The Commemorative Vintage Mason Jar That Collectors Would Be Thrilled To Thrift For Its Rarity

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There are a lot of interesting things that people choose to collect, including dishware and kitchen supplies. If vintage jars are something you collect and you're shopping at thrift stores and estate sales, one of the vintage jars you should be looking for is a Mason jar. Specifically, you may want to try to find the Mason jar released to commemorate the 1976 Bicentennial. 

In honor of 200 years of the United States of America, both Ball and Anchor Hocking released commemorative Mason jars featuring the years 1776 to 1976, as well as the Liberty Bell or an eagle, depending on the jar. These jars were primarily released in clear or aqua blue glass, although it does seem as if there was another limited-edition color released at the time, specifically a white milk glass, although that production was extremely small. They were also available in more than one size, primarily a pint and a quart. 

The Ball Mason jar that was released was part of the Ideal line, which featured a metal wire clamp that helped to seal the glass lid in place securely, and was brought back as part of the Bicentennial celebration. However, the Mason jar released by Anchor Hocking actually had the more standard screw-on lid design. 

When it comes to value, if it's an unusual color, it will absolutely be more valuable, although larger-size jars can also command a nice fee on the secondhand market. These bits of Americana can easily sell for around $18.50 for a single blue glass quart-sized jar, although the real value is in adding them to your home decor.

Finding Mason jars on the secondhand market can be relatively easy, although finding a Bicentennial celebration jar might be a bit more challenging. That being said, they are available on sites like Etsy and eBay. However, if you're able to find this or another rare vintage Mason jar in a thrift store, there are a few things you'll want to pay attention to, including the overall condition of the jar, the color, and the brand markings.

Since these commemorative jars were often kept as a keepsake, you can typically find them in very good condition with minor wear, if any. However, it is still important to check for things like chips and cracks in the glass; even deep scratches can be a problem when it comes to the integrity of the jar. You'll also want to pay attention to the Ball jars because of the metal clasp, which can rust or oxidize over time, and to whether there is a rubber gasket between the glass of the lid and the body of the jar. This rubber can deteriorate with age.

For the Anchor Hocking Mason jars, the lid is not always included when shopping secondhand, but having one will add to both the value and usefulness of this item. Whichever jar you find, make sure you check for things like the years embossed in the glass, as well as the words Ball or Mason. On the Ball jars, there will be the word "Ideal," as this is the specific jar design used for this release. If you want to learn more about valuable Mason jars, get to know the numbers on the bottom of the glass.