#222-CIVIL WAR SALE: SHEAR TOP OCTAGONAL INK BOTTLE, RICH BLUE GLASS

This ink well is a shear top; you can see the broken rough edge. Union soldiers would typically purchased the bottle, full of ink and sealed at the top by glass that extended across the top; it was sealed by jelting glass across the top once filled with ink.

When ready to use, the soldier would carefully break the top (again, as you see it in the photo) and dip his pen into the bottle; when done, he would seal it with a cork, also from the sutler (probably given to him at no charge when he purchased the bottle of ink).

We have multiple ink bottles and ink wells in this sale, including two different sized shear top bottles together in one lot.