Fruit Jar Home Page

In addition to the above mentioned reference guides, there are are also several good price guides available. The Redbook seems to be revised about every ten years and has been the "bible" for fruit jar collectors for many years. It describes and prices nearly all jars documented to date in virtually every color and size. Others, such as the Fruit Jar Annual by Jerry McCann come out, as the title states, every year. The Fruit Jar Annual offers recent prices paid at auction houses and through Ebay over the internet. Generally, prices don't vary drastically from year to year.

Important to the hobby are jar resellers. These people buy jars wholesale and sell to others in the hobby. There are several reputable dealers in the jar collecting world and usually carry an extensive line of jars for sale. People who sell to these resellers should know that in order to stay in business, the reseller must buy at a price lower than what the market value may dictate. For this reason, someone should expect to receive less than market value for the item.

I am always interested in buying better jars and lids - one or entire collections.

I am not in the business of reselling, therefore, I'd like to think that I can offer a better price for a particular jar or jars I want for my collection. I might add that I do from time to time sell on Ebay. Be sure to contact me if there is something you might be looking for. Please contact me if you have a unique or interesting jar you want to dispose of. You can contact me at:

I got started in jar collecting mainly as a fluke. I was doing some work for my parents in the crawlspace of their old 1800's farmhouse one winter. As I wrestled around in the dark, cramped quarters, I noticed something shimmering in the corner. I slowly made my way in that direction. There covered in dirt and dust were several old fruit jars and numerous old bottles. I managed to snatch one of the jars and looked it over. In bold embossing it read "Mason's Patent Nov. 30th 1858". It was in an old bottle glass aqua color and really crude in features. I thought to myself, "wow, this thing was made in 1858!". I marveled that such an old piece of glass could survive so long without being broken. Well, as I now know, it wasn't nearly as old as the dated embossing but it still was an exciting find. That's what got me started collecting.

The value of a jar is dependent on many things. Availability used to be considered the barometer for determining the value of a jar. But now, color seems to be playing a major role in determining price. Just like in gemstones, I like to categorize collectible fruit jars into four categories: color, closure, "common-ness" (availability), and condition.

If you are not familiar with antique fruit jars or old glass in general, we are blessed with many different hues and color variations. Most are familiar with the old aqua colored bottle glass and clear, colorless (absence of color) "flint" glass but there are also a stunning array colors you may not be aware of such as : ambers varying from light ambers close to yellow to deep brownish black ambers, greens varying from light "apple" green to dark black-olive green, blues varying from light pale aqua blue to deep cobalt blue, and almost every shade in between. Generally, unusual colors are much more uncommon and, in turn, demand a higher price. Be wary though, color is very subjective and even the most subtle differences in color can cause wide interpretation between observers. Shades and hues vary from person to person in what is perceived and in definition. Colors can change as lighting changes also - sunlight may reveal a different shade of color compared to indoor lighting. Intensity and colors appear differently under different lightning situations. What one person may consider a teal blue to one person may be aquamarine to another.

Wasn't it said that "necessity is the mother of invention"? Well, the inventive juices were rampant during the period of time in and around the Industrial Revolution and, thank God, the manufacturers of jars weren't immune from experimenting a little. Patents on jar closures vary from one extreme to the other - simple cork, or tin-lidded jars that required wax to seal them to elaborate many pieced closures. Those with the more exotic closure systems usually didn't catch on like some of their simpler counterparts. They proved to be cumbersome to operate and their parts eventually were lost, broken, or simply became non- functional. As a result of experimentation with closures, many jars and jar companies failed at gaining acceptance. Therefore, the fruit jars with the more elaborate closure system tend to aid in increasing the value of a jar.

The "common-ness" is the availability (or lack thereof) of a jar. The simple business model of supply and demand aids in determining prices. Those jars in higher demand but less availability will inevitably rise in price. Even though some jars like the aqua Beaver jar and amber Trademark Lightning and Globes are very available, the demand for these collectible jars substantiates the price.

Demographics can also play a minor role in the price of a jar. Jars that were made on the East Coast may not be readily available on the West Coast and vice versa. As the hobby evolves, it is clear that the rarity of many jars are helping to establish and drive prices.

Last, but not least, is condition. Most prices in guides are based on the fact that the item is pristine unless stated otherwise. Jars with cracks, bruises, chips, etc. will definitely bring a lower price than the same in excellent condition. You can't imagine how many times I've been approached by someone who has a really good jar but with some sort of damage and would like the same amount as stated in the price guide.

Pricing of jars in price guides should be recognized as guides only. The true value of a jar lies solely between the buyer and seller. I know the whole color, closure, common-ness, condition parameters may be simplifying things. There are a lot of factors that weigh in to what a particular jar might be worth. Just because someone pays "x" amount for a jar doesn't necessarily justify its value. That person may have been the only one who is willing to pay that for that particular jar.

Over the past decade, the value on common jars has been relatively unchanged. The "better" jars have increased steadily with the rarer jars increasing by leaps and bounds over the same period of time. The collector should be aware that trends fluctuate over time with changing interests and what may be "hot" today may not necessarily be "hot" tomorrow. Also affecting value is, of course, the economy. Very strong prices were being paid for jars several years ago. While strong prices are still being realized for rare jars, much of the rapid buying for jars easier to come by has tapered off.

I have to caution, like most collectible hobbies, there are fakes and reproductions abound. Before laying down a lot of money on an item, be sure of its authenticity. Caution should be used when buying over the internet. It is too easy to misrepresent an item and be taken. Color used in photos are my biggest concern and often misrepresented. I've fallen prey myself. Make sure you get pictures before you buy and then still be skeptical. Only buy over the internet or mail order, for that matter, with someone who you trust and offers a return policy if you are not fully satisfied. There are hundreds of reputable dealers out there but tainted with a few bad ones, so watch out.

Go to shows. Ask questions.
Don't get discouraged about prices. You don't have to have expensive jars to enjoy the hobby. Hit those auctions, estate sales, garage sales, and antique shops and search for that "holy grail".

Record prices realized for some mint or near mint condition exceptionally rare jars:

RB #2181, deep cobalt blue quart "Millville Atmospheric Fruit Jar".......................................................................................	$29,000
RB #2181, cobalt blue quart "Millville Atmospheric Fruit Jar", some minor lip chips..........................................................	24,200
RB #1787, cobalt blue quart "Masons Patent Nov. 30th 1858.................................................................................................	22,000
RB #2181, amber quart "Millville Atmospheric Fruit Jar", minor lip chips.............................................................................	11,000
RB #2881, amber "Van Vliet Improved".......................................................................................................................................	19,800
RB #51, amber 46 oz. "Air - Tight Fruit Jar"................................................................................................................................	18,000
RB #565, cobalt blue "Canton Domestic Fruit Jar"....................................................................................................................	13,200
RB #2371, aqua "Wm Pogue Bridgeton N.J.", 1/2" lip chip......................................................................................................	12,100
RB #3067, cobalt blue "Petal" jar, some lip chips.......................................................................................................................	10,000

Jar PICS Fruit Jars WANTED Bottles WANTED Metro-East Bottle show Links to other related sites