As usual, Memorial Day essentially saw the end of any notable pre-pro action on eBay and scouring the offerings put online today yielded only a badly faded Quincy glass with a huge crack through its base.  The seller notes: "THIS GLASS NEEDS SOME TLC" (see below). The only TLC this glass needs is taking out into the back yard, placing it on a fence post, and putting it out of its misery!

So what have we seen sell during the past few weeks that's worth talking about?  While not pre-pro, glasshopper8 put me on to a 1945 Kentucky Derby glass auction that was a real eye-opener.

  Probably the most closely watched glass over the past few weeks was an "Old Continental" from Bernheim Bros of Louisville, which closed with the hit counter up over 150.  This is a gorgeous glass - probably one of the best and most desirable in pre-pro-dum with a wonderfully intricate frosted picture of an acorn.  We have one of these in the database - the photo was taken from an auction some years ago.

This is only the second time I've seen this glass come up for sale and ordinarily I would have mortgaged the house to try and win it. But I've been spoiled by seeing an identical glass in Kevin Wade's collection.  Kevin's is mint and the first time I saw the photo, my heart missed a beat.  Take a look for yourself and you'll understand why - it still gives me shivers just looking at it.  The glass above looks like a junker by comparison so I held back, knowing that it would go above $100 regardless of whether or not I bid on it.  Ultimately it sold for $104.50 to fenceboard. 

So what else was out there?  Lots of bargains to be had now that the MMTS contenders have taken the covers off their speedboats and headed outside for the summer.  Here's a sampling:

Junkmoney finally found himself a rare white-etched Green Mountain for only $19.99, hasterlik picked up one of the few documented Truog pig glasses  for $48.00, and glasshopper8 walked off with a coveted Clark Distilling glass from Cumberland - also a Truog glass - for only $34.33. 

But what about a SOTW ?

It was a close race.  Probably my favorite was a wonderful glass offered by Paul Van Vactor.

But I think the choice for SOTW has to be a Kentucky Seal from The Atlantic & Pacific Distributing Co. in Kansas City.  Unfortunately the auction photo was abysmal, but we can infer what the glass might be like from other glasses in the database.

 The Atlantic & Pacific Distributing Co. was a wholesale outfit, listing ca. 1900 and probably later.  They gave us the great two-side globe glass shown above.  But the glass in the auction listing features the trademark of the Kentucky State Distilling Co., seen on at least two other glasses including the Tanneholz glass above.

dendirtyd picked this one up early and reinforced his position when Kansas City collector db502 tried to unseat him.  Clint-2be then started in on him during the closing minute, forcing a timely solidification that fended off a snipe from yours truly.  dendirtyd took it home $77.88.  

Congratulations to the winner!

(Note - I finally received the controversial ravman3 glasses that were suspected to be fakes.  They're not, but there is a story to be told.  I'll add it here when I've had the opportunity to take pics.)