Lot 114

Two Label-Under-Glass Back Bar Whiskey Bottles

Estimate: $1,000 - $2,500

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,500
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000
A pair of early 20th-century back bar whiskey bottles featuring label-under-glass (LUG) advertising—an eye-catching format in which lithographed or printed labels were applied inside the bottle and sealed under glass for display in saloons. Used from the 1880s through the 1910s, these bottles promoted proprietary brands and were typically filled from bulk barrels behind the bar. Included in this lot: • Beaver Run Whiskey / T.E. O’Keefe, Distiller — 11 ¾ in. tall, 3 ½ in. diameter. Bold red and black lettering with a lower banner reading “T.E. O’Keefe / Distiller.” Likely produced for a regional whiskey brand operating in the West prior to Prohibition. • A Little Whiskey / Fine Old Elkhorn — 10 in. tall, 4 in. diameter. A humorous label in large display type with the phrase “A LITTLE WHISKEY,” above a faint inscription reading “Fine Old Elkhorn.” Possibly referencing a Western mining region. Provenance: Al and Carol Cali Collection Pickup & Shipping: Free pickup in Sacramento. Shipping via FedEx within the continental U.S. for $120 + 1.5% insurance (unless waived in writing). Combined lot shipping available.

Condition

Both bottles present well. Labels under glass show craquelure, flaking, and discoloration consistent with age. The Beaver Run bottle has a visible crack beneath the label. No exterior rim chips or cracks observed.

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