Manufacturer: Souvenir State Glasses
Neat vintage souvenir glass or souvenir collectible believed to have been made in the 1950s or 1960s. This is a frosted drinking glass or frosted tumbler for the state of Nevada. There is no manufacturer mark or other indication on the glass as to who made it. These were very popular collectibles in the mid 20th century as people travelled the country by road visiting multiple locations.
Cylindrical drinking tumbler measuring 5 inches in height, 2 11/16 inch top opening diameter. The full glass is frosted (vs. some of these glasses which are frosted behind the designs but become clear in other places), however it is not an "even" frosting towards the top of the glass. There are no clear unfrosted areas, but you can see lines or unevenness or variations or spottiness in the frosting near the top rim, which could be how it was made or perhaps due to how someone cleaned this at some prior time, we don't know. We've provided 2 images to try to show the intricate design. The glass shows a state map, marking in words a number of cities, locations and pertinent details of the state's history, as well as line drawings of people in varied occupations, and a large graphic of a miner (carrying a pick axe and bag of something) with a wagon train under the state name. All graphic details are done in a raised black enameling or baked-on paint, with a yellow background for the state and other yellow highlighting.
We actually have 2 of these Nevada glasses which we are listing (and selling) separately, with the listings marked "A" and "B", and this being glass "B". The "B" glass does not have the Hazel Atlas Glass Company mark on the underside base which is visible on the "A" glass, nor the same evenness and "whiteness" to the frosting. On the "B" glass the yellow coloring is a slightly different yellow, with the yellow background becoming a clear frost behind words in the state map graphic (as opposed to being a solid yellow behind the words as with the glass "A"). We believe the "B" glass could have been made by someone else, is slightly newer in age (we think the "A" glass dates from the 1940s, with this one possibly from the 1950s), and with these differences have priced the "B" glass less.
For those who collect items related to specific locations in Nevada, the words, locations and cities listed on the glass are: Univ. of Nevada, Lake Tahoe, Black Rock Desert, Reno, Virginia City, Golconda, Winnemucca, Comstock Lode, Carson City, Battle Mountain, Austin, Goldmining, Tonopah Goldfield, Eureka, Copper, Las Vegas, Searchlight, Elko, Palisade, Ely, Hoover Dam, Wells, Lehman Cave National Monument, Lehman Caves, Pioche. Graphics on the glass include an Indian and teepees, miners and buildings.
This souvenir tumbler appears to be in very nice condition, easily could be used. There are no chips, cracks, crazing. In addition to the uneven frosting noted above, we do note that in the first "A" in the word "Nevada" part of the middle line is missing, with two tiny dots of the black missing right next to each other. The "A" is still very readable, but you will notice this. This could be a manufacturing flaw or a bit of wear, we don't know. The graphics are still bright and appealing on this vintage glass. There is some expected wear on the underside rim on which this piece sits. We got this out of an elderly person's home.
A great state drinking glass to add to your collection or just a nifty piece to add to any collection of memorabilia related to Nevada.
If you are looking at ordering more than one of the state souvenir glasses, we recommend you contact us before placing the order so that we can provide you with a better shipping cost. We would be pleased to ship multiple glasses together in one package to save you money. |