J.R. Shaw, Ottawa. ON-112.

Until a few years ago, the two tone Shaw from Ottawa was a near-mythical bottle known only by one example. Since then, a handful have surfaced, most damaged. This one may be the best example found to date. Simply tremendous near mint condition. Not a scratch. One small spot of rust to the left of the transfer but otherwise perfect. If you have been waiting for one of these, this is the one to buy.

Opening Bid: $1000

Estimated Range: $1,500-2,000

Sold for $1,750.

Dominion Soda Water, Hamilton. Unlisted.

When we wrote the ginger beer book, we heard tell of this bottle but could not find one to photograph. A testament to its rarity. Note the transfer is quite different than the two tone example listed in the book.

This solid cream bottle is in fabulous condition. Near mint. Some stain along the base edge and a bit of run to the transfer. Very minor stuff. An exceptionally rare bottle in exceptional condition.

Opening Bid: $1,000

Estimated Range: $1,500-2,000

Sold for $1,000.

Robert Hill, Walkerton. ON-190.

This Robert Hill ginger beer is among Ontario's very best. It remains the only ginger beer known to be marked by the Glass Brothers Pottery of London, Ontario. This one is marked on the base. An attractive and uniquely Canadian form. A very rare small town bottle. Near mint condition with just a bit of overall glaze staining. Fabulous bottle!

Opening Bid: $1,000

Estimated Range: $1,500-2,000

Sold for $1,250.

J.T. Walsh, Barrie. ON-02.

This J.T. Walsh Barrie ginger beer is an extremely rare bottle made by the Brantford Pottery. The Brantford stamp is incised on the back, which is quite unusual. Brantford-made bottles were notoriously poor and their transfers rather primitive. This one features the Walsh beaver trademark, but it is little more than a black blob.

This bottle has been professionally restored. An area of the base edge at the front about 3" long has been filled to a depth of about 1/4". Also a large chip in the lip was filled. Excellent repair work that is invisible to the naked eye. A very rare and desireable Canadian ginger beer. No mint examples are known. This is the best we have seen. The one in the book had the entire top replaced.

Opening Bid:$1,000

Estimated Range: $1,500-2,000

Sold for $1,000.

S.V. Horne, Kingston. ON-69.

This SV Horne is one of Kingston's toughest ginger beers. Examples are very hard to find, especially in good condition. This one has a 2" hairline and a shovel mark of the same length at the rear. This damage should not be overstated. Consult the photo. Overall very good condition. The lip is flawless and the glaze is quite clean.

Opening Bid: $600

Estimated Range: $800-1,200

For sale $600.

R. Nicklin, Winnipeg. MB-30.

The Nicklin is one of Manitoba's best ginger beers. It is unusual for its champagne style shape and oversize blob. It is exceedingly rare. This example is essentially mint. There is a bit of light cleanable rust. One tiny glaze flea bite above the transfer. We seldom call a bottle mint. This one is as close as it gets. Gorgeous!

Opening Bid: $600

Estimated Range: $800-1,200

Sold for $750.

Excelsior Bottling, Calais & St. Stephen. NB-99.

While we have handled a few Excelsior Bottling ginger beers recently, do not let this fool you. This remains a very scarce bottle. Great crown trademark. This example is excellent with the only damage being flakes off both stopper holes. Clean glaze. A nice example of this rare cross-border bottle.

Opening Bid: $400

Estimated Range: $700-800

Sold for $550.

Regina Aerated Water Co. SK-02.

All six of the known ginger beers from Saskatchewan are rare. This quart size Regina Aerated is a beautiful specimen. It is near mint. Perfect lip. Original marked stopper with nice monogram trademark. Glazed potstone at rear. Couple of separation marks on the base. Perfectly clean glaze. As good as they get! If you want a Saskatchewan bottle for your cross-country collection, this is the one. Second image shows glazed potstone.

Opening Bid: $400

Estimated Range: $600-800

Sold for $500.

Alex Tyo, Kingston. ON-77.

This Alex Tyo is a rare and unusual ginger beer. The shape and blob are quite unique. Some have speculated it could be a Glass Brothers bottle. Very good overall condition with five chips off the base edge and some heavy rust. This damage is concentrated on the base so the bottle displays well. The lip and upper body are excellent and the glaze is very clean. A nice example of a rare Kingston soda.

Opening Bid: $400

Estimated Range: $600-800

Sold for $700.

Calgary Aerated - Statue Brand Ginger Beer. AB-02.

This Statue Brand ginger beer is one of Alberta's best with its unusual dark tan glaze and pictoral trademark. A very rare bottle. A close inspection revealed repairs to the lip of this bottle - two large chips were filled. Fortunately the work was so well done that it is nearly impossible to see.

Opening Bid: $250

Estimated Range: $400-500

Sold for $250.

Edmonton Bottling Works. AB-10.

The Edmonton Bottling Works is one of the toughest Alberta ginger beers. Very scarce. Attractive transfer with cross trademark. This example displays well but has a long hairline crack that runs 7" from the neck down through the crest. Here is your chance to get a rare bottle for a decent price.

Opening Bid: $250

Estimated Range: $400-500

Sold for $250.

Napoleon Sarault, Ottawa . ON-110.

The Napoleon Sarault of Ottawa has one of the nicest pictoral transfers of any Canadian ginger beer. This is a rare bottle that is often found damaged. This one was missing the top, which has been expertly replaced. The restoration is so good that it is nearly impossible to see, even under a black light! The transfer is excellent. A beautiful repaired bottle.

Opening Bid: $200

Estimated Range: $300-400

Sold for $200.

Shuniah Bottling Works, Port Arthur. ON-122.

This Shuniah Bottling Works ginger beer from Port Arthur is a variant with an attractive dark brick red top. Totally different than the chocolate brown version featured in the book. Almost certainly a Medalta bottle. Excellent condition with a few shovel marks. A rare bottle from what is now Thunderbay, Ontario.

Opening Bid: $200

Estimated Range: $300-400

Sold for $300.

Lot of 3 BC Ginger Beers. BC-46, 50, 14.

This lot includes three BC bottles. First is a beautiful example of a C. Morley from Victoria. Mint condition. The second is an unusual Canadian ginger beer for its mostly black field transfer. A near mint example of an Old English Beverage Co. Last is a near mint Country Club. Three good BC ginger beers in excellent condition.

Opening Bid: $150

Estimated Range: $250-300

Sold for $210.

Crystal Spring Bottling Works, Moose Jaw. SK-01.

This Crystal Spring ginger beer has been extensively repaired, but still looks quite good. The extent of the repair is difficult to discern. Large sections have been repainted and some work has been done to the crest. Original stopper included but not attached. This is a rare bottle. Here is your chance to get one without breaking the bank.

Opening Bid: $100

Estimated Range: $150-200

Sold for $160.

McLaughlin's Ginger Shandy, Toronto, Edmonton and Ottawa. AB-15.

An impressively large bottle at over 10" tall. Ginger trademark. McLaughlin's ginger beer became today's Canada Dry ginger ale. Stamped front and back. Small flake off base edge and some light rust but otherwise excellent.

Opening Bid: $100

Estimated Range: $150-200

Sold for $100.

Itheel Walter, Port Hope. ON-128.

This Itheel Walter ginger beer is a sweet little narrow pint. The top is a pretty speckled brick red. Almost definitely a Medalta made bottle. Mint condition. A perfect example.

Opening Bid: $100

Estimated Range: $150-200

Sold for $100.

Charles Wilson, Toronto Crown. ON-187.

A classic Canadian ginger beer. This crown cap Charles Wilson from Toronto has an attractive squirrel trademark. Repaired top as with virtually all of these. A professional job which looks perfect. Good crest.

Opening Bid: $100

Estimated Range: $150-200

Sold for $100.

Charles Wilson, Toronto Blob. ON-185.

A nice example of the blob top Charles Wilson. Quite a different crest than the previous lot. Near mint with just a few base edge separation marks.

Opening Bid: $100

Estimated Range: $150-200

Sold for $100.

McLaughlin's Ginger Shandy, Toronto and Edmonton. AB-12.

A classic champagne style inside thread McLaughlin's two-city ginger shandy. Near mint with a bit of under-glaze stain.

Opening Bid: $100

Estimated Range: $150-200

Sold for $100.

George Kickley, Guelph Bottling Works. ON-45.

This Guelph Bottling Works bottle from George Kickley has a terrific transfer. An exceptionally rare bottle. This example is damaged but displays rather well. At the rear is a long crack that runs from the base of the lip to about an inch off the base. There are two flakes off the collar top. The larger one is visible at the front. One about half the size is at the back. A few scuff marks from burial. The glaze is remarkably clean. A decent example of a very rare bottle. You will pay a fortune should you ever want a mint one.

Opening Bid: $75

Estimated Range: $100-150

Sold for $75.

Cross-Country Trio. NS-01, QC-23, ON-17.

This lot includes three bottles from three provinces. First is an Amherst Minteral Water Co from Nova Scotia. Second is a Robillard & Cie from Montreal. Stained from burial but otherwise good. Last is a heavily repaired Brantford Stoneward marked pint.

Opening Bid: $75

Estimated Range: $100-150

Sold for $75.

London Ginger Beer Co. ON-81.

This is a lovely little ginger beer from London, Ontario that is not at all common. A relatively rare small form with square collar lip. Possibly a Canadian-made bottle. This example is near mint. A few spots of underglaze stain, but otherwise perfect. Sweet little rare bottle!

Opening Bid: $75

Estimated Range: $100-150

Sold for $95.

Tune Bottling, Stratford. ON-146.

This Tune Bottling Co. bottle from Stratford, Ontario is a rare bottle with an attactive monogram trademark. Cracked at the rear from just under the lip to nearly the base edge. Large chip at rear of lip that runs the full height of the lip. Chip on base edge at front. Fortunately, all this damage is hidden when the bottle is displayed. Good clean glaze. Good transfer. Marked stopper for Wilkinson Stratford.

Opening Bid: $75

Estimated Range: $100-150

For sale for $75.

Lot of Two New Brunswick Ginger Beers.

On the left, a Medalta Potteries made Gurd's Ginger Beer (Maritime) Ltd, from Saint John, N.B. One tiny imperfection on front base with a small 1/4" glaze crack extending - no harm. On the right, a scarce Enterprise Bottling Co., King Ginger Beer from Fredericton. The Enterprise has some light case wear and a 2" light shovel scrape to rear, also the crest is a bit light. Still a tough bottle to get.

Opening Bid: $100

Estimated Range: $150-250

Sold for $100.

Enterprise Bottling Co., Fredericton, New Brunswick Ginger Beer.

The Enterprise is a scarcer bottle than most people are willing to admit...or know! We were lucky to have one consignor who came upon this pair (this and the one in the previous lot) together many years ago.

This one is well worth fighting for...marked original stopper, original rubber gasket, overall exceptional condition. There is a rub mark down the right side of the bottle, looks like something that a good scrubbing would take care of. Very nice crisp crest on this example, a bottle that I don't think ever needs upgrading.

Opening Bid: $100

Estimated Range: $150-250

Sold for $100.

Lot of three Canadian Ginger Beers.

Douglas & King Limited, Winnipeg Manitoba. Dark chocolate brown top. Condition: two stress hairlines on the back, each about 3-4 inches in length. Two in-manufacture flaws on base. A bit of rust from the cap is still sticking to the back and could easily be cleaned. Overall a strong clean crest, displays very well.

A. Robertson, Mt. Forest, ON. Condition: 7" hairline to left of face, visible at shoulder in photo, and unfortunately blurred crest. Gorgeous glossy feel to the bottle - pity the potter and the one person who drank out of the bottle didn't take better care.

Regal Mineral Water Co, Victoria, BC. Condition: in-manufacture chip on rear base, some will mind but I think it's inconsequential; otherwise a beautiful, factory-fresh and clean bottle with a very strong crisp logo.

Opening Bid: $50

Estimated Range: $100-150

Sold for $70.

Lot of three Canadian Ginger Beers.

Ye Old Country Stone Ginger Beer, Vancouver, BC. Condition: A beautiful example of a very common bottle.

Felix J Quinn Ginger Beer, Halifax, N.S.. Condition: in-mnufacture bump on front face below second A in HALIFAX, no consequence, actually adds to the character. Original marked stopper, overall an excellent example of a bottle that should be on everyone's shelves...what a great name. And a later issue of Canadian Bottle & Stoneware Collector had the full story of the Quinn family.

Cross & Co Ginger Beer, Vancouver, BC. Condition: There are hairlines running throughout the glaze in this bottle - typical for this bottle, and of no structural concern - just someone had no clue how to make a decent glaze. Very strong, clean crest.

Opening Bid: $40

Estimated Range: $80-120

Sold for $50.

Beautiful Green-top Gurd's Ginger Beer.

Gurd's Montreal (forest green top). A striking bottle that should be a part of every Canadian collection - the colour as well as the brand name. Condition: A couple minor bottle cap removal rubs on the lip, the most pronounced faces forward and is visible in the photo. Strong Govancroft seal to base, strong clean crest and colours. Exceptional condition, this bottle has been handled seldom and still has that factory "feel" to it.

Opening Bid: $40

Estimated Range: $70-100

Sold for $65.

Stunning Mint Wilson & Sullivan Ginger Beer.

Wilson & Sullivan Celebrated Ginger Beer, Halifax, N.S. Here is a beautiful bottle that would fit on any bottle shelf in Canada, with pride. A gorgeous polar bear, lots of writing, and a clean, crisp crest, very fresh bottle. Condition: There is a tiny, no harm stopper hole flake and a couple tiny in-manufacture flakes on the base (basically when the bottle was cut away from the platform, a tiny edge didn't come off with it - of no concern). Correct stopper but with a chip in it.

Opening Bid: $60

Estimated Range: $100-140

Sold for $95.

Lot of Three New Brunswick Ginger Beers.

1899 S.H. McKee, Fredericton, N.B. It amazes me that so many of these McKee bottles all have such extensive case wear, particularly as they were dated - makes me think they were used for more than one year. This one has shoulder and body wear typical to McKee bottles, and a small chip off the base edge. Also a slight smudge on the 8 in 1899.

Sussex Mineral Spring Co - note the scarcer "Co." bottle. You can see the small chip off the front base edge in the image, you can also see an air pocket below "Brunswick". You can ALSO see a very strong crest, clean and crisp, and you can't see the stopper top, which is also marked for Sussex Mineral Spring Co. Despite the minor inconveniences, an excellent addition to your shelf.

1902 S.H. McKee, Fredericton. Much nicer overall shape than the typical McKee, a tiny nibble off the back lip and a swooping 10 inch hairline that goes up the left side (visible at front base), curls up the shoulder, and then starts back down. Bottle still tight, no hollowness to it.

Opening Bid: $80

Estimated Range: $120-160

Sold for $120.

Lot of Three Gurd's Ginger Beer Bottles.

Gurd's Ginger Beer (Maritime). This one is neat because there's a half inch band between the grey glaze at the base and the brown glaze up top where there is little or no glaze at all!! You can see the bare yellow skin of the raw bottle. Condition: Slightly smudged crest, but very near mint bottle. Beautiful upper glaze.

Gurds Ginger Beer, Montreal. Condition: Too bad about the winding 7" hairline on the right side, because the shape is beautiful, the upper glaze is a gorgeous colour.

Gurd's Ginger Beer, Saint John, NB. Condition: You can tell from this bottle that they made a lot of bottles out at the Medalta plant, and that perfection wasn't always on their mind! Minto condition, but a bumpy body, glaze misses, slightly light crest - someone was hurrying up to get to the bar, for sure.

Opening Bid: $60

Estimated Range: $100-140

Sold for $60.

Lot of Four Canadian Ginger Beer Bottles.

Sussex Mineral Spring, Co, Sussex, NB. Condition: two front of lip flakes visible in photo, original marked stopper, strong clean crest, bottle otherwise in exceptional condition.

Country Club Stone Ginger Beer, Vancouver, BC. Condition: Very near mint.

Thorpe & Co. Ltd., Victoria, B.C. Condition: a minor in-manufacturing flaw on teh front base has led to a very thin hairline running along the front edge - too bad they didn't cut it cleaner in the first place because this isn't "damage" as we know it but some collectors will shy away because of the hairline. Their loss, because this is a beautiful, factory-fresh example of this bottle.

Felix J Quinn Ginger Beer, Halifax, N.S.. Condition: shoulder flake about the U in QUINN and a line (someone will call it a hairline but I don't think so) through the face. Not consequential.

Opening Bid: $80

Estimated Range: $120-180

Sold for $120.

Lot of Three Nova Scotia Ginger Beers.

W.H Donovan, Halifax, N.S.. Condition: Very minor shoulder flake, overall very fresh, pleasing appearance. A pleasure to hold.

James Roue, 1903, Halifax, N.S. Condition: minor lip and base nibbles so typical of this bottle (pottery was likely brittle). Original marked wooden stopper. 106 years old!

W.H Donovan, Halifax, N.S.. Not sure I've ever seen a potter's stamp "Old Kent Rd / L Smith & Co / London"? Could be a variant? Condition: shoulder flake to left side, otherwise generally very good.

Opening Bid: $60

Estimated Range: $100-140

Sold for $65.

E.L. Drewry, Winnipeg Ginger Beer. MB-24.

There are several variants of the quart size Drewery Golden Key Brand ginger beers from Winnipeg, Manitoba. This is one of the hardest ones to find. Note the key is facing left. This is a category 5 ginger beer. The story with this bottle is condition. It is basically mint. We almost never say a bottle is mint. There is always some small flaw. But this one is as good an example as you could imagine finding. Near perfect. Tiny bit of cleanable rust. Hard to imagine a better one exists.

Opening Bid: $400

Estimated Range: $600-800

Sold for $500.

E.L. Drewry, Winnipeg, MB Ginger Beer. MB-25.

There are three variants of the right facing E.L. Drewery quart. This one is the scarcest type. Note the full text. A bit of overall glaze stain but no damage. Original marked stopper. The stopper has the uncommon feature of being two coloured, red and black. A great looking bottle in excellent shape.

Opening Bid: $250

Estimated Range: $400-500

Sold for $350.

A. Ferguson, Brandon, MB. MB-12.

There are a few Brantford Stoneware made ginger beers from Manitoba. In this auction, we are pleased to offer all three quarts known from the Ferguson and Cleverly & Ferguson operations of Brandon, Manitoba. This A. Ferguson quart is one of the scarcest ones. Note the transfer reads: "Superior to Most". How typically Canadian! All of these we have seen have the tops repaired. This one has an original top grafted on. The job is relatively well done, but not perfect. The joining point is quite visible but the paint match is fairly good. A spider crack is still clearly visible dividing the tan top from the cream bottom just above the transfer. The cream body is good and the glaze is very clean. A heavily repaired bottle but looks pretty good. Mint examples are unheard of.

Opening Bid: $250

Estimated Range: $400-500

Sold for $250.

A. Ferguson, Brandon, MB. MB-13.

This quart bottle is the second variant of the Ferguson ginger beer from Brandon. A simpler transfer with: "Old Original Celebrated". An original top has been grafted on. The joint is visible but relatively clean with little overpaint. The body of the bottle is excellent. Nice clean glaze and a terrific transfer. Base edge repair below the transfer that is visible but fairly good. Again - mint examples are not known. This one displays very well.

Opening Bid: $250

Estimated Range: $400-500

Sold for $250.

Cleverley & Ferguson, Brandon, MB. MB-06.

A third quart this time from Cleverly & Ferguson of Brandon, Manitoba. This bottle has had an original top grafted on. The joining line is quite visible, about an inch below the lip. There is some repainting to try and disguise the line. The repair is fairly good but noticeable. The body of this bottle is quite good. The transfer is better than most. The tan glazed top is particularly crude as it is very uneven. Mint examples of this bottle are unheard of. This one displays quite well.

Opening Bid: $250

Estimated Range: $400-500

Sold for $250.

Brandon Brewing Co., Brandon, MB. MB-04.

This Brandon Brewing Company quart is perhaps the most highly decorative example of a Brantford Stoneware manufactured bottle. Brantford did not do decorative transfer well, but this one is relatively good. Highly ornate. An original top has been grafted on. The repair is relatively good but the join line and overpaint is quite visible. The body of the bottle is quite good. Mint examples are very tough to find. This one displays well.

Opening Bid: $150

Estimated Range: $200-300

Sold for $150.

Brandon Brewing Co., Brandon, MB. MB-01.

This quart Brandon Brewery Company bottle is a relatively common Manitoba ginger beer with a great transfer. The top has had some repair work. The entire top may have been replaced. There is a large and heavy crack at rear that basically bisects the bottle. Despite this damage, the bottle displays from the front extremely well.

Opening Bid: $50

Estimated Range: $80-120

Sold for $50.

T.H. Hutchinson, St. Thomas, ON. ON-135.

This T.H. Hutchinson from St. Thomas, Ontario is one of the very best Ontario pictoral tranfer ginger beers. The trademark of a monkey playing with a syphon is quite wonderful. This example is excellent. Small stopper hole flake on the left side. One inch tight hairline at rear. Perfect transfer. A beautiful example of this bottle!

Opening Bid: $200

Estimated Range: $300-400

Sold for $350.

Empire Brewing Co., Brandon, MB. MB-11.

This quart size Brandon Brewing Company ginger beer from Brandon, Manitoba is an unusual style that may be Canadian. It could well be a late product of the Brantford Potteries. Large deep flake off base and a 1/2" base edge chip. The transfer is a bit blurred. Very clean glaze. A decent example of this bottle

Opening Bid: $50

Estimated Range: $80-120

Sold for $50.

Charles Wilson, Toronto. ON-188.

Similar to lot GB 18 in this auction but a slimmer bottle. Professionally repaired top as on virtually all of these bottles. Excellent transfer. Better than most. Displays perfect.

Opening Bid: $100

Estimated Range: $150-200

Sold for $100.

Lot of Two Ginger Beers.

This lot contains two ginger beers. The James Roue from Halifax is in good condition. Small flake off the inside of the blob. Deep shovel mark and 1" hairline on the face to the right of the transfer. The Douglas & King from Winnipeg, Manitoba is near mint with only minor imperfections. A decent pair of bottles.

Opening Bid: $50

Estimated Range: $75-100

Sold for $50.

Tune, London Ginger Beer. ON-88.

This J. Tune large pint from London, Ontario may have been made by the Glass Brothers Pottery of the same city. The shape is unusual. Compare with the Tyo in lot GB09. The transfers on this type of Tune bottle are notoriously poor. The animal usually appears as a black blob. The transfer on this example is one of the best we have seen. Overall very good condition. Half moon shaped 1/2" crack in the mouth of the lip. Three chips to the base edge. The larger two are about 1/2" - located at the front. This damage is largely hidden when the bottle is seated. A rather good example of this great pictoral bottle.

Opening Bid: $150

Estimated Range: $200-300