McLean’s Superior Ink Bottle with Original Label & Cork

A vintage octagonal pyramid (umbrella-style) aqua glass ink bottle featuring its original partial paper label and original cork stopper. Manufactured for historic Boston stationers N. Little & Co., this piece retains rich character with interior ink residue and classic glassmaking details.

Key Specifications

• Ink Brand: McLean’s Superior Ink
• Distributor/Retailer: N. Little & Co., 60 Cornhill, Boston, Massachusetts
• Bottle Shape: 8-Sided Octagonal Pyramid / Umbrella
• Glass Color: Aqua / Teal Tint
• Closure: Original fitted cork stopper
• Bottom Embossing: 1 [Logo] 3 (Owens-Illinois Glass Company trademark with plant/date codes)
• Dimensions: ~2.5 inches tall × ~2.75 inches wide at the base

Label Transcription

McLean’s SUPERIOR INK Manufactured for N. LITTLE & CO. Manufacturers of Blank Books, Autograph Albums, &c. 60 CORNHILL, BOSTON.

Condition Detail

• Paper Label: Retains approximately 60–70% of the original paper label. Shows age-appropriate toning, edge flaking, and loss near the center/right, though all key historical text remains legible.
• Glass Body: Solid condition with no major chips or cracks. Contains light interior ink staining and charming glass character including seed bubbles and mold striations/cooling lines.
• Top & Stopper: Complete with its original, flush-fit cork stopper.

Based on the base embossing, this bottle was manufactured in 1933.

Dating Breakdown

• Manufacturer Trademark: The base features the original Owens-Illinois Glass Company logo (an “I” inside an oval, superimposed over a diamond). This trademark was introduced following the 1929 merger of the Owens Bottle Company and Illinois Glass Company and was used into the mid-1950s.
• Plant Code (Left – 1): Represents Owens-Illinois Plant #1 (Huntington, West Virginia).
• Date Code (Right – 3): In the Owens-Illinois coding system, a single-digit date code without a period placed to the right of the trademark indicates a year in the 1930s—thus the 3 stands for 1933.