This guide is for those beginning or unknowing collectors of 1920's-30's Dr Pepper bottles.  There are two distinct types of clear 6-1/2oz. Dr Pepper Good For Life bottles put out in this time period.  The more common is the debossed style.  Debossed means the lettering is pressed into the glass. Some also call this indented. These Debossed are plentiful and what was mainly used during the period. They are usually very affordable when shopping in a Junk or Antique shop. These normaly have the City embossed on bottom but not always.  Some just have a glass plant mark on bottom. Starting in the 1930's you start seeing some of these debossed with year dates on bottom such as 38, 42, 44, etc...

The rarer type bottle is the embossed style.  We collectors use the term "Raised Letter" when describing them in auctions or publications.  The term "Raised Letter" is for the lettering & design on the sides of the bottle. It is all truly embossed and has no debossed lettering.  These type were only made in the late 20's to about 1931.   They almost always have the city embossed on the heel of the bottle & Dr Pepper on bottom.  There are several variations of the Dr Pepper on bottom and this is usually in script writing.  There are at least 2 varieties of the Dr Pepper in script on the front.  The rarer having a taller script much like the Dr Pepper King of Beverages bottle. These Raised Letter type bottles were short lived as the wear & tear on the embossing from the cleaning machines, racks, & dispensers was extreme.

 Having the city on bottom in raised letters on a debossed bottle does not qualify the bottle to be a raised lettered Dr Pepper in the true collectors eyes.  Same goes for the later made green bottles. The term is for the rare clear bottles with the city embossed on the heel.

  Many people see the term raised letters in auction sights and see these Dr Pepper bottles bring more money.   They will attach the term raised letter to all types of soda bottles thinking this will bring more for them.  Can't say if it works, the true Dr Pepper collectors are the reason for the popular term and it pretty much sticks to Dr Pepper. 

Also be aware of bottles with strange or uncommon colors as these may have been altered by special ultraviolet lighting to make the glass change colors.  It may be called rare in a listing but may be a common bottle thats been monky'd with.