Oyster Cans from Maryland

J.C. Lore & Sons, Inc. Oysters - Solomons, MD - MD 101 - $495

One of the most attractive cans from Southern Maryland, this gallon from J.C. Lore & Sons is in almost mint condition. The graphics are very vibrant and there are no dents or dings in the can. Many variations of the Lore can were made over the years and I believe this is the final version of their can.

J.H. White Co. Fresh Oysters Pint - Baltimore, MD - MD 50 - $175

This pint is in super shape, no real marks or damage of any kind, in a unique barrel design/theme.

Pride of the Chesapeake Brand - Baltimore, MD - MD 47 - $775

This gallon can packed by J.D. Groves & Co. is in great shape, especially for it's age. The paint on this solder seam can is nice and bright and graphics line up perfectly unlike some other J.D. Groves cans I have seen over the years. There are a few marks here and there.

Woodfield's Oysters Single Sided - Galesville, MD - MD 81 - $275

A nice old can with beautiful graphics, this is the rare single sided version of the more common two sided Woodfield's can. It reads "1 Gallon" at the top. This version is hard to find and is for the particular collector as the two sided can is easily found and cheaper.

Chas. Neubert & Co. Oysters - Baltimore, MD - MD 39 - $300

Chas. Neubert and the Neubert Brothers had many different cans over the years but the "Mermaid" can is the most recognizeable of them all. This pint is in terrific condition with only a very small mark here and there.

Travers Bros Co. Oysters - Baltimore, MD - $350

This very rare bail handle gallon can dates back to the turn of the 19th century. In great shape for its age, this can is from a time where very few oyster cans had any color on them at all, and instead most were embossed with only a name and the size of the can. This can also pre-dates packing numbers, as none are found here. The Travers Bros. Co. was in business a long time, and eventually would have their own lithographed cans later on. This is the earliest version that I have seen from Travers, and has the early solder seam on the back. It originally came with a recessed lid, but that was lost that somewhere along the way.

H and B Brand Oysters Plug Top Pint - Crisfield, MD - MD 193 - $95

This version of the H and B can has colors of black, orange, and white. The other has dark blue in place of black. Very nice can.

Salt Water Oysters - Oxford, MD - MD 118 - $775

Only a few cans ever made it out of Oxford, MD, and Thomas Jones was responsible for a good number of them. Later on he packed oysters into his own custom lithographed "Oxford" can that is rare and highly sought after. This can here predates that one, and was used in the early years of his shucking and packing operation. Thomas Jones' packing number, MD 118, is embossed into the side of the can. This is the only example of this can that I have ever seen and would be a great piece of Oxford history to have in your collection.

I.W. Lawson & Company Plug Top Pint - Crisfield, MD - MD 226 - $275

This version of the Lawson pint has dark blue writing on an off white background. The paint is nice and bright, no rust anywhere.

J.H. Collison Co. Gallon Bail - Xcelent Brand - Baltimore, MD - $1,375

Very very early gallon bail here. Some varying patina on all sides, but in great shape considering it is over 100 years old!

Chesapeake Bay Oyster Exchange - Baltimore, MD - MD 45 - $825

This old solder seam gallon is in very good condition. Only a few wrinkles and marks here and there.

W.H. Killian Co. Baltimore Oysters - Baltimore, MD - MD 12 - $325

The W.H. Killian Co. cans are tough to come by given the attractive graphics on the can. This pint shows some fading on the front and some marks on the side and back but no real rust issues present here. The low packing number of MD 12 shows that Killian was established in the oyster business early on in Baltimore.

McNaney's Superior Raw Oysters - Baltimore, MD - MD 14 - $250

This is the later version of this can, which has two "front" sides. One side is very nice and the other has a few wrinkles along the top. On the side someone wrote 1 LB with a marker. It may come off with a little rubbing but I have not attempted to remove it.

David Davies Double D Brand Oysters - MD 220 - $625

Super rare pint packed in Maryland for David Davies, Inc. which was based in Ohio. I have only seen a few of these cans ever, and only in a pint. The unique graphics on this can are striking and it is in good shape with some wear marks around the top edge of the can.

H and B Brand Oysters - Crisfield, MD - MD 193 - $550

A very nice can here from C.W. Howeth & Bro. out of Crisfield, MD with only a few rubs or small indents in the can around the bottom and one around the top. The paint and graphics are still bright with no rust on the can at all.

Wentworth's Triangle Brand Oysters - Baltimore, MD - MD 45 - $150

This pint is a 10, with no blemishes at all, very nice and bright. Packed by O.E. Wentworth & Co.

Crescent Brand Salt Water Oysters - Baltimore, MD - MD 26 - $275

When it comes to bail handle gallon oyster cans, Baltimore certainly takes the title for most examples. Baltimore was in the midst of developing a thriving canning industry at the turn of the 19th Century, and bail handle cans were phased out around 1926. That dates this can to be at least 100 years old today. It is in great condition, with very little wear, and only one rust spot near the seam of the can.

Patuxent Brand Oysters - Broomes Island, MD - MD 96 - $145

This pint packed by Warren Denton & Co. is in good condition, with a few marks and a few spots of discoloration. Otherwise very nice.

G and E Brand Oysters - Mt. Vernon, MD - MD 293 - $225

Great graphics on this can, no dents, very light speckling on one side of the can, bright finish.

Meredith's Fresh Shucked Oysters - Wingate, MD - MD 124 - $250

Packed by Meredith & Meredith, this pint is in great condition with no visible marks or wear at all.

The James Oyster Co. - Baltimore, MD - MD 22 - $1,950

This gallon can from the James Oyster Co. out of Baltimore, MD is very very hard to find. I have only seen 3 over the years. It is in decent condition with patina throughout. No real dents or dings but some speckled light rust spots here and there. The low packing/permit number indicates that the James Company was in business early in the 1900s.

Pride of the Chesapeake Oysters - Crisfield, MD - MD 196 - $425

This hard to find pint was packed by Carol Dryden & Co. and is in good overall condition. The colors are bright with only a few rough areas here and there.

Leonard's Oysters - Cambridge, MD - MD 119 - $750

One of the few cans from Cambridge, MD, the Leonard's Oysters gallon can is not easily found. The colors on this can are bright and glossy still, with only a small blemish on the front near the bottom. No rust and only a few small marks. Very clean overall.

B & L Brand Oysters - Bivalve, MD - MD 124 - $125

This can is in great shape and is the older, more desireable version of the B&L cans packed in the original location of Bivalve Oyster Packing Company in Bivalve, MD. The later cans were packed in Princess Anne, MD.

Patuxent Brand Oysters - Broomes Island, MD - MD 96 - $125

This Patuxent gallon packed by Warren Denton & Co. is in decent shape and has some light small rust speckling here and there and on the bottom. Otherwise the paint is nice and bright. This is the last iteration of the Denton cans, and shows a zip code near the bottom.

Lawson Brand Delicious Salt Water Oysters - Crisfield, MD - $425

This is a very old, very rare pint from Lawson Oyster Co. packing number of MD 226. The orange on the can has faded some over time with a little discoloration but it is what it is with this pint as they are so scarce. This can actually has the original top still intact after being opened 3/4 of the way around with a can opener and then folded back to remove the oysters that it once held. Very unique.

Helsby Brand Raw Oysters - Crisfield, MD - VA 277 - $350

This is the "distributors" version of the Helsby can, and was actually packed in VA by Capt. Fisher in Sanford. The can is in pretty nice condition, has a few marks and a couple small wrinkles but paint is nice and bright.

G&E Brand Oysters Pint - Mt. Vernon, MD - $150

Just like the gallon, the graphics on this pint are great and this example is in near perfect shape, no issues of any kind.

Clements-Copsey's Oysters - Mechanicsville, MD - MD 181 - $525

The Clements-Copsey gallon was packed with Patuxent River oysters. The graphics on this can are really nice and the condition of the can is top notch, with only a few light marks. Otherwise this can is almost perfect.

E.A. Lux Packing Co. Raw Oysters - Baltimore, MD - MD 168 - $100

This plug top pint is in great condition, no dents or dings, and the paint is nice and bright.

J.C. Lore & Sons Patuxent River Oysters - Solomons, MD - $325

Packed by the famous J.C. Lore & Sons Oyster Company under permit number MD 101, this is the second hardest version of the all of the Lore pints to find, which the company packed at least 10 different iterations. The condition is rough, with some rust spots and some discoloration, but is still sought after, as I have only ever seen 3 like it.

Harrington Brand Oysters - Secretary, MD - MD 116 - $145

This can was packed for Philip J. Harrington & Son, Inc. and is the version with the teal green ring around the bottom. The front of the can is in nice shape with the paint glossy and bright but the back side has rust speckling throughout.

Crescent Brand Salt Water Oysters - Baltimore, MD - MD 26 - $275

Crescent pints are much harder to come across than the gallon cans. This one here is in excellent condition. The paint is nice and bright and there are no dents or dings.

Milbourne Oyster Company - Crisfield, MD - MD 203 - $150

This plug top "Lazy S" pint is very clean. It is an older version of a stock can and the Milbourne Oyster Co. name and info are stamped onto the can. This predates the custom Milbourne Oyster can, and is from a time when the company was relatively new.

Mero Brand Soft Shell Clams - Broome Island, MD - MD 407 - $1,500

While not an oyster can, this gallon can from Orem Lowery has the same dimensions as an oyster can but once held soft shell clams. This can has great graphics and is very very scarce. There is a little light rust around the seam of the can but thankfully that is only on the side of the can. Overall the rest of can is very clean and the paint is nice and bright.

Maryland Oyster Cans