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Wales to Macassar, Indonesia. The bottle was Sharing the Adventure
on a beach 164 feet from the shoreline at the
high water mark on Wedge Island, Australia. There are a number of websites and online
Although the gin bottle was missing its cork, pages where bottle diggers share their stories,
the message was intact and verified as the oldest insight, and bottle information with other
bottle found to date, 132 years after its launch enthusiasts. Here are a few:
from the Paula. It is currently on display at the • Discoverunderground.com
Western Australia Museum. • Treasurenet.com/forums/bottles-glass
In the early 1900s, people were fascinated
with the idea of sending out messages in a • Westernbittersnews.com
bottle. In 1914, a World War I soldier tossed a • Peachridgeglass.com
letter to his wife into the English Channel two • Ricksbottleroom.com
days before being killed. It was recovered in
1999 and returned to their daughter. In 1916, • Utahbottles.blogspot.com
the crew of a Zeppelin sent their final words as • Antiquebottles-glass.com/learn/digging-
messages in bottles, and they were found on a antique-bottles
beach in Sweden six months later. In 2012, one Experts confirmed the bottle was jettisoned as part of a
of the 1,890 messages in bottles that a scientist German oceanographic experiment in 1886 • Oberk.com/antique-bottle-collector-
in Scotland cast into the ocean in 1914 to resource-guide
study currents was found. In 2014, a German
fisherman pulled a 101-year-old message in a bottle On Facebook, you can look for these groups and pages:
out of the Baltic Sea. The message was written by a Bottle Diggers and Collectors (mostly U.K. but a huge
man named Richard Platz, and set to sea in 1913. community of diggers)
In 2013, a diver found a 97-year-old message in
bottle buried in Lake St. Clair, Michigan, tucked in • U.S. Bottle Diggers and Collectors
four to six inches of dirt in about 30 feet of water • Historical Bottle Diggers of Virginia
where the Tashmoo steamship once docked daily. The • ESVA Bottle Diggers
message was written and tossed overboard by two
ladies, Selina and Tillie, aboard the Tashmoo, visiting Old saloon bottles on display at The Old • Bottle Digging at its Best
Harsens Island on June 30, 1915. They wrote the date, Sacramento Underground Tour in 2015
their names and addresses in scrolling cursive with In 2018, a person by the username “jgas”
pencil on the back of a White Star Line ticket. The simple message on uncovered a really nice amber target ball from
the back: “Having Fun at Tashmoo.” The bottle was so heavy that it is Bogardus patented 1877 and shared it
believed it sank where it was tossed, to be found 97 years later. with the Treasurenet.com community

“Mudlarking” continued from page 18
When you do find garbage, such as soft drink cans, rest assured that
is equally good, just in a different way. Cleaning waterways makes them
more enjoyable for everyone. You can throw such objects out or even
opt to turn them into sculptures if you are in an artistic frame of mind.
Then you can always have fun mudlarking, regardless of what types of
specific objects you find. Be open to finding anything from times past
to times present and enjoy your hike into history.
Before you head out, pack a couple of basic tools including
some thing to dig with such as a small spade or hoe, a metal detector if
you have permission to use one, waterproof boots, a waterproof bag,
a bottle of water, and if you do not want to get your hands muddy,
some gloves.
Once you have gathered your findings, speak with your local
history museum to separate the valuable from the unvaluable. Even
something that may be worth little money may
have value to someone in some way. Don’t be
afraid to share your discoveries at a local history
When looking for coins in the mud, keep in mind their values may
vary greatly based on age, type, and condition. Unlike the Thames museum or at your local library for all to
River environment, many years in mud can erode, discolor or otherwise enjoy. You may see another Mudlark finding its
damage certain coins over time. Some such coins can be cleaned. new hobby.
However, some coins actually have more value to Mudlarks or other
collectors when they are uncleaned. Coins that have higher values after
cleaning need a professional cleaning for the best results.
Before cleaning any coins, check with someone who specializes in
Numismatics, or the study of coins and coin collecting, before you
attempt to clean it. You may be washing its value away.

Mudlarking Tips
When mudlarking in any state or country, there are a few things to
consider. For example, you need to check local laws, first. You may
have an obligation to report or turn in certain types of items you find.
You may also need a mudlarking or magnet fishing license.
Second, do not expect every item you find to have a monetary value.
You may find yourself discovering a lot of trash before you locate
any potential treasure.
32 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles