Buying character classes can be an inexpensive and fun way to build a collection.  Character glasses can serve as a nice blast form the past for collectors who fondly recall drinking out of their favorite glass as a child.  Some collect sets revolving around a special theme or character.

Although there are some glasses that can fetch premium prices, most glasses can be had at a very reasonable cost.  EBay offers such a wide choice of inventory available for sale that a newcomer can begin collecting immediately with some knowledge and a little cash.   Most can be searched under character glasses, collector glasses, or cartoon glasses.

Building Your Collection

Major manufacturers of character glasses are Brockway, Federal, Libby and Anchor Hocking.  Brockway glasses tend to be thicker, Federal is usually thin; and the rest tend to vary.  Their logo may be on the glasses, such as a circled L or Libby and AH for Anchor Hocking.

A collector needs to decide how to store their items and if they are going to use them or keep for display.  A glass cabinet secured to the wall is a good way to display glasses and keep them free from dust.  Collectors like to place the glass with the character and logo centered and facing forward.

The thickness of the glass is something to consider when purchasing a glass.  A thin glass may display better, but a thick glass is less prone to breaking.  Glasses tended to produced in greater thicknesses since the 1980's.  Although these glasses have more durability, the thinner glasses can be more valuable.  Thin glass breaks more easily which makes them harder to find and more valuable.  Classes created from the 1970's back will usually be more difficult to come by and more expensive to buy.

In the 1970's glasses became easier to manufacture.  Fast food outlets engaged in intense competition and offering character glasses with purchases became a popular marketing tool.  It was not uncommon to get a drink and a character glass for 49 cents with customers coming back several times to put together a set.

Although the general rule is that older glasses are more rare and valuable, this isn't always the case.  It depends also on how many were manufactured or if there is a specific cult following such as the original Star Wars movie items.

Logos can be important in the value of the glass.  If the logo is a decal, it won't be as valuable as one that is painted on the glass.  Copyrights are also sometimes visible on glasses, but there are many glasses that are not dated.  Buyers often confuse the date of the copyright for the date they were produced.  The copyright date on the glass is the date when the manufacturers were allowed use of the character, not when the glasses were made.

Starting Out - Common character glasses like the MacDonald's Camp SnoopyMacDonald's Camp Snoopy series are easy to find and inexpensive.

Prior to online auction venues like EBay, finding a particular character glass was more difficult and expensive especially for glasses that were distributed only in specific regions of the country.  There was a perception that the Slow Poke Rodriguez glasses were rare because they were distributed only on one coast.  There were plenty of them, but hard to find in some areas.  EBay's access to the worldwide market has increased availability and decreased prices for these glasses.

The Holy Grail - In 1977, Pepsi produced a Terrytoon's set that included character like Mighty Mouse, Lariat Sam, Heckle & Jeckle, Deputy Dawg, and others.  These glasses are harder to find and sellers can demand impressive prices for them.  Special auction houses have put them up for sale.  However, with regular searching they can be found on EBay, particularly the Mighty Mouse group which is more obtainable than the others.

Prototypes and Salesmen Samples- These are glasses produced in limited quantities.  Originally given to salesmen and employees, these are rare and likely to be expensive.  Salesmen sampoles can be sometimes identifed by stickers on the glass which add value.  However, these are hard to come by as the stickers were often removed later or wore off with use.  Because of their potential value, a seller will usually note it in their listing. 

Buying Sets- Sometimes a seller will offer a set or lot of glasses at a good price.  This may add a duplicate to a collection.  These allow to buyer to add a wanted piece to their collection, have a back-up for breakage, or they can resell the extra as a single.  Even if a glass is substandard, at a great price it can be the one that completes a collection.

Insurance - Purchasing insurance is sometime required by sellers.  It is usually recommended for fragile items like glass.  Even a seller with a good track record for packing is not match for rough handling during shipping.

Flaws and Variations

It is important to distinguish a flaw from variation.  A flaw is a mistake on the glass that lessens the value.  Flaws to watch for are chips or cracks, graphics being blurred or off-centered, dishwashing damage, and scratches.  It is best to avoid these glasses.  EBay usually has a large amount of glasses in good condition for sale that buyers can often choose form the cream of the crop.

A variation is a manufacturing error or difference in the glass that often increases value because of its rareness.  For example, the Road Runner glass that is normally printed with two identical Road Runners on both sides of the glass has a valuable variation in a few glasses that were printed with the feet touching due to a production error.  This is the collector's find.

Variations can take the form of excessive or missing paint or in the omission of a manufacturer's logo.  There was a glass recently listed on EBay where the characted appeared in outline but the color appeared next to the outlined character.  This glass sold way above the usual price because of the variation.  Small Nose Sylvester is another rarity in which a few glasses were printed with heavy nose outlines and small red noses.  A sharp-eyed buyer should be looking for thses kinds of variations.

Buyers should read the listing descriptions and view pictures carefully for flaws or variations.  Most sellers will disclose any flaws and sometimes provide pictures of them.  Ask if there are any concerns.

Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish a flaw form a variation.  When in doubt, ask the seller directly.  It is also a good idea to check your reference books to see if it is listed as a rare or valuable glass.  Some reference sources will provide a contact number or email where you can ask questions.

What to Look for in A Seller

Positive feedback is alway desirable.  A seller with experience, credibility and a good track record of responsiveness can take the worry out of the transaction.

• Listing should have clear pictures and detailed descriptions
• Check for a seller profile; it can provide important information on seller's background
• Contact other buyers to further feedback
• Ask the seller direct questions; a great way to determine responsiveness
• Get feedback on how well the seller packs glasses.  Glasses are fragile and shoddy packing can make the difference in the item arriving whole or chipped or broken.
• Find out about insurance; often a seller will require it.

Resources

Good reference books are almost mandatory for newcomers and serious collectors.  Knowing what to look for can make the process less of a gamble when the collector has access to the "insiders" information good resource materials can provide.

There are several good books that can help the collector find that right glass:

• Tomart's Price Guide to Character & Promotional Glasses; by Carol Huffman and Tom Hoder.  Book has a highly organized listing by type.  Authors developed a system of cataloging with identity codes to find items quickly.  Pictures are in black and white and color, included estimated value, and background in some classifications.
• Collectible Drinking Glasses; by Mark Chase and Michael Kelly.  Provide background information, features, and variations on glasses.  Pictures are in color, but the size is small and some of the details obscured.
• The Collector's Guide to Cartoon & Promotional Drinking Glasses; by John Hervey.  Has a decent sized list of items.  The pictures are mainly in black and white, with some selected pages in color.  A lot of basic information and not much background.  The pictures are larger and details are more visible.

Please keep in mind that the books might need to be repurchased occassionally to keep up with new information as items are added.

Buy or Sell - The character glass collector often enjoys the sentimental appeal of the glasses they buy and the rading and selling potential of their items.  EBay can offer the new and expeienced collector a worlwide marketplace for their glasses and a community of enthusiaists to share their passion.  I hope this guide helps on the journey.