Ink Bottles

Ink bottles are unique because of their centuries-old history, which provides collectors today with a wider variety of designs and shapes than any other group of bottles. People often ask why a product as cheap to produce as ink was sold in such decorative bottles. While other bottles were disposed of or returned after use, ink bottles were usually displayed openly on desks in dens, libraries, and studies. It’s safe to assume that even into the late 1880s people who bought ink bottles considered the design of the bottle as well as the quality of its contents.

Prior to the 18th century, most ink was sold in brass or copper containers. The very rich would then refi ll their gold and silver inkwells from these storage containers. Ink that was sold in glass and pottery bottles in England in the 1700s had no brand name identifi cation, and, at best, would have a label identifying the ink and/or the manufacturer.

In 1792, the first patent for the commercial production of ink was issued in England, 24 years before the first American patent that was issued in 1816. Molded ink bottles began to appear in America around 1815-1816 and the blown three-mold variety came into use during the late 1840s. The most common shape of ink bottle, the umbrella, is a multi-sided conical that can be found with both pontiled and smooth bases. One of the more collectible ink bottles is the teakettle, identifi ed by the neck, which extends upward at an angle from the base.

As the fountain pen grew in popularity between 1885 and 1890, the ink bottle gradually became less decorative and soon became just another plain bottle.

A.B. Laird’s / Ink

Medium blue green, 2-1/8", 8-sided, open pontil, inward rolled lip, American 1840-1860 $3,500-4,500

Albert’s / Writing Fluid – Pitts. PA

Blue aqua, 2-1/4", open pontil, rolled lip, extremely rare, American 1840-1860,$400-700

B.A. Fahnestock & Co. / Ink & Ink Stand / Pittsburgh

Blue aqua, 2-3/8", open pontil, rolled lip, extremely rare, American 1840-1860 $400-700

Barrel Ink – Opdyke / Bros / Ink

Blue aqua, 2-1/2", barrel form, smooth base, tooled mouth, American 1875-1890$250-350

Blake & Herring – N-Y

Rich emerald green, 3", 8-sided, open pontil, inward rolled lip, extremely rare, American 1840-1860 $2,500-4,500

Carters – Cloverleaf Ink

Cobalt blue, 2-3/8", 6-sided, smooth base, ABM top, American 1870-1880$100-150

CA – RT – ER (on side at base) – Label reads: Hill and Kooken, Stationery, 11 Lyman Terrace, Waltham, Mass

Cobalt blue, 8", cathedral arch panels, smooth base (Carters), ABM lip, hard rubber dispenser, American 1920-1930$175-275

Clark’s / Superior / Record / Ink – Boston

Yellow amber, 6", open pontil-scarred base, flared lip, extremely rare, American 1840-1860 $500-800

Cone Ink

Medium olive green, 2-1/4", pontil-scarred base (X and 200), sheared and tooled lip, swirled glass lines, American 1840-1860$500-700

Cone Ink

Yellow amber, 2-1/2", open pontil, inward rolled lip, American 1840-1860$600-800

Cone Ink

Medium cobalt blue, 2-1/2" open pontil, inward rolled lip, American 1840-1860 $1,500-2,500

Cone Ink

Deep blue aqua, 2-3/8", smooth base, tooled mouth, American 1895-1910$120-180

Cone Ink

Brilliant emerald green, 2-3/8", tubular pontil scar, outward rolled mouth, American 1840-1860 $400-800

Clark’s / Superior / Record / Ink – Boston, yellow amber, 6", American 1840-1860, $500-800.

Stripe-pattern domed inkwell, clear glass with white and pink alternating stripe pattern swirled to right, 2-1/4", Sandwich Glass Works, Sandwich, Mass., American 1830-1850, $1,200-1,800.

Cone Ink – R.L. Higgins – Virginia City

Medium green, 2", smooth base, inward rolled mouth, American 1875-1883.$800-1,000

Cone Ink – Rogers & Cooper / St. Louis Mo (embossed)

Aqua, 3", open pontil, rolled lip, American 1840-1860$400-550

Cone Ink

Medium cobalt blue, 3-3/4", drape pattern, panel for label, tubular pontil scar, applied double collared mouth, American 1840-1860$4,000-8,000

Diamond / Ink Co.

Medium amber, 3-1/4", square form, smooth base (Diamond Ink Co. / Pat. Appd. For), tooled mouth, American 1885-1900$40-50

Domed Ink – Bertinguiot

Yellow olive, 2-1/4", pontil-scarred base, sheared mouth, French 1840-1860.$200-400 Domed Ink – A.M. Bertinquiot

Black glass, 2-3/16", pontil-scarred base, sheared mouth, French 1840-1860.$200-400

Glass Funnel Inkwell – Simon’s – Registered – Birmingham / May 30, 1845 – Clark’s Patent (embossed on front)

Deep blue green, 3", polished pontil-scarred base, tooled opening, English 1845-1860$500-700

Farleys – Ink

Yellow olive with amber tone, 3-1/2", 8-sided, open pontil, tooled flared-out lip, American 1840-1860.$1,000-1,500

Drape pattern ink, medium sapphire blue, 2-1/2", American 1840-1860, $800-1,500.

Farley’s – Ink, medium olive yellow, 3-1/8", American 1840-1860, $700-900.

Gross & Robinson’s / American / Writing Fluid, deep blue aqua, 5-7/8", American 1840-1860, $500-800.

Harrison’s / Columbian / Ink – Original Label reads: Harrison’s Columbian Black Writing Fluid, South 7th Street, Philadelphia

Medium cobalt blue, 2", open pontil, inward rolled lip, American 1840-1860.$700-900

Harrison’s / Columbian / Ink

Medium cobalt blue, 2", open pontil, inward rolled lip, American 1840-1860.$600-800

Harrison’s / Columbian / Ink

Deep cobalt blue, 2", open pontil, inward rolled lip, American 1840-1860 $800-1,400

Harrison’s / Columbian / Ink – Original label reads: Harrison’s Columbian Black Writing Fluid, South 7th Street, Philadelphia

Medium cobalt blue, 4", open pontil, applied mouth, American 1840-1860.$800-1,400

Harrison’s / Columbian / Ink

Cobalt blue, 5-3/4", open pontil, applied mouth, American 1840-1860$1,000-1,400

Igloo ink, medium cobalt blue, 2", American 1865-1880, $800-1,400.

Hover / Phila, sapphire blue, 5", American 1840-1860, $800-1,200.

Hohenthal / Brothers & Co / Indelible / Writing Ink / N.Y.

Yellow amber, 7", cylinder, pontil-scarred base, applied mouth with tool crimped pour spout, scarce, American 1840-1860$1,000-1,500

Hoffman’s / Ink – Label reads: Hoffman’s Chemical Red Carmine Ink, Bridgeport, Connecticut

Aqua, 2-3/4", smooth base, tooled and ground lip, American 1875-1895 $75-100

Hover / Phila

Moss green, 4-1/2", cylindrical form, tubular pontil scar, tool flared mouth, American 1840-1860$300-600

Hover / Phila

Sapphire blue, 5", cylindrical form, open pontil, tooled flared-out lip, rare, American 1840-1860 $800-1,200

Igloo Ink – Label reads: Anti-Corrosive Jet Black Ink, Prepared by John Aannear, 128 Front St., Philadelphia

Aqua, 2", smooth base, sheared and ground lip, American 1865-1875$120-180

Inkwell

Clear glass, 2", 14-vertical rib pattern, filler and four-quill opening on top, pontil-scarred base, American 1850-1870$200-300

J & I.E. M., label reads: Moore’s Excelsior School Writing Ink, Manufactured by J. &I. E. Moore, Warren, Mass, aqua, 2-5/8"; Hoffman’s / Ink, label reads: Hoffman’s Chemical Red Carmine Ink, Bridgeport, Connecticut, aqua, 2-3/4", American 1875-1895, $140-180.

Rogers & Cooper / St. Louis Mo, aqua, 3", American 1840-1860, $400-500.

J. & I.E.M. – Label Reads: Moore’s Excelsior School Writing Ink, Manfactured by J. & I.E. Moore, Warren, Mass

Aqua, 2-5/8", smooth base, tooled and ground lip, American 1875-1895 $75-100

J. Raynald

Medium green, 2-1/2", globe form, smooth base, inward rolled mouth, American 1850-1870 $250-350

J.S. Dunham, St. Louis. M.

Brilliant aquamarine, 2-1/4", 12-sided, tubular pontil scar, inward rolled mouth, rare, unknown variant, American 1840-1860$400-800

J.S. Mason / Philad.a

Bright blue green, 4-3/8", cylindrical, pontil-scarred base, tooled flared mouth, extremely rare, American 1840-1860.$250-500

Kosmian / Safety Ink

Brilliant blue green, 7-1/8", square with one indented embossed panel and beveled corners, smooth base, applied square collared mouth, rare, American 1860-1880 $300-600

Master ink – Davids & Black – New York, light blue green, 6-3/8", American 1840-1860, $600-800.

Master ink – Collins’ Ink Co. / Louisville KY, dark amber 9-7/8", American 1860-1875, $375-500.

Locomotive Ink – Trade Mark – Pat. Oct. 1874

Aqua, 2", locomotive form, smooth base, sheared and ground lip, American 1874-1880, made for Charles L. Lochman, Proprietor of Lochman’s Locomotive Ink Company of Carlisle, Penn$1,000-1,500

Lyons Ink

Medium cobalt blue, 2-7/8", smooth base, tooled lip, American 1880-1895$300-400

Master Ink – Carters – Label reads: Carter’s – RYTO – Permanent – Blue Black – Ink

Cobalt blue, 7", smooth base, cathedral form, ABM lip, original stopper with screw top cap, American 1920-1930$275-325

Master Ink – Carter – Label reads: Hill and Kocken Stationery 11 Lyman Terrace, Waltham, Mass. Tel. Waltham 3239-M

Deep cobalt blue, 8", 6-sided, cathedral form, smooth base, ABM lip, original rubber stopper with plastic screw cap, American 1920-1930$275-375

Master Ink – Carters – Label reads: Carter’s – RYTO – Permanent – Blue Black – Ink

Cobalt blue, 9", smooth base, cathedral form, ABM lip, original stopper with screw top cap, American 1920-1930$400-500

Master Ink – Carters – Label reads: Carter’s – RYTO – Permanent – Blue Black – Ink

Cobalt blue, 10", smooth base, cathedral form, ABM lip, original stopper with screw top cap, American 1920-1930$100-150

Master Ink – Collins Ink Co / Louisville KY

Dark amber, 9-7/8", smooth base, applied mouth with hand tooled pour spout, extremely rare, American 1860-1875$375-500

Master Ink – Davids & Black – New York (around shoulder)

Olive amber, 6-3/8", open pontil, applied sloping collar mouth, rare color, American 1840-1860 $800-1,200

Master Ink – Gross & Robinson’s / American / Writing Fluid

Deep blue aqua, 5-7/8", iron pontil, applied mouth, rare, American 1840-1860 $500-800

Master Ink – Hover – Phila

Medium blue green, 7-1/2", open pontil, applied sloping double collar mouth with hand tooled pour spout, scarce, American 1840-1860$500-700

Sided master ink, deep yellow olive green, half-gallon, 10", American 1845-1860, $5,000-8,000.

Saltglaze stoneware master ink – A.W. Harrison / Patent / Columbian Ink / Philadelphia, gray and brown, 10", American 1845-1860, $1,000-1,800.

Patterson’s / Excelsior / Ink, deep blue aqua, 2-3/4", rare, American 1840-1860, $400-600.

Master Ink – R.L. Higgins – Virginia

Dark amber, 6", smooth base, applied mouth with pour spout, extremely rare, American 1875-1883$10,000-12,000

Master Ink – Saltglaze Stoneware – A.W. Harrison / Patent / Columbian Ink / Philadelphia (stamped on side at shoulder)

Gray and brown, 10", handled, smooth base, mouth similar to wide applied style, American 1845-1860.$1,000-1,800

Master Ink – Stafford’s / Ink

Dark puce, 7-3/4", smooth base, applied mouth, hand tooled pour spout, extremely rare color, American 1875-1885$700-800

Multi-Sided Ink

Blue aqua, 1-3/4", 8-sided, pontil-scarred base, sheared and inward rolled lip, American 1840-1860.$100-150

NE Plus Ultra Fluid

Blue aqua, 2", cottage form, smooth base, burst sheared lip, American 1850-1860.$275-325

Patterson’s / Excelsior / Ink Deep blue aqua, 2-3/4", 8-sided,

Deep blue aqua, 2-3/4", 8-sided, open pontil (reversed 3X), inward rolled lip, rare, American 1840-1860.$400-600

Rider on Horse (horizontal diamond) – Rider on Horse (horizontal diamond)

Dark yellow amber, 1-3/8", open pontil, tooled disk-type lip, blown in a two-piece mold, extremely rare, American 1815-1835,$6,500

S.F. Cal Ink Co

Medium amber, 2", cottage ink, smooth base, inward rolled lip, American 1850-1860$1,800-2,000

S.O. Dunbar / Tauton / Mass., aqua, 8-5/8", American 1840-1860, $100-150.

Sheet’s – Writing – Fluid – Dayton / O, blue aqua, 2-5/8", American 1840-1860, $400-700.

S. Fine / Blk. Ink

Aqua, 3-1/8", open pontil, sheared and ground lip, American 1840-1860 $200-300

S.O. Dunbar / Taunton / Mass

Aqua, 8-5/8", cylinder form, iron pontil, applied mouth, American 1840-1860.$100-150

Sheet’s – Writing – Fluid – Dayton / O

Blue aqua, 2-5/8", 6-sided, corset-waist form, pontil-scarred base, inward rolled lip, American 1840-1860.$400-700

Teakettle Ink

Medium cobalt blue, 1-1/2", lobed melon form, smooth base, ground mouth with brass collar and cap, England 1830-1850.$500-1,000

Teakettle Ink (stoneware) – Compliments Of – The Letort Hotel – James F. Grandone, Prop. – Carlisle. PA

Two-tone light and dark pottery, 2-1/2", smooth base, wide smooth top, American 1880-1910$125-150

Teakettle Ink

Jade clambroth, 2-1/2", smooth base, sheared and ground lip, American 1850-1870$325-425

Teakettle Ink

Blue clambroth, 2-1/2", smooth base, sheared and ground lip, American 1850-1870$325-425

Teakettle ink, milk glass, 2-3/8", American 1875-1885, $375-500.

Teakettle ink, medium yellow green, 2-1/8", English 1880-1895, $250-350.

Teakettle Ink – Double Font

Clear glass, 3-1/2", embossed on upper font (D.R.G.M. No. 55922) and lower font (D.R.G.M.), smooth base, sheared lip with original metal neck ring and cap and metal separator ring, rare, double font inkwell provides two different ink colors from the same inkwell, English 1880-1895$375-475

Teakettle Ink – Double Font

Clear glass, 4-1/2", polished pontil base, sheared and ground lip, rare, double font inkwell provides two different ink colors from the same inkwell, American 1880-1895$350-475

Teakettle Ink – Miniature Beehive

Aqua, 1-1/8", beehive form, smooth base, sheared and ground lip, American 1880-1895$200-300 Teakettle Ink – Beehive

Deep blue aqua, 2", beehive form, smooth base, rough sheared lip, European 1880-1895$275-375

Teakettle Ink – Monroe’s / Patent / School / Ink

Aquamarine, 2", 7-sided, two front panels embossed, smooth base, tooled and ground mouth, extremely rare, American 1860-1880.$400-800

Teakettle ink, medium apple green, 2", English 1880-1890, $275-475.

Teakettle ink, deep sapphire blue, 2", American 1875-1895, $275-450.

Umbrella ink, label reads: Adam’s indelible Writing Ink Manufactured By J.C. Moran Bookseller and Stationer, 438 Pa. Av. Washington City, golden yellow amber, 2-5/8", American 1840-1860, $375-500.

The American Ink Co. – Denver U.S.A., clear glass, 2-1/2", very rare, American 1895-1900, $350-450.

The American Ink Co. / Denver U.S.A.

Clear glass, 2-1/2", smooth base (Pat Sept. 4-95), ground lip, original metal screw-on cap, American 1895-1900$350-450

The World / J. Raynald (continents of Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa)

Blue aqua, 2-1/4", smooth base, tooled lip, rare, American 1885-1895.$375-475

Titcomb’s / Ink Cin

Aquamarine, 2-3/4", 12-sided, pontil-scarred base, inward rolled mouth, extremely rare, American 1840-1860$500-1,000

Umbrella Ink – Label reads: Adam’s Indelible Writing Ink Manufactured by J.C. Moran Bookseller and Stationer, 438 Pa. Av., Washington City

Golden yellow, 2-5/8", 8-sided, open pontil, rolled lip, very rare, American 1840-1860$375-500

Umbrella Ink – Boss’ / Patent

Aquamarine, 2-5/8", tubular pontil scar, inward rolled mouth, American 1840-1860.$400-800

Umbrella Ink – J. Gundry / Cincinnati

Aquamarine, 3", 12-sided, tubular pontil scar, inward rolled mouth, American 1840-1860$400-600

Umbrella ink, medium lime green, 2-5/8", American 1855-1865, $400-600.

Umbrella Ink – J.W. – Seaton – Louisville KY, medium blue green, 2-1/4", rare, American 1840-1860, $800-1,400.

Sided Ink – Zieber & Co. – Excelsior – Ink, deep blue green, 7-1/2", American 1840-1860, $4,500-6,000.

Umbrella Ink – James S. / Mason & Co.

Bright blue green, 2-1/2", octagonal form, tubular pontil scar, inward rolled lip, American 1840-1860 rare.$400-800

Umbrella Ink – Water’s – Ink – Troy N.Y.

Light to medium blue-green, 2-3/4", 6-sided, open pontil, inward rolled lip, rare, American 1840-1860 color$2,000-3,000

Umbrella Ink – Wide Mouth

Medium pink amethyst, 1-7/8", 8-sided, pontil-scarred base, sheared and tool widened mouth, original cork with material wrap closure, extremely rare, American 1840-1860, found in rubble of the Glassboro N.J. building that was the office of the Whitney Glassworks$5,000-7,000

Umbrella Ink

Dark green, 4-1/2", smooth base, tooled lip, American 1850-1860$250-275

Zieber & Co – Excelsior – Ink

Deep blue green, 7-1/2", 12-sided, iron pontil, applied mouth, American 1840-1860$4,500-6,000 Zieber is one of the most sought after master inks.

FIGURAL INKS

Ink – Log Cabin

Clear glass, 2-1/2", smooth base, tooled flared mouth, American 1880-1890$350-700

Ink – Two Story Building

Milk glass, 4-3/4", smooth base, tooled squared collared mouth, extremely rare, American 1860-1880$500-1,000

Teakettle Ink – Turtle

Clear glass, 1-5/8", smooth base, rough sheared lip, English 1880-1895 $175-225