How To Collect Jim Beam Decanters
How To Collect Jim Beam Decanters - A Guide for Beginners
Many people wonder why Jim Beam decanters are collectible. You know that collectibles have higher prices than their intrinsic values. That is why it is always a good idea to make investment in such items. The answer is simple – the company started making specific bottles back in the 1950’s in order to market their products more effectively. Over the years, collecting Jim Beam decanters has become a passion for many. As a beginner, you need to learn the basics first.
Research Jim Beam Decanters First
You cannot start collecting Jim Beam bottles and decanters without learning about them first. You should be aware of the main categories which the decanters from the brand fall into. These include - Casino, Centennial, Clubs and Conventions, Customer, Executive, Foreign, Glass and Collectors Editions, Opera, Organizations, People, Political, Regal China, Sports, States, Trophy and Wheels. Knowing these categories will allow you to recognize all decanters easily and quickly.
Determine Value of Decanters
This is perhaps the most difficult part of the research that you have to do before going shopping. The reality is that the Jim Beam bottle prices fluctuate – they are not constantly on the rise, despite the common misconception. That is why you need to use a reliable book with descriptions, pictures and values of decanters. It is essential for you not to use an outdated price guide. Generally, you can readily learn which categories have the most highly sought after bottles. The Wheels and States decanters are some of the most valuable to collectors and their prices are growing all the time.
Buying Jim Beam Decanters
You have to assess each bottle on its own merits before you decide to buy it. The most important rule here is not to take into consideration the contents of the decanter (if it has any). The liquor is of no value to the collector.
When appraising a bottle you have to look at its label first to verify the manufacturer and the type of liquor it has hold or still holds. The time of production of the decanter is embossed on its bottom. You should be able to read it and determine how old the Jim Beam collectible is. Then, you have to evaluate the decanter using your knowledge about the categories and relying on the information from the price guide.
When To Sell Jim Beam Decanters
You have to follow the patterns of demand and supply on the market for Jim Beam decanters in order to know when to sell a bottle or a part of collection. You have to do research and use up-to-date information only.
Am working with my wife’s grandmother who is selling all her Jim Beam collectible decanters. Many are filled with alcohol with seal unbroken. Need lots of help assessing value of each of them… can you help?
Hi Tony
Your best option is to contact the Jim Beam club here http://www.jimbeamclub.com They should be able to point you in the right direction. I am sorry I cannot help more than that. Good luck
Hello,
I have a Jim Beam bottle that my husband purchased for me at a flea market. It is a female fox, with a white top hat with blue band and red feather standing up on front of hat (the top of the hat is the stopper, of course). She has blond, curly hair halfway down her back, white sleeveless low-cut shirt with gilding in gold around the neck line, arm holes, and waist band, and a blue skirt that is slit up the middle so it shows her tall black boots. Her thick, brown, bushy tail is curled around her feet so that the tip shows next to her left boot (your right) and her hands are behind her back. If she had a red coat on I would have thought she was a hunter but, when you turn her around, you see that she is holding in her black, elbow-length glove-covered hands and arms a rolling pin behind her back!!!
The tax stamp that is supposed to be around her hat at the band is almost all pulled off (you can read nothing on it, it is just paper backing and glue) as is the stamp that continued down the back of her head to the end of her hair. The silver foil label on the front of the base is almost completely unreadable and is torn at the top left corner (your left).
On the bottom, standing out in the ceramic are the words:
‘COPYRIGHT (symbol, actually) JAMES B. BEAM
(curved around top of bottle base)
DISTILLING CO.
KY.-DRB-230.
(I thought at first the ‘Y.’ was an ‘X’)
GENUINE REGAL CHINA 1974
(there is a dot at the top of the four one space over)
C.MILLER
REGAL CHINA CORPORATION
145
LIQUOR BOTTLE DIMI
(may be D1M1-these words curve around bottom of bottle base)
There are also three slanted slash marks to the side in between the words ‘Distilling Co.’ and ‘KY.-DRB-230’.
This is the best description I can give. I would like to know some information about this decanter as I do not collect these, I collect foxes (very hard to find!) so he bought it b/c it was a fox. If anyone knows anything about this bottle and can give me some information, I would appreciate it. He only paid $4.00 for it but that may be too high…he didn’t haggle b/c he wanted it for my collection of foxes.
Thanks so much. I have enjoyed your website!
Kay D. Johnson
The Orthopaedic Center
A/R Dept.-Commercial Ins.
256-428-3474
256-428-3423 fax
‘Life is hard. Life is harder when you’re stupid.’ John Wayne
Hi Kay
Unfortunately I do not know either. However if you go to the http://www.jimbeamclub.com they have a forum where you should be able to find out more. Good Luck