Most of these juice size tumblers originally held Kraft cheese products and were distributed for many years. Lots of swanky swigs are still around, since juice glasses seem to get less use than other sizes of tumblers. Many of them are still in great shape, but you'll run across some with decals faded and discolored from wear.
Lots of Swanky Swigs can still be found for $10 or less. Relatively inexpensive and fun to discover and display, these older items will continue to increase in value as we move further into the 21st century. However, many of the Swanky Swig's descendants already command a hefty price.
Six scenes from the popular Howdy Doody Show held the first spot on a Welch's jelly jar back in 1953. These jars now sell for $75 or more each in excellent condition. And a limited-release prototype Howdy Doody jar can be worth a whopping $800 to the right individual.
Another Welch's set important to collectors features the original Flintstones characters. These can particular glasses can run in the $75 range too. The Archies, Disney characters, Winnie-the-Pooh, Tom and Jerry, Dr. Seuss and the Muppets have all had their cartoon likeness decaled on Welch's jelly glass jars over the years.
All these characters find importance by appealing to children. As those children mature into adults, the nostalgia factor seems to intensify that importance and those grown-up kids begin collecting their long, lost pals.
Pepsi, McDonald's and Coca-Cola have issued some of the most popular character glasses. Many of these can be found for $10 or less, but some rare examples sell for $100 or more in the right market. Back in the '70s, superheroes such as Superman and Aquaman found their way into homes through Pepsi promotions. Some Pepsi character glasses can be worth thousands if you happen to own just the right one.
McDonald's offered the Camp Snoopy collection a little later, but these glasses aren't worth nearly as much, only about $2 each. Other fast food tumblers in the low end price range are Arby's BC Ice Age, Hardee's Smurfs, McDonald's Muppet Capers, and Pizza Hut's Flintstones Kids.
For those wanting to learn more, a lot more, about this hobby, Collectors Glass News (see link above right) contains a wealth of online information. Here you'll find articles on specific types of glasses, suggested books on the topic, character glass appraisals for $1 each, past auction results showing prices realized and current character glass auctions including some rare examples.
Really enthusiastic glass collectors should consider joining the Promotional Glass Collectors Association (see link above right). This group provides those who love cartoon, character, advertising and sports drinking glasses a place to come together. Not only does this organization distribute a newsletter, The Gatherer, it sponsors several meetings a year where collectors can get together swapping glasses and sharing rare finds.
Texas Centennial Swanky Swigs photo by Pamela Wiggins
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