The 2009 Tallahassee Antique Bottle Show Report
After nearly two steady weeks of all-day soakers here in the tropical rain forests, May 30th was the first full day of sunshine, and shine it did as temperatures in the mid 90's steamed up the soggy North Florida Fairgrounds for the 3rd annual Tallahassee Bottle Show.
Some 80 tables were sold for this show, and there were reportedly over 130 paid attendees, both figures topping last years by a healthy margin. Despite these numbers, the actual show building was HUGE -- one of the roomiest shows ever attended, so even at it's peak there was never any sense of being crowded at all.
Russ Butler and I took this opportunity to once again provide a nice display of rare bottles, and this year--a first--videos of actual pre civil war privy digs.
The videos were extremely popular, even during the prior night set-up, and during the show there was a continuous gathering of curious onlookers of all ages watching with keen interest as one pontiled Savannah soda after another seemed to literally spill out of the side walls of the backhoe-exposed clean-outs.
I sold a few items and bought a few items, but as a dealer, local to the area, most of my efforts went into my table, display and audio-video equipment, which was a lot to carry, but worth the effort.
Once again, the local displays were awesome, including a display of early Florida stoneware which really knocked my socks off. There was an 1870's salt-glazed SLUSSER Tallahassee jug in a half-gallon size that was mint (and extremely rare), as well as a marked Palatka salt glaze jug with cobalt design that had to be 1860's.
One fellow had two free-blown label-only puffs with a Tallahassee druggist name and address (Jefferson Street) dating to 1836. But my favorite local bottle was the honey amber applied top strap-side TAYLOR flask from MONTICELLO with the smaller slug plate inside a larger slug plate flanked by two rivet marks and a slightly expanded base foot.
All in all, TALLAHASSEE has a lot to offer for a young show, and I was proud to be a part of it. Britt Keen deserves another round of applause for a job well done. Special thanks to Perry Henry for taking photos during the show, and watching the table while I made my rounds, and of course to Russ Butler for the awesome video loop and backlit display stand.
