termed the “Big Dig,” referring to a dig of a mid-19th Century recycling plant in downtown San Francisco. There were actually two found but one of the examples was damaged. The bottle is so highly desired because of its unusual shape, it is officially known as the cone or megaphone. The fact that it is one of the earliest western bitters and one of only a few known also adds to its legendary status. The Bryant’s was most likely made in the east and delivered to San Francisco via ship around the horn. So what are Ferdinand and Elizabeth going to do with their new acquisition? “Put it in a special shelf I designed,” says Meyers. With the bottle standing 14” high, that should be no easy task. The Bryant’s cone should go well with another recent acquisition by Ferdinand and his wife, a blue Fish Bitters, recently acquired at the National Show in Pomona, California. Why two of the rarest bottles known being bought within weeks of each other? “Sometimes the stars align for a brief period of time,” says Meyer, “and you just have to do it,” he said smiling broadly. The odd shape of the Bryant’s “cone” didn’t last long, as the clumsy eight-sided bottle was quickly re-designed to a less precarious stature. Rumors have the bottle selling in the six-figure category.

Well, auction 48 is over and the no-callbacks worked very well if I say so myself. There wasn’t a word about anyone not liking it, at least that I heard. So I’m content with the idea that most people, as we determined in our highly scientific poll, were fine without callbacks. Most people had plenty of time to get their bids in and overall the sale went wonderfully. We had a load of bids come in after the final hour ending at 7:00 and people were hot to continue bidding. We had almost 80,000 hits on our website so we knew collectors were checking it out. We sold just about 250 bottles for $250,000. Not bad. Of course that includes the $30K or so paid for the California Clubhouse Whiskey, the top lot of the auction. David Bone of Utah purchased that by the way. He was very happy and he should be. I doubt we’ll see another on the market for some time. Speaking of the Clubhouse, we’ve seen a number of magazines and Internet sites running stories on the sale of the bottle. That’s great for us. Great for the hobby. Bottles aren’t a secret anymore; they are becoming another mainstay of collector’s interest and excitement. How can anyone look at a cornflower blue soda or crude old green bitters and not be overtaken by the beauty it beholds? Not to mention the history and the story behind the bottle. A friend of mine has a rather rare whiskey bottle that was found under the floorboards of the Bucket of Blood Saloon in Virginia City. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

Regarding the overall bottle market, it’s seemed to have stayed about the same as we noted earlier in the year. The quality pieces are finding good homes and the average bottles are finding collectors eager to add something new to their collections. Generally though, most pieces are selling and for good prices overall. It’s the same in most of the collectibles markets we’ve monitored. We get a number of trade papers and are continually amazed at the demand for certain items. We have seen some pretty amazing prices paid for everything from sports cards to old photographs to Tiffany glassware, political memorabilia, and just good old stuff. What aren’t selling are the things like Beanie Babies, lunch boxes and Barbie dolls. Things that just aren’t that old and were made in the millions aren’t cutting right now. That’s a sign collectors are becoming more advanced, more sophisticated. On the Antiques Roadshow a woman brought in a set of four pieces of Chinese carved jade from the Chien Lung Dynasty (1736-95) and was amazed to learn it was expected to do over a million dollars at auction. That’s a record for the Roadshow. Antique marbles are extremely popular right now, it’s not unusual to see collectors put out a few grand for a marble they’ve been looking for. Regardless of the times and economic factors, it seems there will always be a collector waiting for that perfect piece for their collection. Plus look at all the new books being written. Hundreds of new books to go with just about every area of collecting you can imagine. For every hobby there’s a book, sometimes a number of them. Just for bottles we must have 200 books on our shelves, some relatively new and some that go back to the 1970’s or further. Just because a bottle book is 50 years old doesn’t mean it isn’t useful.

I think most people see that there is a dwindling supply of collectibles and more collectors getting into it, at least with a number of the collecting areas. Bottles are a perfect example. I hear people say that they don’t see the number of people at bottle shows that they used to. Well, that may be true but not everyone goes to bottle shows. Many of our customers are collectors who don’t go to shows, they are happy picking up a piece here and there at auction and aren’t afraid to pay top dollar. Let’s face it, to go to a show across the country costs a couple grand, a couple grand that they’d rather see go towards an old bottle. I try and attend as many shows as I can but it’s hard. But, you’ll see me stick my head in the door during the year, we’re headed up to Downieville tomorrow, September 11 (ironically enough) for a real fun show up in the Gold Rush area of the state. Shows are still a great way to meet old and new friends alike. Seeing new pieces, buying a few and drooling over others. I encourage new collectors to hit as many shows as possible. There are even new shows popping up all the time.

Speaking of collections, Ferdinand Meyers is certainly adding to his. With the addition of a blue Fish Bitters and the cone shaped Bryant’s Bitters, Ferd has put himself into an elite class of collectors. I talked with him and his heart is really into it. So much that he wants to further the hobby by taking on a role with the FOHBC. Ferdinand is an unselfish and most ambitious guy who craves not only collecting bottles but talking about bottles, writing and doing some phenomenal photography to go along with it. I see Ferd being a mainstay in the hobby for years to come. Just try and stop him.

Another area of collecting bottles is the altering or making better some of the old pieces. Make sure you inspect everything you buy, get yourself a 30x-magnification jewelers loop or other magnifying glasses. At shows, generally once you buy it, it’s yours. There’s nothing wrong with smoothing out a chip or making a bottle look better, but it’s up to the seller to relate the changes made in no uncertain terms. When I hear that altering a bottle shouldn’t matter I cringe. It shouldn’t matter but would you rather pay five grand for a perfect bottle or one that has been “touched up?” Relying on a black light doesn’t cut it anymore, as the new resins out there don’t glow under a black light. Buyer beware.

So, we are putting our next auction together, number 49 slated for late November. You’re only as good as your last auction and any auctioneer will tell you it’s a never-ending search for the next best-ever auction. We’ll try and continue to put together the best auctions we can and I personally hope that all of you out there are having a great year collecting and staying healthy.

Lou and Lisa Lambert and their stepson Nick Vallis sent us some pictures of their latest little dig.
Lisa wrote: "How was the LA show ??? I really wanted to go but plans changed at the last minute and we opted for a dig instead. We dug a boarding house privy down 25' feet. At that level breathing was a problem and we hit water. Got over 100 1870s bottles. Highlights were: One beautiful yellow olive Nabob, Yellow cathedral green pickle, Jules Hauel potlid, burst lip western umbrella ink and a really nice Western pint union oval."

Suncoast Antique Bottle Club’s (AKA St. Pete FL) 41st Annual Show & Sale
Saturday, January 9th
At the Manatee Civic Center (new location)
1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto, FL
Dealer setup Friday 1pm - 7:45pm, Early buyers Friday 4pm -7:45pm
Info: George Dueben / 727-393-8189 / [email protected] or
Info: Linda Buttstead / 941-722-7233 / [email protected]

The Little Rhody Bottle Club Annual Antique Bottle Show & Sale
Sunday January 10, 2010
At the K of C Hall, 304 Highland Ave., S. Attleboro, MA
10am – 2pm
Early Buyers 9am
Info: Bill or Linda Rose PH: (508) 880-4929

Golden Gate Historical Bottle Society’s 44th Annual Antiques & Collectibles Show
Saturday, April 17th 2010, 9AM – 3PM
At the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds, Sunset Hall, Antioch, CA
Dealer setup Friday 12PM – 6PM, Early buyers Friday 12PM – 6PM - $10 Admission
For Show Info call Gary or Darla Antone (925) 373-6758

2010 FOHBC National Show
Friday & Saturday, August 6 & 7th
Wilmington, Ohio
For more information check www.FOHBC.com and Bottles and Extras

The Bryan Grapentine Auction Part II ended on August 29, 2007.
To view Part II please click here.

The Bryan Grapentine Auction Part I ended on April 11, 2007.
To view Part I please click here.

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All photographs and editorial copy appearing on this website are the exclusive property of American Bottle Auctions and may not be reprinted, quoted or re-published without the permission of Jeff Wichmann, the owner of American Bottle Auctions.


Blue Fish Bitters Has Collectors Reeling!



Collectors got more than they bargained for at the FOHBC National Bottle Show held in Pomona, CA this past weekend of August 1st. To everyone’s surprise Ferdinand Meyer and his beautiful wife Elizabeth just happened to show up with the catch of the show, this gorgeous cobalt blue Fish Bitters! Recently acquired from the Don Keating collection, this legendary bottle had most collectors speechless. It was just another reason to attend the Pomona show. There were some wonderful displays and a load of great bottles for sale and from those we asked, it was a great time for everyone. So how much did Ferdinand and Elizabeth have to fork out for this swimmingly beautiful bottle? Well, rumors had it in the six-figure category but as all fishermen know, the story gets bigger every time it’s told.


Ferdinand and Elizabeth Meyer with their recent catch. Looking like proud new parents, this was one bottle Ferdinand wasn’t going to let get away.	Richard Tucker with his first-prize winning display of historical flasks.

	A closer look at part of the Richard Tucker display. Excuse the colors on some as they were tough to capture with the lighting but they were a breathtaking group, all Washington flasks and all beautiful!

View Auction 49

Bottle Thief Charged Gigs up for theft of rare western flask

Mr. Paul Wisnyi

Bottle Thief Charged
Gigs up for theft of rare western flask