Old New Zealand Bottles and Bygones

Heinemann Reed 1989 edition, very good condition
Collecting old bottles is still a relatively young hobby in New Zealand, though interest continues to grow. It is perhaps particularly suited to a country whose relatively short history has denied us the exotic archaeological material of other lands. Yet what they lack in antiquity (most were made between 1875 and 1925) our handmade bottles more than make up for in charater, charm and interest. Hamilton torpedoes, Codd marbles, transfer-printed ginger beer stoneys, the exquisite embossed patent medicine bottles all are signposts to our fascinating past. This book is the definitive guide to old bottle collecting in New Zealand. It gives evocative accounts of the history and development of many kinds of bottle as well as other colonial collectables, such as clay pipes and pin insulators and places each in its cultural context. Written with infectious enthusiasm, this book is no dry catalogue. It brings the bottles to life, tells of the people, places and events behind them and how each influenced the other. It will therefore appeal not only to collectors but to anyone interested in New Zealand history...