by Rod Comer

Last updated 25-04-2004

This rarity guide has been compiled after examining over 2000 bottles in 24 major collections in South Africa during the last ten years.

It may be used to attach an approximate value to a bottle, given that an extremely common one may be bought for as little as R50.00, while an ultra-rare bottle may change hands for hundreds of rands. A recent local auction realised R 2000 for a Temperance Hotel Oudtshoorn (436) and a similiar price for a W. Bentley Uitenhage (40).

The reference numbers refer to those assigned by Ethleen Lastovica in her book Ginger Beer Bottles: an illustrated guide for South African Collectors published in 2000.

A
Very Common: in almost every collection checked
B
Common: easy to obtain; frequently seen in the collections checked
C
Uncommon: difficult to find; only seen in larger/older collections
D
Scarce: very , difficult to obtain; less than 10 recorded
E
Rare: seldom seen; less than 5 recorded
F
Ultra-rare: only 1 or 2 recorded
F+
Shard: only a shard seen; no complete bottle known.
G Only known example. Recorded by Antique Bottles.co.za after the July 2000 release of the Illustrated Guide.

Contacts
Rod Comer, PO Box 915 - 1101, Faerie Glen X1, Pretoria . 0043, South Africa Cell: 082 413-4552
email: rodcomer@antiquebottles.co.za Ethleen Lastovica, 31 Silverlea Rd , Wynberg, Cape Town , 7800. South Africa, Tel: (021) 762-2363 (after 6pm ) email: lastoaj@mweb.co.za |

1 - F
2 - E
2a - F
3 - F
4 - C
4a -G
5 - D
6 - C
7 - C
7a - G
8 - C
9 - D
10 - E
11 - F
12 - B
13 - B
14 - D
15 - C
16 - D
17 - F
19 - C
20 - F
21 - D
22 - D
23 - E
24 - D
25 - D
26 - C
27 - D
28 - C
29 - D
29a - F
30 - E
31 - F
32 - C
33 - E
34 - D
35 - D
36 - C
37 - D
38 - C
39 - D
40 - F
41 - E
42 - F
43 - F
43+ F
44 - F
45 - F
46 - F
47 - E
47+ F
47+a - G
48 - C
48a - G
49 - C
50 - C
51 - D
52 - D
53 - F
54 - C
55 - D

56 - D
57 - C
58 - E
59 - E
59a - G
60 - A
60a - F
61 - E
62 - C
62+ D
63 - E
64 - A
65 - C
66 - C
67 - B
68 - E
69 - F
70 - B
71 - D
72 - C
73 - D
74 - C
75 - E
76 - C
77 - C
78 - D
79 - F
80 - C
81 - C
82 - D
83 - B
83a - G
84 - D
85 - D
86 - A
87 - F
88 - E
88a - G
89 - F
90 - B
91 - C
92 - A
93 - F
94 - D
95 - F
96 - E
97 - D
98 - C
99 - A
100 - E
101 - F
102 - E
102a - G
102 - E
104 - D
105 - E
106 - D
106a - D
107 - D
108 - A
109 - C
110 - C

111 - F
112 - B
113 - C 114 - B 115 - B 116 - A 117 - C 118 - B
119 - A 120 - B
121 - B
122 - C
123 - A
124 - B
125 - C
126 - A
127 - F
128 - E
129 - F
130 - F
131 - F
132 - E
133 - E
133a - F
134 - D
135 - D
136 - C
137 - E
138 - B
139 - C
140 - B
141 - A
142 - C
143 - A
144 - C
144a - G
145 - B
146 - C
147 fake?
148 - C
149 - E
150 - E
151 - C
152 - B
153 - E
154 - B
155 - B
156 - D
157 - C
158 F+
159 - D
160 - F
160a - G
160a - E
161 - E
161a - G
162 - E
163 - D
164 - D
165 - E
166 - D
167 - E

168 - C
169 - F 170 - D
171 - F
171a - G
172 - C
173 - C
174 - D
175 - F
176 - F
177 - E
178 - F
179 - C
180 - F
181 - F
182 - F
182a - G
183 - D
184 - E
184a - G
185 - E
186 - A
187 - B
188 - E
189 - F
190 - F+
191 - F
192 - F
193 - A
194 - F
195 - E
196 - F
197 - F
198 - F
199 - E
200 - C
201 - F
202 - E
203 - B
204 - A
205 - C
206 - E
207 - D
208 - D
209 - F
210 - F
211 - B
212 - E
213 - F
214 - E
215 - E
216 - F
217 - D
218 - C
219 - E
220a - B
220b - B
221 - C
222 - D
223 - F
224 - F
225 - D

226 - A
227 - B
228 - A
229 - B
230 - C
231 - B
232 - C
233 - A
234 - D
235 - B
236 - B
237 - C
238 - D
239 - E
240 - E
241 - F
242 - F
243 - F
244 - E
245 - E
246 - B
247 - C
248 - B
249 - A
250 - C
251 - E
252 - F 253 - F 254 - F 255 - B 256 - D 257 - D
258 - E
259 - C
260 - B
261 - B
262 - D
263 - D
264 - F
265 - D
266 - E
267 - E
268 - E
269 - B
270 - F
270+ F
271 - F
272 - F
273 - F
274 - F
275 - E
275+ F
276 - F
277 - E
277+ E
278 - E
279 - E
280 - F
281 - F
281a - G
282 - C
283 - E

283a - G
284 - F
285 - D
286 - D
287 - F
288 - C
289 - D
290 - C
291 - D
292 - D
293 - F
294 - E
295 - E
296 - E
297 - C
298 - B
299 - F
300 - F
301 - F
301a - G
302 - F
303 - F
304 - F
305 - F
306 - C
307 - C
308 - B
309 - B
310 - F
311 - C
312 - 8
313 - D
314 - ?
315 - C
316 - C
317 - C
318 - E
319 - D
320 - A
321 - E
322 - D
323 - E
324 - F
325 - E
325a - G
326 - D
327 - F
328 - C
329 - F
330 - F
331 - B
332 - 8
333 - F
334 - B
335 - B
336 - F
337 - D
338 - F
339 - F
340 - D
341 - C
342 - A

343 - E
344 - E
345 - C
346 - F
347 - F
347b - G
348 - D
349 - D
350 - F
351 � C
352 - D
353 - F
354 - F
355 - D
356 - F
356a - D
356b - G
357 - E
358 - F
359 - E
360 - C
361 - C
362 - F
363 - E
364 - F
365 - B
365a - F
366 - D
367 - E
368 - D
369 - F
369a -G
370 - F
371 - E
372 - F
373 - E
374 - F
375 - F
376 - F
377 - F
378 - F
379 - F
380 - A
381 - F
382 - C
382a - G
383 - E
384 - E
385 - D
385a - G
386 - C
387 - C
387a - G
388 - D
389 - A
390 � D
391 - A
392 - A
393 - E
394 - E
395 - A
396 - C

397 - C
398 - C
399 - E
400 - E
401 - E
402 - E
403 - E
404 - F
405 - F
406 - E
407 - F
408 - F
409 - B
410 - C
411 - F
412 - A
413 - E
414 - F+
415 - °E
416 - F
417 - C
418 - F
419 - B
420 - C
421 - A
422 - B
423 - B
424 - D
425 - D
426 - F
427 - D
428 - E
429 � F
430 - E
431 - B
432 - D
433 - F
434 - E
435 - E
435a - G
436 - F
437 - B
438 - A
439 - C
440 - E
441 - E
442 - E
443 - C
444 - C
445 - F
446 - C
447 - F
448 - F
449 - D
450 - D
451 - F
452 - E
453 - A
453a - G
454 - F
455 - E
455a - F

456 - ?
457 - E
458 - F
458a - G
459 - C
459a - G
460 - D
461 - C
462 - C
463 - F
464 - D
465 - C
466 - B
467 - A
468 - D
469 - F
470 - E
471 - D
472 - C
473 - D°
474 - C
475 - F
476 - A
477 - F
478 - F
479 - B
480 - E
481 - D
482 - C
483 - E
484 - F
484a - G
485 - E
486 - C
487 - B
488 - A
489 - D
490 - F
491 - E
492 - F
493 - C
494 - D
495 - E
496 - E
497 - E
498 - C
499 - E
500 - E
501 - D
502 - D
503 - D
504 - E
505 - E
506 - F
507 - E