Catalog: Archives (250)

Offered for sale is a delightful late 19th century cast iron apothecary cork press in the rare form of the SLEEPING DOG. Originating from an early upstate New York country store, the cork press presents wonderful appeal to those who collect early pharmacy objects and those who fancy canines.

The surface sports a vintage patina with traces of rust still present. This appealing cork press measures 9.25� long and is untouched original �as found� undamaged condition.

One of the hardest to find of the vintage figural cork presses.

Pickaninny Brand Peanut Butter was produced in the 1920's by the F.M. Hoyt Company of Amesbury, Massachusetts, that guaranteed the quality of its peanut butter. Its sales slogan was: "Packed For Those Who Appreciate Quality".

The company's logo featured a very young, African-American girl in a red dress, eating peanut butter out of the tin pail while her cloth doll rested on her lap. The words: "A.C. CO OF MASS." appear in the tiniest letters below the words "Peanut Butter" on one side of the pail, likely the local manufacturer of the tin pail for the F.M. Hoyt Company. Impressed into the base of the tin is the word: "CANCO".

Measuring 3 3/8" tall x 3.75" wide, this highly collectible, 1 pound size, Black Americana tin scores an 8 out of 10 condition rating. The tin features two very strong images on front and back and retains both its original cover and bail handle. The tin evidences various areas of slight paint loss and surface wear. There are no dents or cracks, the cover has a few subtle dings (indentations) on its top, and light tarnishing is evident on the tin base and interior along with faint superficial rust. Overall great condition with wear to this tin quite commensurate with its 100+ years of age.

This tin also was produced in a 3 pound size intended for commercial use. Both sizes are equally scarce and sought after! A wonderful addition to an advanced Black Memorabilia collection!

An interesting historical side-note: a member of this same Hoyt family, John, was among the first eighteen settlers of the area which came to be known as Amesbury, Massachusetts, back in 1654!

This March 10, 1915 patented Black Man Jigger Toy was produced by The National Toy Company of Boston, Massachusetts and was designed to be placed on one's phonograph. When a record was played, the Black Jigger would dance and jiggle!

In fabulous and complete, all-original condition with no repaint, replaced pieces or repairs, this rare piece is impressed on the underside of its wooden and metal dancing platform with patent date and manufacturer (see photos). The dancing man is constructed of painted wood with teeny metal nails holding his arms and legs in place; knees are jointed. Measures 7 inches tall x 7 inches in length.

An extremely rare piece of Black Americana!

Measuring approximately 7 inches high, this wonderful Black Americana Vargas wax figure is mounted on its original wooden platform and is one of a series of fascinating "street character wax dolls" conceived of and crafted by Mrs. Concepcion Vargas Alfonso, daughter of the world-renowned, turn-of-the-20th century, New Orleans, Spanish sculptor, Francisco Vargas.

From approximately 1910 through the 1930's, Mrs. Concepcion Vargas-Alphonso, influenced by the great artistry of her famous father who also sculpted in wax, crafted a variety of wax dolls inspired by the black folk she saw on New Orleans's street corners selling their wares or practicing their trade - black folk performing everyday activities that would have been daily seen on the streets of the city.

Sold exclusively at the time through Harriet's, of 318 Rue Royal in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the completely hand-made, one-of-a-kind dolls are seldom found on today's market due to their inherently fragile nature, making them highly sought after in the Black Memorabilia / Black Americana Collectible arena.

This figure, known as the Banana Seller, was recently de-accessioned from the Louisiana State University Rural Life Museum collection, Baton Rouge, LA, having been acquired by the museum from a private collector in January 1979.

The Banana Seller was one of the more difficult to find of the Vargas figures. In his right hand he holds a very large cluster of bananas that are all still attached to a tree branch, and in his left hand he holds a silver-colored, light-weight, cardboard-constructed machete. A single banana rests at his feet having fallen off the cluster.

Vargas wax figures are distinctly characterized by their interesting but highly exaggerated facial features. This gentleman Banana Seller wears a red floral kerchief around his neck, a green flowered shirt, black and tan herringbone-patterned pants, and black "leather" shoes. His costume is entirely constructed of actual cloth fabric that was coated with a fine layer of clear wax to stiffen them. The Banana Seller's wax body is internally supported by a wire frame through which the figure is securely attached to the wooden base. Underneath the wood base is stamped the following: "Genuine VARGAS New Orleans LA".

Quite interestingly, the Banana Seller is without a hat. He wears his hair very predominantly parted on one side suggesting that his carefully styled hair was meant to be displayed, and that this particular figure was never created wearing a hat.

This wonderful figure is in amazing condition for his 90+ years of age with one minor restoration likely performed by the professionals at the LSU Rural Life Museum: a repaired right hand. He appears to have lost a little bit of his hair in the back (see photo).

A true must-have piece for the ardent collector of New Orleans Black folk character figures!

Please take a moment to view the additional Vargas figures we currently have the pleasure of offering for sale. Type "Vargas" into the search box on our website homepage.

A powerful piece of Black Americana, this original and seldom-found, 1897, photo lithograph entitled “Alligator Bait” is a stark reminder of the historic prejudice and racism suffered by Americans of African heritage.

Measuring 11 inches by 25 inches wide, the piece is signed in the lower right corner, "Copyright by McCrary & Branson 189_ Knoxville, Tenn.", with the numeral 7 gone due to missing bits of the paper edge. Research has documented the copyright date of 1897.

The condition is very fine and all-original including the wooden frame and wooden backing. The glass is a replacement. There is some minor water damage here and there along the lower edge as documented in photos which does not impact the image. Some minor paper edge loss is noted in photos.

Indeed, an extraordinarily powerful and historic piece!

Offered is an exquisite, Victorian era, barber shop shaving mug sporting a highly decorated label-under-glass owner's nameplate, which has been recently acquired from a South Carolina estate.

This exceptional, shield-shaped label is executed in a rare and strikingly colorful design that was certainly a special order item for its owner, JOHN E. MATTES.

The condition of the porcelain mug is excellent! It is embellished with mildly worn gold gilt paint on the rim that coordinates with the gold adornment also on the label. This visually-striking label has mild loss, tiny chips and subtle cracks as noted in the photos. The shaving mug measures 4 inches tall x 3.5 inches in diameter at the top. A gem that is worthy of the most advanced barber shoppe collection!

Written by the author of "The Story of Little Black Sambo", Englishwoman, Helen Bannerman's publication of "The Story of Little Black Mingo" followed shortly thereafter, this time, featuring a brave and ingenuous female heroine. Little Mingo, with the help of a friendly mongoose, manages to outsmart both her guardian, an evil old woman who cares nothing for her, and a voracious alligator plotting to devour her! The story ends with Mingo and the mongoose living happily ever after in a nice little house by the riverside.

Helen Bannerman was inspired to write these stories for her two young daughters while the family lived in India; Mingo and Sambo were Indian children and not African-American. They were converted over time to this race, however, by subsequent story tellers and illustrators.

A mini book measuring 4" x 5.75", this cloth-bound hardcover was published by Frederick A. Stokes Company, New York, with 64 pages of vividly colored illustrations, and no copyright date. Research indicates this version was published circa 1902.

Condition is a 9 out of 10! This 120+ year old book has seen little use with just a teeny bit of wear to book edge points and age-related staining with some minor paper loss to the original, overlay-ed paper cover. Some soiling to interior pages here and there, but otherwise, intact and tight with no tears, creases, pen/pencil markings! Amazing condition for a book of this age!

A simply wonderful story, truly a fairy tale of sorts, that is seldom found in this lovely, original, early edition! To see the Little Black Sambo items currently available for sale, simply type “Sambo” into the search box on our website homepage.

Offered is a rarely found, copyright 1910, Milton Bradley Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, dexterity game entitled "Ring A Pin".

The game features a wooden target with a brightly colored, paper lithograph depicting nine different male faces, including that of an African-American with exaggerated facial features. The target is in very good condition with some minimal surface soiling and paper loss. It retains its original, orange wooden stands.

Each gentleman sports a metal hook from his mouth upon which one is to attempt to toss a very small ring. NOT an easy task by any stretch!

This brightly lithographed game retains four, original, celluloid-like throwing rings. The game directions, which are printed on the back side of the box cover, do not specify the number of rings that were originally included in the game, so it is not known if four was the original number. The game box cover, featuring the original paper lithograph, no longer retains its sides. The cover lithograph is in good condition given its 103 years of age with small areas of surface loss, some tiny rips and missing paper segments, and some light pencil writing evident.

The game box measures 6 1/2 inches tall x 9 1/2 inches wide x 2 inches deep.

The game cover as well as the target piece displays absolutely wonderfully! A RARELY found, quite visually captivating, Black Memorabilia collectible!

Offered is a extremely rare, 19th century, pharmacy apparatus for filling and sealing cachets which generally contained bitter "curative" powders.

This device is French and is called the CHAPIREAU'S CACHETEUR. The box houses fillers, compressors, a moistening dish, and an automatic handle used for holding and ejecting the filled cachet. Additionally, the 12 nickel-plated molds are housed on the underside of the box lid.

The maple box measures 9.5"L x 4.5"W x 3"H, and the automatic handle is a diminutive 3.25" tall.

Antique, early pharmacy implements such as this rarely survive due to their heavy, everyday use. To find such a device in this condition is a scarcity!

Measuring approximately 7 inches high, this highly sought after Black Vargas wax figure which is mounted on its original wooden platform, is one of a series of fascinating "street character wax dolls" conceived of and crafted by Mrs. Conception Vargas Alfonso, daughter of the world-renowned, turn-of-the-century-New Orleans, Spanish sculptor, Francisco Vargas.

From approximately 1915 through the 1930's, Mrs. Vargas-Alphonso, influenced by the artistry of her father who also sculpted in wax, crafted a variety of wax dolls inspired by the black folk she saw on New Orleans's street corners while growing up. Sold exclusively at the time through Harriet's, of 318 Rue Royale in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the completely hand-made, one-of-a-kind dolls are seldom found on today's market due to their inherently fragile nature, making them highly sought after in the Black Memorabilia Collectible arena.

This particular figure is known as the Vegetable Seller.

Vargas wax figures are distinctly characterized by their interesting but highly exaggerated facial features. The Vegetable Seller wears a blue and yellow striped bandanna around his neck, dark pants, and an orange and yellow polka dot shirt- all constructed of actual cloth fabric that was coated with a fine layer of clear wax to stiffen them. He carries a straw basket containing three different types of vegetables in his right hand while holding a corn cob in his outstretched left hand. His wax body is internally supported by a wire frame through which the figure is securely attached to the wooden base. The bottom of the base retains its original paper sticker which reads, "HARRIET'S, 318 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA". Harriet's Gift Shoppe was the exclusive retail outlet for the sale of Vargas figures to the public.

This wonderful figure is in mint condition for his 75+ years of age with no apparent or visible imperfections. Amazingly, all fingers and both thumbs remain perfectly intact! (The fingers are so very, very thin and fragile that they are quite easily broken.)

The Vegetable Seller is most delightful- a snapshot into 1920's New Orleans cultural history!

Please see the other Vargas figure that is currently available and priced separately--type "Vargas" in the search box to quickly locate them. A photo of the other Vargas figure currently available for purchase has been included, for the buyer's viewing convenience, in this listing.

Please note- any white or light spots noted in photos are a result of sun light glare and are not reflective or discoloration or fading.

Measuring approximately 7.5 inches high, this highly sought after Black Americana Vargas wax figure is mounted on its original wooden platform and is one of a series of fascinating "street character wax dolls" conceived of and crafted by Mrs. Concepcion Vargas Alfonso, daughter of the world-renowned, turn-of-the-20th century-New Orleans, Spanish sculptor, Francisco Vargas.

From approximately 1910 through the 1930's, Mrs. Concepcion Vargas-Alphonso, influenced by the artistry of her father who also famously sculpted in wax, crafted a variety of wax dolls inspired by the black folk she saw on New Orleans's street corners selling their wares or practicing their trade - black folk performing everyday activities that would have been seen on the streets of the city.

Sold exclusively at the time through Harriet's, of 318 Rue Royal in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the completely hand-made, one-of-a-kind dolls are seldom found on today's market due to their inherently fragile nature, making them highly sought after in the Black Memorabilia / Black Americana Collectible arena.

This figure, known as the Coal Seller, is most particularly hard to find, and thus, he is very seldom seen in today's collectible market.

Vargas wax figures are distinctly characterized by their interesting but highly exaggerated facial features. This gentleman Coal Seller wears a red and yellow kerchief around his neck, a yellow shirt patterned with red flowers, green trousers and "leather" shoes- all constructed of actual cloth fabric that was coated with a fine layer of clear wax to stiffen them. At his feet is a very large, wax-coated burlap bag filled with small planks of wood, ready for burning. The Coal Seller's wax body is internally supported by a wire frame through which the figure is securely attached to the wooden base. The bottom of the base features the original trade sticker advertising Harriet's. Remnants of an unreadable paper sticker are also noted on the front of the wooden base.

This wonderful figure is in amazing condition for his 90+ years of age with two imperfections: one missing finger on the right hand, and 3/4ths of the hat brim missing-- both conditions occurring due to the delicacy and fragility of the wax construction as both the hands and the hat are made solely from molded wax.

As a result, fingers are frequently found to be missing on Vargas figures, and hat brims often fall culprit to damage as well. The brimmed hats of Vargas male figures are the ONLY item of Vargas clothing that were never constructed of fabric first before being coated in wax- the only significant design flaw in the execution of these fabulous and iconic New Orleans Black Folk figures!

Please take a moment to view the additional Vargas figures we currently have the pleasure of offering for sale. Type "Vargas" into the search box on our website homepage.

This is a wonderful lithographed tin of Wilson’s CO-RE-GA denture adhesive powder with a great image on front. Marked FREE SAMPLE on the front. The tin was manufactured by The Corega Chemical Company, Cleveland, Ohio, with offices in London, Paris, and Montreal. The brass cap marked is Co-Re-Ga and includes its 1933 Patent number.

Some powder still exists! There is unobtrusive tarnishing, but no corrosion. There is a 1/4" area of paint loss to the back top left of the tin. Measures a diminutive 2 1/4" x 1 1/4" and will fit anywhere in your collection!

This authentic, 1930-40's, framed barber shop or beauty salon advertisement for "Slick Black Hair Color and Straightener" for African Americans was extremely difficult to photograph as it is framed under glass. Please note that actual poster color is deep, rich, and even throughout, and that any imperfections in the images as may appear in photos, are due strictly to lighting and glare difficulties.

This colorful paper broadside measures approximately 10.5 inches wide x 15.25 inches, and framed, measures 17 inches wide x 22 inches long. The poster or broadside is in excellent condition with the exception of a small, 1.5 inch long crease line above the top of the gray side of the model under the word "hair'. Otherwise wonderful!!

This piece has been matted and framed for some time and most recently hung on a wall in a Florida restaurant. To deter pilferage, the frame was actually screwed into the wall and as such, has evidence of minor puttying and repainting restoration where the two little screw holes were in the frame. The new owner may wish to continue restoration or simply leave the frame as is!

This poster is rarely found in the antiques market today, and due to its striking imagery and coloring, is destined to become a most delightful and decorative room focal point!!

An extraordinarily RARE version of the commonly found wooden Mammy Grocery List Board!!! In addition to the grocery reminder list, this piece also incorporates a 5 slot knife/spoon box and a cutting board!!!

I have never seen this piece before, nor have I seen it pictured in any Black Memorabilia Reference books!

Circa 1940's, this hefty and very well-constructed piece is made of solid wood and measures 14 inches high x 9.25 inches wide x 3 inches deep. It weighs nearly 4 lbs!

This wonderful piece of Black Memorabilia may be displayed as a free standing shelf piece or may be hung (original hanging hole present!).

The condition and visual clarity of the Mammy graphic (Mammy scratching her head in her attempt to remember her grocery list!) as well as the grocery list text remains superb and vibrant! This graphic is printed on a solid, 5/8 inch thick, wooden board that slides up and out of the red frame to reveal the 5 slot knife box interior! The box also has a single hole beside the knife slots presumably to hold a wooden spoon! Turn the wooden grocery list board over and one finds a cutting board!!! How very, very clever! The grocery list peg holes are found within the frame of the knife box as opposed to the common placement on the grocery list board; one original wooden peg remains.

The piece is in very fine condition with some superficial wear to the red paint in appropriate locations, some old grime, and a few white paint spatters at the top of the box where the knife slots are located (all of which will be left to the new owner to clean or retain!) No manufacturer's mark.

Truly a fabulous and most RARE piece of Black Americana!

Offered for sale are 3 different 1930’s Belgian Metal Polish tins featuring a wonderful Smiling Black Man Logo! All are priced separately---the large at $175.00, and the two small tins at $145.00 each.

All three tins are in very fine condition with some very small spots of superficial rust and teeny superficial surface scratches here and there as would be expected of any item 70+ years of age. These were stored well over the years and their condition reflects this! The largest tin is in the most pristine. The two black, white and red tins are empty but the green and yellow tin still has a hardened lump of polish inside. The large tin measures 5 6/8 inches high, the small black tin measures 4 1/4 inches high, and the green tin measures 4 inches high.

These tins are not readily found on today’s market in this condition and would provide a handsome and visually striking display either as a group of 3 or as a single piece! A nice addition to the advanced Black Memorabilia collection!

As each tin is priced separately, please email us stating which tin you wish to purchase so that we can customize your order form.

Rarely found in today's collector's market and measuring just 4 inches wide x 4.5 high, this early cast iron still bank was produced in England in the 1930s by Chamberlain & Hill. Buyer beware: this is NOT a reproduction!!! Reproductions have the words "Made in England" impressed into the back of the hat as well as a paint distinction: only the "whites" of the eyes are painted white on a reproduction versus the painting of the entire eyelid area on legitimate, vintage cast iron banks (see my photos).

This silly caricature bank features a black man's head mounted on two little feet- no body! He wears a red hat labeled, "Save and Smile Money Box" impressed across the front rim. This two piece mold has a coin slot on the top of the back of the head. The bank would have to be unscrewed to be emptied.

This all original still bank is in very fine condition with most of its paint remaining intact- no repaint!! A must-have for the serious still bank or Black Memorabilia collector!!

Measuring 10.25 inches high from hat to base bottom, this colorful, 1910 patent date, tin lithographed, wind-up toy featuring a dapper Black Gent dancing a jig is quite visually appealing!!

In very nice condition with minor scratches to paint here and there as seen in photos, this wind-up toy works, but can be a little fussy. Given its 100+ years of age, a bit of fussiness in the mechanism is not atypical or unexpected. Marked "TOMBO" Alabama Coon Jigger Trademark Strauss Mfg Co New York USA; US Patent May 24, 1910. The figure, itself, is 8.25 inches high.

This fabulous toy is a CLASSIC MUST-HAVE for the avid Black Memorabilia Toy collector!

Circa 1920’s, this all original piece of Black Memorabilia advertising, Carter’s INKY RACER, comes complete with its very colorful and “graphically appealing” cardboard box along with the two original, rubber-stoppered, glass, ink-removing-solution bottles, and amazingly, the extremely rare, directions-for-use paper pamphlet!

Both the exterior and interior of the cardboard box features the well-known “running black boy logo” making this item an eye-appealing display piece!

Condition is near excellent with some age-related and expected subtle wear to corners of the box(see photos). The box remains quite structurally sound, and its condition suggests that this piece received little handling over the years. Closed, the box measures 3 1/4 x 2 3/4 x 1 1/4 inches. Bottle #1 retains 1/3 of its ink erasing solution while bottle #2's remaining contents have dried to a white powder. Quite unusual to find contents of this product intact after so many years! The paper instructional pamphlet is in mint condition absent the fold marks which allow the pamphlet to be made small enough to slip inside this diminutive box.

A must-have for the Black Memorabilia collector--particularly in this fabulous condition!!