When you think of antique bottles, what exactly comes to mind? All those empty Budweisers you have in the garage that need to be recycled? In truth the business of buying and selling antique bottles can be not only fun and enjoyable, it can be downright profitable. And one of the reasons for this is that there are just so many different varieties and styles that have become collectibles.

For instance, you may already know that most who collect antique bottles are typically on the lookout for old Coca-Cola and Jim Bean products; that’s because these products and so many like them are not sold in glass bottles any longer. They may also have an interest in these lines because Coca-Cola and Jim Bean are both products that represent a good portion of American history; they are products that have been produced in the U.S. for many decades now. Having a collection of these particular antique bottles is a lot like having a little bit of American history in your house.

There are many other types of antique bottles that are usually hot sellers. For example there are old apothecary jars, which are those once used by pharmacists. You may be familiar with them; they are a bit taller than most jars and are either round or square in shape with a glass stopper. They usually come in a variety of colors and some have the name of the medicine or a poison warning painted right on them. They are beautiful as far as antique bottles go because they are heavy and have that unique stopper lid.

Another popular option is barber bottles. These are very round at the bottom with a long skinny neck and usually come in a variety of colors as well. They are treasured as antique bottles because of the variety of colors and the artwork that was usually painted on the front of them. They were used decades ago by barbers to hold witch hazel, aftershave lotion, and a variety of other items they needed for styling and grooming.

One great variety that is highly prized is bitters bottles. Bitters are old-fashioned medicines made of roots and herbs that were very bitter in taste. During prohibition some bitters were brewed so they could be enjoyed under the guise of being medicine. antique bottles for bitters come in a wide variety of colors and shapes, with some being in the form of a log cabin, ear of corn, pig, or other such styles. If you can picture the type of bottle that the Mrs. Butterworth’s maple syrup comes in, then you have an idea of what old bitters bottles looked like.

These antique bottles are appreciated for their aesthetic appeal as well as the fact that they often represent a period of American history that is long gone. So if you’re considering joining the world of antique buying and selling, why not start with some great bottles?

Someone not familiar with the industry may wonder why anyone would be interested in antique books. After all, a lot of times the information contained in them is so outdated that it’s downright inaccurate! Science books are almost comical with their rudimentary knowledge of the universe, medical books are surprisingly inaccurate about the workings of the human body and cause of many illnesses, and of course history books seem almost like fairy tales when held up against today’s modern world. But for many, antique books are something to be treasured and they are actually quite valuable to a lot of collectors. Especially bibles and other holy books, and writings of very famous people throughout history; all of these can fetch quite a sum at auction.

Some of the reasons that antique books are so coveted by collectors include the fact that they are so inaccurate when held up against today’s modern textbooks. When we understand how inaccurate medical books were from decades ago, we realize how much work doctors and scientists have done to get to where we are today – and how much more work there is to be done. Some appreciate that antique books are seen as almost elementary because this really paints a picture of the progress that people have made when it comes to science or medicine.

But for others, it may be the timelessness of antique books that appeal to them. When you read the writings of ancient poets and philosophers you realize that people really haven’t changed much down through history.

And of course antique books can really tell a story about history that probably not many other items can. Older law books show how government and politics have shaped the history of some countries. Storybooks tell of what was important to people and how they would talk between themselves.

Many appreciate antique books because they’re a true tie to the past. Knowing that a bible is decades old makes you wonder who else touched it and read it on a regular basis. Having books that some philosopher actually wrote in is probably the best connection you’ll ever to that person.

So who might be interested in antique books? Usually those with a love of history and reading itself appreciate these items more than anyone. Many auctions have a separate set of bidding just for books, as there is a particular crowd of collectors that will be especially interested. Some law libraries may also want older editions for their shelves even if they are no longer relevant. There are also many private collectors that specialize in bibles and other holy books and that are always on the lookout for something different and new to them. While some who are interested in the business shy away from antique books because they feel it’s not quite as “exciting” as the world of antique furniture or jewelry or as fun as antique toys and collectibles, they have quite a bit of value to those who are interested.

There has probably always been an interest in antiques; after all, archeology is something like the study of antiques and there have always been those that have been a part of this fascinating science. But in recent years the television show antiques Roadshow has really changed the industry and business of antiques in a way that people never thought would be possible. How so?

For one thing, most people who have never had an interest in the business are suddenly realizing how interesting it can be. Let’s face it, the antiques Roadshow is nothing like a good football or basketball game, and hunting around estate sales and garage sales has not been a lot of people’s idea of how to spend an exciting Saturday afternoon. But once people started watching antiques Roadshow they began to appreciate how thrilling antiques really can be. It has opened up an entire generation to the fun and excitement of finding hidden and valuable treasures, often when you don’t even realize that’s what you have.

The way that the antiques Roadshow is formatted, average citizens bring in their antiques and have an expert look them over. Sometimes they have an idea of the value of the item but often they don’t. The expert will ask them how they acquired it and how much they paid for it. Very often that piece they paid ten dollars for at a garage sale is worth hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars, much to their surprise. The format of antiques Roadshow keeps even the most expert of viewers guessing, as the expert will look over the piece carefully, talk about its different facets, where it was made, and so on, and then give the approximate value the item might go for at auction. To many, the antiques Roadshow is something like a great game show with the prize already being shown but the value of the prize being revealed at the end.

And sometimes the value of those items that are brought into the antiques Roadshow can be amazing. As an example, one man brought in a rug that he knew was very old and had assumed was Native American in origin. He had no idea of the value and really didn’t think it would fetch much of a price. Imagine his surprise when the appraiser with antiques Roadshow told him that it was worth over $350,000 USD! Needless to say there were many tears of joy on that episode.

While those types of appraisals are of course few and far between, it really illustrates the point of how exciting the world of antiques and antique appraisals can be. Many people have stated that they entered the world of antique buying and selling simply because of what they’ve seen on the antiques Roadshow. Others who would have never given the industry a second thought are suddenly realizing what fun and excitement it can be, and many are suddenly thinking about all the treasures they have in their own attic!

Having been taken in by a phony antique is something that has probably happened to every appraiser or dealer. Faking an antique is big business these days; as a matter of fact, some designers do it on purpose because they have clients and buyers that like the look of antiques but don’t want to pay the price for them. “Distressing” furniture is a common occurrence for many household items.

But when talking about phony antiques, we don’t mean those that are made to look old simply because a customer likes the look. We’re talking about actually passing something off as a valuable antique when it’s really not, costing dealers and appraisers hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

Many that are new to the world of antiques want to know how they can be sure that this will never happen to them. What guarantee can they have, what formula can they follow, what magic little clue will tell them that they’re getting the real thing?

The sad news is that no such guarantee, formula, or clue exists. There is just no way to be absolutely certain every single time you’re out shopping that you’re getting the “real deal.”

This doesn’t mean that someone should shy away from the business of antiques. There are risks involved with any business – investing is a risk, manufacturing is a risk, salespeople take risks. The key is to learn as much as possible about any area of antiquing that you’re interested in so that you can minimize that risk as much as possible.

This mean reading about certain items and its trademarks or characteristics, but it also means learning about common fakes and phonies as well. Just like there are common internet scams, there are common antique scams as well. When you study what those common scams, fakes, and phony items are then you’re better prepared to walk away when you come across one.

Risk is part of any business; as a matter of fact, it’s a part of life. We all wish we could get a guarantee for everything we do, but that’s just not possible. However, there’s no reason to let that risk take away from your enjoyment of this fun, exciting, and very lucrative business.

If you’re interested in buying and selling antiques, you may have an idea of how and when you can sell those fabulous items you’ve found. You may have a regular booth at a flea market or at the local outdoor market, or even own a shop or store at which you’ll put out those items. This is all well and good and you can of course attract a lot of customers and do a lot of sales with these typical markets.

And of course you don’t want to bother with an internet site, and especially not with eBay, unless …

Unless you want to sells tons of stuff and make huge profits.

That’s right, if you sell antiques just because it’s fun or because you have nothing else to do all day and aren’t really concerned with actually making money, then don’t worry about the internet and having a website or listing your items on eBay. If you’re not worried about profits, then don’t worry about them.

On the other hand, if you are truly serious about selling your antiques and in making a huge profit, then the internet and especially eBay may be the first places to which you turn your attention. Why is that?

Think of it this way. Your store is only going to attract local customers that live in the area. The same with flea markets, bazaars, and other such places.

But the internet? eBay? With these avenues of sales you are literally opening your doors to the entire country and even the entire world. Someone living hundreds of miles away may be in the market for just the very item that you’re selling, and if you didn’t list it on the internet or eBay you would have never found them – and they would have never found you.

The internet might seem a little overwhelming to some that aren’t used to using it every day and others may turn their noses up on eBay, but this can be a big mistake when it comes to selling antiques. The listing fees are usually very reasonable which means that your profit margins can be astronomical.

So don’t ignore these areas of sales and marketing … unless you’re just not interested in those profits.

Chances are everyone wishes they could walk away from their job, but not their salary. It’s not that people don’t want to work, they just want to do something for a living that is fun, interesting, enjoyable, and that is always full of excitement and surprises; to have a career or job where no day is the same as the day before it, and that really brings happiness to other people.

If this type of job seems like a fantasy or dream, take heart! It’s actually a reality. There are those who have learned how to make big profits from one of the most exciting industries and careers there is – the world of buying and selling antiques!

Before you let your doubt and fear get the better of you, consider the following. People who make those big profits from antiques probably started out just like you – without a degree in antiquities, without years of schooling, and without a ton of startup funds. So how did they do it?

The answer is simple – someone told them how to do it. Someone stepped up and told them the secret of what antiques are hot sellers, where to get those hot items, and where to sell them for those big profits. They didn’t need to figure out all those things on their own.

And you don’t either!

We have been in the business of buying and selling antiques for years and know how to make big profits from this business. We can tell you:

- The misconceptions – make that the outright lies – that newcomers to the world of antiquing are often told, and how this can cost you hundreds and even thousands in possible sales!
- How the hidden world of estate sales can be a treasure trove of antiques new to the market – but only if you know the secrets of how they work!
- The one market that many antique sellers ignore – and that makes them miss out on thousands of dollars in profits!

As you may have already seen from those television shows, you can make hundreds, thousands, and even tens of thousands of dollars from buying and selling antiques – if you know how!

Visit our website at www.covetedantiques.com if you’re ready to walk away from your cubicle – and into the exciting and very profitable world of buying and selling antiques. We’ve helped hundreds just like you make a living from this exciting industry, and now we’re ready to help you too!