This quart comes in a MUCH deeper shade of amber than is typical for this series. Strong embossing and shiny glass with some great character and chock full of small bubbles. No damage or stains. The ground rim has some edge flaking which is not unusual. Comes with a nice correct original Hero Cross zinc cap.

est 300-400

A bright & strong green quart that is in fine shape with no damage or stains. Has some minor usage scuffing but no damage at all. The base is embossed with a "5". A great looking colored Ball jar.

est 50-75

An extra-dark reddish amber quart example. This is about as dark of a color as you will ever find in a Lightning jar. On a wall shelf the color displays nearly black. When backlit or placed in a window the deep color shows thru easily. Shiny glass with no damage or stains. Correct original matching dark amber glass lid and original wire bail closure. The metal has a lot of the original black paint still intact. Good ground rim with very little flaking.

est 150-250

A bright aquamarine pictorial-embossed quart "THE LADIES FAVORITE" jar, which is a beautiful example and has come to the light for the first time since the 1860's when it was discarded in a privy. The jar was recently unearthed and has survived in beautifully preserved condition. Only some very light stains to indicate the jar was ever in the ground, and those have been removed easily with a quick tumble. No damage or stains including the heavy and crudely applied mouth with not so much as a nick. No open bubbles, no flashes, no starred pot stones....truly no damage at all. Smooth base. No stopper. A fantastic early jar that is rarely seen for sale, and a gorgeous example to boot.

est 5000-7000

A sparkling medium amber half gallon Mason with good embossing in a large lettering style, and displaying a nice overall whittled effect. Shiny clean glass with no damage or stains. Some shallow flaking of the ground rim. The base has an embossed "V". A great looking original amber Mason jar.

est 250-350

A good strong cornflower blue colored quart with some great glass character owing to hundreds of tiny seed bubbles embedded in the glass. Correct exact matching cornflower blue glass lid and original wire bail closure. Sparkling glass with no damage or stains throughout.

est 150-200

A deep amber quart with sparkling glass and no damage or stains. Good ground rim with very little flaking. Correct clear glass lid and original wire bail closure. These jars are sometimes seen with amber Lightning lids transplanted onto them, or in some cases, even with the unembossed amber lid from the 1986 repro Lightning half pints. But in reality, the clear Smalley lid is the correct closure, which this one still has. Good ground rim with very little flaking.

est 50-75

A sharply embossed quart with the original high-finned glass lid and original, elaborately-shaped iron wire clamp. Bright and clean with no damage or stains. Excellent ground rim with very little nicking.

est 80-120

A shoulder seal quart embossed in an arch in large block lettering: "MASON". A smooth lipped jar but comes in a very good strong citron coloration. Shiny glass with no damage or stains throughout. Has some tiny flakes or roughness on the mouth.

est 50-75

This early aqua Ball-made half gallon is crisply embossed with the BBGMCo logo as shown. Shiny condition with no damage. Normal minor flaking of the ground rim. Has some content deposit inside the lower 1 inch of the base. Correct original Ball Bros Buffalo, NY glass insert and a regular zinc band closure.

est 100-150

A bright apple green (Hero Cross) above Masons 1858 quart with beautiful glass character. Sharply embossed and displaying a lovely whittled effect. Brilliant glass with no damage or stains. Good ground rim with very little flaking. A great looking old Mason jar.

est 100-200

A quart sized example in brilliant condition with no damage or stains. Correct matching glass lid in mint shape, and original wire bail closure.

est 40-50

A quart sized pictorial embossed "MASONS UNION" jar with an embossed Union Shield with stars and stripes. Sparkling glass with no damage or stains. No lid but a common zinc cap does fit.

est 100-150

A light amber pint sized example with "THE LEADER" embossed in one line. Correct original glass lid and original 2-piece iron clamp assembly. Nice condition with no damage. The ground rim has the usual flaking. The interior has some very light content deposit in the lower half. A great looking example in the scarce pint size.

est 400-500

This quart comes in a good strong cornflower blue color that is a little more "blackish" (for lack of a better term) in tone than typical. Sparkling glass with no damage or stains.

est 50-75

An unusual early ground lip Lightning style half pint in a yellow green color and embossed only on the base with an "L" and a "1". Shiny glass with no damage or stains. Apple green glass lid is unmarked.

est 40-60

An amber pint-and-a-half sized jar with 8 flat panels. The embossing is all on the base. Shiny glass with a perfect ground rim and no damage or stains. Unmarked matching amber glass insert and a zinc band closure.

est 40-60

An early smooth lip half gallon Mason in a fantastic deep, dark green color. Sparkling glass throughout with no damage or stains. Great glass character owing to tons of tiny seed bubbles embedded in the jar. There is some manufacturer's molding roughness at the base of the threaded neck which is standard in most examples of this jar, and only mentioned for full accuracy. The base has 4 raised dots. A gorgeous colored Mason jar.

est 700-900

A rare pint (+) sized example with beautifully whittled glass. Strongly embossed on the front and the back and comes with the original correct glass insert and original correct narrow zinc band closure. There is a small manufacturer's pot stone located above the "R" as shown which has small radiations, but strictly from the making. No damage or stains and a ground rim with the usual edge flaking. Extremely scarce in this small size, and a beautiful example.

est 300-500

An aqua quart which retains the complete original odd-closure, consisting of the dome-shaped glass lid and shaped iron wire clamp assembly. Clean glass with no damage or stains. Good ground rim with very little flaking. A great looking early jar.

est 300-400

A honey amber colored pint with good strong embossing and displaying shiny clean glass with a light whittled effect and no damage or stains. Ground rim with the usual minor edge flaking. Correct matching honey amber glass lid and original wire bail assembly.

est 150-200

An early aqua midget pint that is embossed in a circular arrangement FRANKLIN FRUIT JAR. Strong embossing and clean glass with no damage or stains. Ground rim with minimal roughness. Comes with a "Mason Fruit Jar Co" lugged zinc midget cap.

est 300-400

A rare medium amber half gallon Mason with a large CFJCo monogram embossed on the reverse. Strong embossing on both sides, and displays some nice glass character with hundreds of seed bubbles. There is some damage to the mouth, looks like a either short fissure that has been epoxied over, or might even be an epoxy repair to the threads in one spot. If so it is well done and hard to notice at first glance. A great looking early jar that is rarely seen for sale.

est 400-800

For a machine-blown jar this aqua pint displays some nice whittled character to the glass. Strongly embossed and shiny clean glass with no damage or stains. There is a small flake on the glass lid and some minimal roughness and manufacturer's "flashing" of the smooth lip. Original dual iron wire clamps with iron crossbar.

est 200-300

A light aqua shoulder seal pictorial-embossed quart in fine condition with no damage or stains. Thick ground rim with very little flaking. A great looking early jar.

est 400-500