At a small flea market in Greenville, Kentucky, 31 Club member, Cecil, was approached by a gentleman inquiring about one of the exhibitors who was absent from his booth. Cecil informed him that the man would be back to his booth very shortly, but at the same time Cecil a stoneware jug the man was holding. This jug wasn't of much interest for Cecil, but he asked if there was anything else he might want to sell. Another man Cecil hadn't noticed at first, was listening to their conversation, when the gentleman with the jug told Cecil to come with him out to the car where he had several other items. The two headed out for the car and the other man trailed behind them.
When the trunk was opened, Cecil found it filled with many jugs of all different types. The first one Cecil eyed was a Louisville Kentucky Gallon Jug worth a couple of hundred dollars, but while he was examining it, the man who had followed them reached in picked up something wrapped in newspaper from a corner in the trunk. Out of the corner of his eye, Cecil could see it was a quart jug from Hartford, Kentucky. The man asked the price and was told $100. He immediately bought it. Needless to say, Cecil wasn't very happy about this.
But let's talk about size for a moment. The size of the jug is important, and whiskey jugs basically come in three sizes: Gallon, ½ Gallon, and Quart. The general rule for jugs is the smaller the jug, the more expensive it is. Next in importance is the town it's from. The smaller the town, the higher the price. This is because fewer were produced in very small towns. Cecil was well aware of this, so when the other man walked off with a jug Cecil thought he should've had first dibbs on, you can understand how displeased he was.
After Cecil was done looking through the trunk, he met up with the man who had purchased the jug out from under him and ask if he wanted to sell that jug. the jug was for sale. “It really isn't for sale, but if you want, I'll will keep you in mind,” was the man's response. Cecil confessed to me that he should have bought it right then and there at any price up to $1,500, but he just couldn't pull the trigger knowing that it should already be his at a $100. You see, that jug will bring at least $2,000 on a bad day, and Cecil knew that.
There are a several jugs even more valuable than the one that got away from Cecil. Watch foThe Beaver Dam Kentucky Jug, because Cecil said if you find one, it will bring you whatever price you ask for it. The Whiskey Advertising Jugs is something to keep your eyes opened for because they also bring in good money. Watch for those whiskey advertising jugs. A line of pottery that Uhl produced at one time will very worthwhile if you find it at a garage sale, house sale or flea market.
A good book to learn more about these jugs and crocks is Antique Trader Stoneware and Blue & White Pottery Price Guide. It's available used on both Abesbooks and Amazon, however it's priced better today on Amazon.
Another fine bookAmerican Stoneware Wallace-Homestead Price Guide It's also priced better on Amazon than on Abesbooks.
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