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How to Collect Historic Caribbean Bottles

The Caribbean is a haven for collectors of historic and antique bottles because ships from so many countries have passed through the islands over the past five centuries, leaving behind bottles from the U.S., most European countries and many others. Antique bottles found in the Caribbean range from "black glass" wine bottles from the 16th century to mineral water bottles from the 19th century. Most antique bottles were blown free-form by hand, while some were blown into whittled molds. The value of antique Caribbean bottles can range from a few dollars to several thousand dollars.

Things You'll Need

Internet access
Books on antique bottles

Instructions

- 1
  Familiarize yourself with antique bottle collecting in general through book and Internet resources. Two good sites for an overview are Antique-Bottles.net (antique-bottles.net) and Antique Bottle Collectors' Haven (antiquebottles.com).
- 2
  Decide which specific types of bottles you would like to collect. Your collection could be based on a color, a time period, a shape or a country.
- 3
  Search the Internet for historic and antique bottles from the Caribbean that fit the requirements of your collection.
- 4
  Search antique stores and stores that deal specifically in antique bottles for specimens for your collection. Search for bottles in secondhand stores and flea markets.
- 5
  Travel to the Caribbean to look for historic and antique bottles. Search for bottles by scuba diving in ports and areas with shipwrecks, by exploring abandoned settlements and dump sites, and by visiting antique shops, secondhand stores and flea markets. Street vendors sell antique bottles in some parts of the Caribbean.

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