Kentucky Derby Glasses are a Hot Collectible
Grab Up Those Glasses When You See Them!
Kentucky Derby Glasses have been a tradition at Churchill Downs since way back in 1938. Many people have started collecting these official mint julep glasses and some of the early ones are not only rare, they are quite valuable. I didn't realize how valuable and collectible these glasses were at first. I have to admit that when I started researching them, I was a bit surprised to see that there are actually price guides written specifically for Kentucky Derby glasses.
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 2004 KENTUCKY DERBY WOODFORD RESERVE GOLD GLASS  US $7.00 |  1989 KENTUCKY DERBY GLASS US $7.00 |
 1986 Kentucky Derby 112 Glass US $7.00 |  Kentucky Derby souvenir glass 1974 US $7.00 |
| Second Hand |
So how much is a Kentucky Derby glass worth? Well, it can vary, but some are pretty pricey. I'm not talking about ten or twenty dollars a glass. I'm talking very valuable as in hundreds of dollars for one vintage Kentucky Derby glass in some instances. A couple of the factors that can make these vintage glasses more valuable include scarcity (of course) and any kind of special features they may have (see the bakelite "glass" in the video below). Like so many other collectibles that are popular today, World War II shortages forced changes in production methods. That is another reason why some of the commemorative Kentucky Derby glasses from that decade are so valuable to collectors.
In most cases, when I find any kind of commemorative glasses, I'm hesitant to spend too much on them. These are a definite exception for me. Even glasses from the 1990s have accumulated some value. Older Kentucky Derby souvenir glasses dating back to the first 20 years or so of production can be very valuable. An individual Kentucky Derby mint julep glass (that is ONE GLASS) from 1945 recently sold for $800. That was an exception, as two others from the same year also sold for less than $300 but I think the first one went for more because is was a rare "short" glass. The most recent "book" value I found for a 1940s Kentucky Derby glass was about $500, so two of those three folks did made out OK. You know what though, I would not be surprised if they all just keep on appreciating in value. Collectors at that serious about these and early ones are that hard to come by. I've found that purchasing glassware can be kind of a gamble unless you really know what you are doing, but I'd scoop these up in a heartbeat if I found them selling somewhere.
Of course that is the problem. You can find some of the more recent glasses at flea markets and yard sales, but it is very unlikely that you will ever find Kentucky Derby glasses from the 1940s through the 1960s being sold anywhere but a collectibles shop or an eBay auction. If you do happen to come across one of these vintage Derby glasses being sold at a rummage sale or flea market, be sure to grab it up before someone else spots it!
Category: old collectibles, popular ebay auctions
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I HAVE AN OLD KY. DERBY METAL GLASS, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS WORTH…IT HAS TO BE ONE BACK IN THE 40′S…IT WAS MY MOTHERS…THANKS
I just did a quick check working with the information you offered. You’d have to check to see how your glass compares, but an aluminum “glass” from 1940 sold recently for over $330. Check it out.
I have a collection of Derby glasses from 1948 and wondered if you would be interested in buying them?
I’m not interested in starting any new Kentucky Derby collections, but I’m sure that someone out there would love to hand over some money for a set like that in good condition.
I have a complete from each year, 1945, 1948-present. (2 different 53′s and 68.) What is it worth, would it be better to sell as a set or individually?
Wow! Pretty impressive. You might do very well selling them as complete sets. It is really tough to give a number as far as value goes. When it comes to auctions for collectibles, I usually try to check the completed listings for the past couple of months. Just as an FYI for people who might stumble across this post… My own experience with selling has been that I did better when I had the patience to do separate auctions (if I didn’t have complete sets of something). Some collectors only need that one particular piece to complete their collection. Often, they are willing to pay for that one piece, but they are not really interested in paying for the other ones (even if they are valuable). Have you had the collection appraised? I think I would do that if I had such an extensive collection.