Possibly Unique Painted China Marble Unearthed

Recently excavated from an 1870s privy. The use layer in which this marble sat for over 135 years was mostly early 1870s with a few 1860s bottles mixed in and the parcel which contained the privy was developed in as early as 1867. If I had to guess, I'd say the marble dates to the late 1860's ???? So far it seems that this particular design may be unique, have any of you other diggers/collectors seen a rabbit scene like this before ? The size is 3/4" and the condition is pristine.

IT'S ALMOST SHOW TIME !!!

With the Reno show just around the corner, don't forget about being a part of the "Star Shield Cutter Showdown" at this years show. We're a little over 3/4 full with space available for about 10 more bottles. I know some of you guys that haven't already registered have these bottles and it would be great if you could be a part of this epic event. Displays like this attract a lot of attention from both advanced and novice collectors in addition to drawing new blood. Participation is key in our hobby if we want the interest to continue.

Contact me at lou@oldwestbottles.com if you'd like to display your bottle(s) and check out our "shows" link at: http://www.oldwestbottles.com/ for more informatiom. This promises to be one of the best Western whiskey displays of Cutters ever assembled, hope to see you there!

A "Crier" with a CAPITAL "C"

This sad bottle was wrenched from it's earthen resting place by a backhoe operator putting in a septic tank in a northern San Joaquin County, CA, burg. After decapitating this beautiful sixth he casually tossed it onto the spoils, leaving it gleaming in the sun, only to be seen by a passing digger.
All he could tell from outside the fence was that it had the look of a western whiskey. After inserting a probe under the gate and dragging the remains to the edge he was able to see the star on the base. Thinking that it was most likely a unembossed sixth he reached in and pulled it out into the alley. Turning it over and seeing that it was embossed, he nearly dropped it. OH NO!! Of all the bottles to be shattered by a machine, why was it this one? A major BUMMER, indeed.

Evans & O'Brien/No 222/ Main St/ Stockton

Jocky Club

Here is a nice early sixth that wandered in from Nevada recently. These are very tough to find with all of the characteristics I love in Western glass...nice olive tone, great whittle, and pristine condition. I have not heard of a Chesley's coming out of the ground in recent years. This would be a tough example to top!

San Diego Antique Bottle & Collectibles Show!!!

San Diego 2010 Antique Bottle & Collectibles Show & Sale!

Save The Date: Saturday June 12, 2010

Show Location: Al Bahr Shrine Temple
5440 Kearny Mesa Rd.
San Diego, CA 92111

Old Bottles, Antiques, Coins, Collectibles, Insulators, Paper, Glass, Marbles, and Much, much more....

Two Floors, 9,000 Sq. Ft. 100+ Tables
Come For The Day, Spend The Weekend

Close To Hotels, Beaches, Sea World & The Zoo

Dealer Set-up 7:30 AM
"Early Bird" 8:00 AM $10.00
General Admission 9:00AM - 3:00 PM $2.00
Kids under 12 free with adult

Mike Bryant Chairman
INFO: Jim Walker (858) 490-9019
jfw@internetter.com

http://www.sdbottleclub.org/

DISCOUNTS TO AREA ATTRACTIONS
FREE PARKING
RAFFLES

AWARDS FOR DISPLAYS
NEW LOWER SELLER TABLE PRICES!

Portland Hotaling T-55

This year has simply been one of the best years in memory for GOOD whiskeys! I am feeling like a broken record, but it has. Here is one that turned up far from it's home...along with 17 other glob fifths! This hole started out with Bromo Seltzers and similar quality for the first 5 ft. Then a 2 foot clay cap, and PRESTO CHANGO instant embossed glob fifths for two solid feet in depth, and 5X8 feet in demension. This one is now on the shelf. A HAMMER whittled T-55 Portland Hotaling. I believe there are perhaps 8-10 of these at the most in collections. Most are a light honey amber, and are remarkably plain given their age (late 70s) and being non air vented. Every once in awhile "the one" comes out, and this example qualifies to me! It is a chocolate with 100% diamond whittle, bubbles galore, and an enormous top. The embossing is bold and crude. Best of all, in spite of being completely covered in other whiskeys,it is mint. My photographic skills are not good enough to show the crudity, but maybe they can provide an idea of how crude it is.It was not dug in Oregon, and the people involved wish to remain nameless and faceless, but all in all it was one of the most stacked whiskey holes in awhile.

"Need Some Diggers Inspiration"?

I have dug 31 holes since January 1st. At an average of 6 feet each, that is a total of 186 feet! That does not count the many yards of material moved at a large 1860s-1870s dump a few months ago. This time of year, I start to get a tad burnt out, and I tend to projects around the house that I have been putting off all Winter. After all those holes, there have been some nice bottles, and other items, but nothing "heavy" this year. I figure there is about 6 weeks left before the ground starts to get rock hard in my stomping grounds. I dig all over the West, and when I get the "call", I am on the road chasing that next early bottle for the shelf!

There are a few permissions that need to be dug, and hopefully I can dig a dozen more pits in the next few weeks. One must just keep at it, and never give up.

Here are two of my favorite flasks. They were both dug by tenacious (and fortunate) diggers. I wonder if they knew that the next hole would produce these beauties? This is what keeps me going...knocking on that door, getting rejected or not, moving wood piles, or junk cars, breaking concrete, and breathing Honta Virus laden dust...all for the chance of seeing something like this just laying there...wow, there is nothing like it!