New Bottles Made with My Crest: Colonial Bottle Seals from Eastern North America, a Gazetteer and Interpretation
by Richard Veit and Paul R. Huey

Bottle seals or crests are one of the more intriguing categories of artifacts recovered from historic archaeological sites. These small blobs of glass were applied to the necks or shoulders of bottles. They were embossed with initials, shields, and other insignia. They bear dates, as well as the initials and names of individuals and families, taverns, vineyards, schools, retailers, and military units.