Bottle collecting has been an important pastime since the end of the 19th century, when the first bottle seekers dug up examples in old privy pits, the town dump or a rocky seacoast area. Most sought after were historic flasks made in New England glassworks.
As flasks got more expensive, collectors searched for other bottles -- bitters, inks, mineral water, pickle, snuff, whiskey, wine, food storag…