Oyster Cans from Virginia

Sailor Girl Brand Oysters Pint - Chincoteague, VA - VA 437 - $225

This pint is very hard to find. It is a plug top, and does have fading, marks, writing, and wear throughout. It was packed for Edwin M. Plitt and is embossed with Chincoteague, VA and Crisfield, MD on the side. Very unique in that regard.

Lumpkin's Rappahannock River Oysters - Kilmarnock, VA - $1200

Early Lumpkin's gallon, Rappahannock River version, VA 530. The graphics on this can are light but all there. The can shows patina with some wrinkles and marks but is very hard to come by and sought after.

Sparrer Brand packed by C.K. Parker - Waterview, VA - VA 607 - $175

This is a very rare version of the Sparrer brand can. The condition is more on the rough side, but these do not come around often. This can was packed by Kibler Parker, who also packed a rare version of the Tasty Brand can, along with Mr. Spencer.

Hogg's Oysters - Gloucester Point, VA - VA 89 - $400

This can is in really nice shape, with very few small blemishes. The later version of this can has the same design but says York Oysters. It was packed by Battery Park Oyster Company, which was the successor company to Issac Fass Inc., a large oyster business based in Portsmouth, VA. Fass Inc. was in business for many years dating back to the 1930s.

Miles Brand Oysters - Norfolk, VA - VA 214 - $325

Very rare, early solder seam can from J.H. Miles & Co. Inc., the largest oyster business in all of Hampton Roads in its heyday. This can has marks throughout, some discoloration, has a replacement top and lid. It predates the Ocean View design seen on some of the later versions of J.H. Miles & Co. Inc. cans.

W&A Brand Oysters Gallon - Weems, VA - VA 133 - $65

This two sided can is in pretty rough condition, with a patina, fading, and missing paint. One side shows much better than the other.

Walker's Seaside Oysters - Exmore, VA - VA 172 - $725

The Walker Seaside "chain" gallon cans are hard to find, especially in this color. This can is pretty nice but does have some rust speckling and light patina on the bottom in some areas. It will still display well on your shelf.

W.F. Morgan & Son Quality Oysters - Weems, VA - VA 92 - $425

This gallon can from W.F. Morgan & Son is in good condition, with a few small rust small spots on the back side of the can as pictured. The paint is nice and bright and Morgan's permit number of VA 92 is embossed into the can near the bottom. This is an early version of the Morgan lithographed cans.

L.L. Curley - Colonial Beach, VA - VA 167 - $275

This yellow and green "Sailboat" stock can was packed by L.L. Curley in Colonial Beach. Curley later packed oysters in their custom "Pearl of Perfection" cans. These early cans don't show up often. This one was most likely used in a restaurant or large event due the top being cut out with a large commercial style can opener instead of the lid being pried off. It was saved and used as a duster of some sort as it has a series of small holes knocked into the bottom with a nail or ice pick.

Delicious Salt Water Oysters Plug Top Pint - VA 182 - $175

Hard to find Virginia can, packed by Savage out of Chincoteague, missing a little paint around the top rim, otherwise in nice shape.

Walker's Seaside Oysters Pint - Exmore, VA - VA 172 - $250

Like the gallon above, this plug top pint is very hard to come by. What I would call the front is pretty good but the back is rougher and is missing some paint.

Miles' Famous Oysters - Norfolk, VA - VA 214 - $225

Packed by J.H. Miles & Co. Inc, this pint is in great condition, and is one of the later designs on the many iterations of the Miles cans. The paint is nice and bright and glossy.

W.S. Taylor Co. Oysters- Chincoteague, VA - VA 57 - $250

This is an early plain stock can and it is in pretty good condition, only showing some marks near the bottom of the can on the front. WS. Taylor Company must have been a small organization, this is the only can bearing this name that I have ever seen.

I.W. Webb Oysters - Weems, VA - VA 104 - $75

Believed to be packed by a relative of the packer of the Moonlight Bay oyster cans from Weems, this plain stock can is in nice shape.

Frozen Oysters - R.A. Chatham & Son - Tidwells, VA - VA 482 - $60

Hard to come by 12 oz. frozen can here from Tidwells. It is in great condition.

Lancaster Seafoods Inc. Gallon - Morattico, VA - VA 107 - $575

This gallon is a very hard to find can. It does have a little fading on the front, as a lot of them do, and some marks throughout. On some cans, the red paint lightens up easily if exposed to frequent sunlight.

Ocean View Chesapeake Bay Oysters - Norfolk, VA - VA 214 - $725

Packed by J.H. Miles & Company, Inc., this solder seam gallon can is close to 100 years old and is in nice shape for it's age with a few marks. The paint and graphics are bright and look great. This is the older version of the Ocean View can with the lady facing to the side.

Irvington Packing Oysters - White Stone, VA - VA 93 - $75

Believed to be one of the last style cans packed by Irvington Packing, this plain stock can is in good shape with only a few wrinkles here and there. The information on the can is embossed.

Curley Packing Co. - Colonial Beach, VA - VA 167 - $100

Blue Sailboat pint and Flavor-Fresh 8 oz. set from Curley Packing Co., the successor company of L.L. Curley. These cans are in great condition, with the pint being a plug top can.

Allen's Frozen Oysters - Coles Point, VA - VA 13 - $50

This 10 oz. frozen can is in great condition over all, barely a mark on it.

Kellum Brand Oysters - Weems, VA - VA 201 - $250

Kellum had oysters packed for them in many different packing houses in Virginia, as well as some in Maryland and Delaware. This can was actually packed in Virgina under permit number VA 201.

Virginia Oyster Cans