Monday, August 2, 2021

 DOWNIEVILLE  2021

Apparently, it’s true...”time flies when you’re having fun”.  Hard to believe that it’s been 28 years since the first Downieville Antique Bottle Show was started in 1993.  The early show was a great success and set the tone for future shows. Downieville offered something different from other antique bottle shows; the charm of the small historic town and the camaraderie of the bottle collecting community which both contribute to the draw of Downieville’s show.

 Over the years, the show gained popularity and featured several significant first-time events in bottle collecting history.  The 1997 Downieville Western Whiskey Extravaganza was amazing.  Never before had such a collection of western bottles been featured in one exhibit.  Valued at over one million dollars, show attendees were treated to a once in a lifetime viewing of rare and sought-after antique bottles all in one place.  Another year, the show featured the most desirable Slug Plate and Picture whiskies and many scarce and exceptional examples of early glass.  These two events have shown that, although small, the Downieville show has attracted the attention of many high-end collectors.

The 2017 Downieville Show was bittersweet; being announced as the last show to be hosted in Downieville.  However, after several years of retirement and then the pandemic Corona Virus which shut down so many shows across the country for over a year, it was decided to bring the Downieville Show back to life!  Downieville will host another top-notch antique bottle show on Saturday, September 18.  Dealers from many western states including, California, Nevada, Utah and Oregon will be selling at the show.  Items for sale will include antique bottles, insulators, gold rush items, advertising, saloon, mining and railroad items, as well as many other western related artifacts.  There will be something for almost every kind of collector and finding a great treasure at this one-day show is inevitable!

The show venue is the Downieville School gym located in the heart of Downieville. “Early Lookers” will be admitted for $10 between 8am and 10am.  Admission will be FREE to all from 10am to 3pm.  Don’t forget to purchase tickets for the drawing to win some great prizes.  Hope to see everyone at the Downieville Antique Bottles & Collectibles Show and Sale on September 18!