| ANHEUSER-BUSCH STEIN CATALOG |
Overview — This catalog contains information on all Anheuser-Busch Collector Club steins (CB series), Gerz Collectorwerke and Meisterwerke steins (GL & GM series), and Collector Series (CS) items. With regard to the latter, the term “items” has been used to define the group because it includes many pieces (decanters, beakers, mugs, etc.) which do not comply with the definition of “stein” (i.e., lidded drinking or pouring vessel) used in other portions of the Beer Stein Library. However, these items are clearly considered by many Anheuser-Busch collectors to be part of a “complete” A-B stein collection. In the vast majority of cases, the items currently listed in the catalog were marketed and distributed nationally through the Anheuser-Busch dealer network and were readily available to interested purchasers.
What is not currently included are items bearing “SO” or “N” series numbers, which were typically produced (often by a licensee) for a special event, employee convention, or some other special purpose. Although there are a few exceptions, these items were generally not made available through dealers, but could be obtained only by attendees at the applicable event. The number of collectors of these items is relatively small when compared to those who collect the nationally distributed A-B promotional products and so, for the time being, we’ve decided to concentrate our efforts on the less “esoteric” items in the CB, CS, GL & GM series. Naturally, that decision is subject to change over time if a desire for broader content is expressed by Beer Stein Library members.
Variations — Many of the cataloged items can be found with one or more “variations.” These may include differences in the mold itself, such as was true with the original Bud Man (CS1); painting variations, such as may be found on the Budweiser Centennial mug (CS13); the same decal applied to a wide variety of body types, as is the case with the decal used on the A&Eagle Logo mug (CS24); and lidded versions of normally unlidded mugs, including the Snowy Woodland mug (CS50). Because these variations are popular with collectors, we’ve included many of them in the Anheuser-Busch catalog. However, buyers should be aware that some (or perhaps most) are probably not legitimate examples of the applicable CS numbers, in that they were never sold as such by Anheuser-Busch.
For the most part, minor inconsistencies in the mold, including those found on the original Bud Man, are “legitimate” variations, attributable mainly to early, and somewhat less than rigid, production practices at Ceramarte. The same may be said for certain minor decoration variations, such as may be seen on some versions of the Grant’s Farm mug (CS15). More blatant decoration variations, including the cobalt blue and white background versions of the Budweiser Centennial mug mentioned above and many others like them, were almost certainly never distributed by Anheuser-Busch. Nonetheless, they often command premium prices when they appear in the secondary market.
Where the only common thread between a variety of different items is a similar decal, there’s a reasonably high probability that most should not be considered legitimate examples of whatever CS number is applicable. The CS24 decal, for instance, may be found on an astounding variety of drinking vessels bearing a Ceramarte mark. While it’s possible that some of them were sold through distributors or other Anheuser-Busch agents at one time or another, it’s highly unlikely that more than one or two deserve the “CS24” designation.
Regarding lidded versions of normally unlidded mugs, as a general rule it may be presumed that the lids are after-market additions. Even given the possibility that some of the lids may have been applied by Ceramarte in Brazil, these items were never sold by Anheuser-Busch in that form.
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