A Dr. Renzs Herb Bitters bottle (San Francisco, Calif., ca. 1868-81), 9.75 inches tall, with a uniquely styled applied tapered top (one of maybe four known), light lime green in color, sold for $24,150 in the online-only sale #72 of part one of the Mel Hammer bottle collection, which began Dec. 10 and ended Dec. 19, by American Bottle Auctions. The Hammer collection is an incredible hoard gathered over a 50-year span by a man who dedicated much of his adult life to the acquisition and study of antique glass. The sale featured many of Hammers favorites, such as schnapps and gin bottles, bitters bottles and inkwells, many boasting 9.5 grades. Part two will be held in March. Mel Hammer died on Thanksgiving Day in 2021. The Dr. Renzs Herb Bitters was easily the top achiever in the 137-bottle auction, and the price was a new auction record. A winner at the 1869 California State Fair, the bottle is one of just a handful known with the unique style tapered top. It was undoubtedly the first embossed bottle made for this bitters. All known examples have a green hue, with crudity consistent with the era. The bitters stole the show, but there were some very respectful bids in all categories, said Jeff Wichmann, the owner of American Bottle Auctions. We were amazed at some of the prices of the squares and inkwells. For instance, out of the 60 or so early squares, including gins, schnapps and sarsaparillas, 15 sold for $1,000 or more. One gin sold for $10,925. A square, red amber whittled Turner Brothers bottle Hammer had purchased at an American Bottle Auctions sale boasted an applied top with graphite pontil and showed both Turner Brothers locations (Buffalo, N.Y., and San Francisco, Calif.). The bottle checked every box: the color, crudity, rarity and condition were all exemplar. It brought $3,910. A Dr. Wonsers USA Indian Root Bitters bottle with an applied top, medium amber in color and showing lots of uneven glass and whittle, was near-perfect and sold accordingly for $15,525. The amber and aqua Wonsers are among the most sought after and coveted Western bitters out there. For its distinctive design, unique name and overall appeal, Dr. Wonsers are simply hard to beat. A barrel-shaped Greeleys Bourbon Whiskey Bitters bottle with applied top (G102), 9.5 inches tall, attracted bidders because it was a true purple Greeleys. While these barrels come in shades of purple or puce, they are often very dark and hard to see through or are an off color, similar to the bourbon whiskey bitters. Such was not the case with this example. The bottle sold for $4,600. A Pride of Kentucky Old Bourbon bottle (Livingston & Co., Sole Agents), made sometime in the mid-to-late 1870s, was one that Hammer actually found near his home in Redding, Calif. The lightweight bottle with an applied top was as whittled as any Western fifth around, and the color, while an old amber, showed a perfect depth throughout the bottle. It finished at $9,200. Catawba Wine Bitters bottles are popular with collectors. A choice example, medium green in color, with embossed grapes, an applied top and graphite pontil, this one was sold by American Bottle Auctions in part one of the Grapentine collection. It boasted good overall whittle and crudity. Its the pontiled version, with all graphite intact, and found a new owner for $6,900. Turning to inkwells, there were two in the sale that performed exceptionally well. One was an M100 staved barrel type tea kettle inkwell, a fine amethyst color. There are only a couple of barrel inks, and theyre quite rare and highly sought after. This one had a pedigree: its said to have been produced for the Henry Harrison presidential campaign of 1840. It brought $5,060. Things will be pretty much split down the middle between parts one and two (Hammer collection) in terms of value, variants and number of bottles, stated Wichmann. To learn more about American Bottle Auctions, visit www.americanbottle.com.