Catalog: Archives: Collectibles (190)

Circa 1940's vintage, this authentic, metal sign is an important historical artifact documenting America's Jim Crow era of African-American segregation.

In bright red and white paint, the sign advertises the "Booker T Colored Motel" of Humboldt, Tennessee. The motel name is clearly a reference to the honorable Booker T. Washington (April 5, 1856 – November 14, 1915) who was freed from slavery as a child at the end of the Civil war as a result of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution which officially abolished slavery. Booker T. Washington, an important educator and author, became a dominant figure in the African-American community advocating education as the pathway to a better life for African-Americans as well as the use of peaceful pathways to gain rights for the African-American community.

Measuring 24 inches wide x 15.5 inches high, the sign is in fine condition with minor and typical signs of age: some subtle crimping to the metal as well as some evidence of superficial rusting as noted in photos.

This important artifact displays easily and is quite visually appealing! A wonderful opportunity to acquire a piece of history!

Offered is a graphically appealing, 1950s, Kodak Film Advertising Display. This beauty comes in the original box and shows very little wear. There is scant patina from minimal use, minor surface scratches and blemishes, and one bend in the metal as seen in the photo. The display turns easily on its circular base, and the colors are as bright as if it was brand new! Definitely a discerning collector's dream!

Measures 20.75" tall x 7.25" in diameter. The overall height includes the removal top pediment.

A five-sided display seldom found in this condition!

Measuring 20 inches in length by 4 inches high, this rare, Jim Crow-era, segregationist sign once hung in the one and only movie theatre of Doerun, Georgia, a small south Georgia town. Folks would view movies on a white sheet that was tacked to one wall. The white folk sat in folding chairs on the first floor while the African-Americans were directed to seating via this sign in the upstairs balcony.

This 1940s sign is white-washed on both sides with lettering and art work completed in red paint. Made of metal with 2 holes on either end for hanging. It has seen its share of vandalism with numerous deliberately inflicted scratches to the paint as seen in photos.

Once part of the Middle Passage Museum inventory, the sign has been de-accessioned. The Middle Passage Museum was the dream of Jim and Mary Anne Petty of Mississippi as well as that of an anonymous Georgian benefactor who had together compiled a collection of slave artifacts numbering over 15,000 pieces and who had hoped to find a permanent site in Mobile, Alabama, for their museum. While they formed a non-profit organization to raise funds for their hoped-for museum, their dream was never realized.

In a 2003 statement, Jim Petty remarked, "The importance of the exhibit of these artifacts is to understand the harshness of what slavery and segregation was all about. The items in the exhibit remind us of the terrible heinousness of slavery. Viewing the collection can be very emotional, but it is a tool through which we can understand, honor and respect a great culture. We want to realize that out of slavery, a great culture emerged, and carried on, and continued to strive for a better life regardless of the adverse conditions that were placed upon them."

Offered is this 1931 copyright, LITTLE BLACK SAMBO Book with text and illustrations by the original author of this tale, Helen Bannerman. A David McKay Company publication of Phildelphia and Washington Square, copyright by Howard E. Altemus, with an introduction by George C. Harvey. Hardcover, 59 pages.

A much-beloved children's classic written in the early 1900's by Englishwoman, Helen Bannerman, for her two young daughters while they lived in India, Sambo, in the original tale, was an Indian boy and not an African-American child. He was converted over time to this race, however, by subsequent story tellers and illustrators. This age-old tale tells of Little Black Sambo and his frightening tiger encounter, which fortunately, has a happy ending!

Condition is 8 out of 10. This book has seen careful but frequent use with moderate wear to book cover edges as well as the red cloth spine cover. While the binding remains quite tight, surface soiling to covers and some interior pages is evident. The inside front cover reveals a penned inscription from an aunt to her nephew at Christmas, 1937.

This book retains outstanding, bold and brilliant coloring of all illustrations--- just fabulous---given its 89+ years of age!

There are small tears at the bottom of the following pages very near the bound side of the pages ranging from 1/2 to 1.5 inches long; some tears have old tape repairs: pages 9, 18, 19,20, 28, 33, 47, 49, 58.

A unique copy!

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.

Measuring 14.50 inches high and standing on a 5.50 inch square base, this fabulous, vintage 1930's, chalkware statue of Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong holding his fabled cornet is quite heavy, weighing nearly 5 lbs!

Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) was the greatest Jazz musician of all time, defining what it was, what it meant to play Jazz. His incredible technical abilities, the joy and spontaneity felt in his works, and his amazingly quick, inventive, musical mind continues to dominate Jazz to this day.

This wonderful piece is a superb likeness of "Satchmo", and it remains in very fine, all-original condition! No chips, cracks, repairs or repainting! Minor and tiny, age-related flakes to the surface of this chalkware piece exist here and there and are entirely appropriate given the statue's 70+ years of age. No maker's mark--just a small encircled "C" for copyright on the back of the base. Bottom of base is covered in an original, soft, felt-like material to prevent statue from scratching display surfaces.

A fabulous piece of Louis Armstrong Memorabilia!!

Offered is a fabulous, one-of-a-kind group of 15, hand-carved and hand-painted, circa 1920-1930's, wooden miniatures of Black Folk as they would have appeared during the Harlem Renaissance!

Hand-executed by Robert A. Myers of 73 E. Hazeltine Avenue, Kenmore, New York, the figures vary in height from 2.25 to 2.75 inches. The colors are absolutely brilliant and the detailing exquisite with the tiniest of details painted with superb precision, control and great artistry.

"HAND MADE, R. A. Myers, 72 E. Hazeltine Ave., Kenmore, NY" is clearly stamped on the soles of approximately 5 of the figures--yet there is no question that all were executed by the same hand, and it is likely that all figures at one time bore this stamp.

Little is known of Robert A. Myers other than the fact that the street address stamped on the soles of the figures' feet was a private residence, and Robert A. Myers was indeed listed as residing at this address in a 1930 Kenmore (a suburb of Buffalo) telephone directory.

The fabulous figures have been safely stored over these many years in a felt-lined, hardwood, hinged box which undoubtedly has contributed to their most excellent condition!

Truly a RARITY! These wonderful folk art figures would make an outstanding addition to the museum quality Black Memorabilia collection! Not to be missed--these are one-of-a-kind!

Measuring 4 ¼ inches high with a 3 /14 inch diameter, this UNUSED, 1 pound can of circa EARLY 1930’s, Old BLACK JOE Axle Grease is in very fine condition! There is some wear to the paint along the edge of the lid cover and at the top and bottom side surfaces, but virtually no rusting! The only noted rusting was to the base of the can and this is very superficial and can be buffed away. The can is quite structurally sound with no leaking as demonstrated by the photos taken on unprotected, white, antique bed linens!

Old Black Joe Axle Grease was manufactured by the John Hancock Oil Company of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota- the Twin Cities. The can was made by the St. Louis Can Company and is so labeled (see photos). Note the exaggerated facial features of OLD BLACK JOE---an unfortunate, but very typical depiction of African Americans during this time period.

A wonderful and scarce find Black Memorabilia collectible in near excellent condition!

Measuring 9 inches high, this delightful example of Folk Art styling, is one of a series of Black cloth character dolls made in Alabama in the 1930’s by unknown craftsmen/women. It has been speculated that their creation was encouraged through FDR’s Depression era program, the Work Projects Administration (WPA), in existence from 1936-1940.

This doll depicts the black stick or kindling gatherer. He holds a bunch of sticks tied together with string that has been flung over his right shoulder. In his left hand, he holds a wooden walking stick. This is an older gentleman who wears a straw hat, gray beard and hair and has embroidered facial features –most characteristic of these dolls. Also characteristic of this type of doll is a small square of asphalt shingle glued to the feet to serve as a stand. This gent has lost his shingle stand but the remnants are still visible glued to the bottom of his leather shoes. Clothing is machine-sewn cotton with careful detailing right down to the patch on his left knee and the red hanker chief poking out of his right pocket. His body is brown cotton stuffed with cotton batting.

A very special doll that takes a snapshot of history in capturing the life of the poor southern black of the Depression era.

Measuring 17 inches long x 9.25 inches wide x .75 inches deep, this untouched, all-original, double-sided wooden sign is an extraordinarily RARE piece of Black American history-- an artifact of the "Jim Crow" era when segregation of the African American race was unfortunately, most commonplace.

This sign once hung on the inside of a railroad car, designating the line behind which African Americans must remain-- in the back of the car.

The sign is painted in gold lettering on both sides as follows: the back of the sign is painted, "FOR COLORED PASSENGERS", while the front of the sign is painted, "FOR WHITE PASSENGERS".

The sign is in all-original condition and has some paint fading, fading of the wood stain in given places (please view photos), and imperfections in the wood as noted in photos. These do not impact the integrity of the sign and are appropriate to the age and purpose of the piece. The sign retains all of its original hardware including "keyhole" receptacle for hanging the sign inside of the railroad car.

An utterly phenomenal, extremely RARE, one-of-a-kind, museum-worthy piece of Black American history that may very well be the only one of its kind extant today!

Measuring 9-7/8 tall x 13-1/2 inches wide, this extraordinarily rare, Jim Crow era, segregation sign advertises a "colored-only" hotel, Coleman's of Ashland, Virginia.

Constructed of cardboard with black printing, this circa 1920-30s sign reads: " Coleman's Hotel Colored. Special Attention to Tourists. Ashland Virginia".

The sign remains in all-original condition inclusive of minor discoloration as noted in photos and small chips to the upper right and lower left corners. Print source is noted: "Herald-Progress Print, Ashland, VA".

This is NOT a reproduction, but rather a fortunate preservation. It is quite amazing that this sign has survived the many years being constructed out of cardboard. It was clearly stored away in such a manner that preserved its original condition.

Travel for African Americans during the Jim Crow period was difficult and complicated, with limited options for eating, sleeping, even procuring gasoline for the car. As a result, black-owned hotels and motels placed signs such as this one prominently in their windows. There were even special travel-guides to help African Americans plan their trips, hopefully, without incident. Victor Green's "Green Guide" provided state by state lists of colored hotels, motels and other travel-related businesses that catered to African-Americans.

Quite possibly the ONLY sign remaining extant from this particular, racially segregated establishment. An historically significant piece!

An utterly fabulous piece of 1930’s Black Americana, this mint condition, hand-painted, Black Sambo Alligator ashtray measures approximately 5 inches wide by 4.5 inches high. Curly headed Little Sambo holds his original bamboo fishing pole complete with tiny metal hook!

Sambo sits upon the belly of an alligator whose wide open jaws are ready to take a chomp!!

The piece is stamped “Japan” on the base and has wonderful detail! Even the alligator’s tongue has been painted in! Love that nubby, curly hair!

Please note that any white marks appearing in photos are glare from the flash and are not imperfections!

This fourth edition, miniature, hard cover book , "The Story of Little Black Sambo and the Twins" was written and illustrated by Helen Bannerman, an Englishwoman living in India at the turn of the 20th century who wrote this and a series of six other SAMBO stories to amuse her two little daughters. These subsequent stories are much more rarely found as fewer were published, because at that time, none ever reached the popularity of the original “Little Black Sambo”. "The Story of Little Black Sambo and the Twins" is one of these stories!

To the collector of Helen Bannerman books, no collection is considered complete without a copy of each of the “Sambo” books:

Sambo and the Twins

The Story of Little Black Mingo

The Story of Little Black Quasha

The Story of Little Black Quibba

and in French, Histoire du Petit Negre Sambo.

All are quite difficult to find in any condition!

This 1936 copy of “Little Black Sambo and the Twins” published by Frederick A. Stokes of New York, is in quite fine condition with tight binding, tight pages, no rips or tears, minor edge wear to corners! Please view all photos for condition representation.

The story itself is truly quite violent and frightening in both text and in drawings- involving the kidnapping of the adorable twins, Woof and Moof, by very wicked monkeys!!! And this was bedtime reading for children!!!!

A very RARE book!!!

To see all of the Little Black Sambo items currently available for sale, simply type “Sambo” into the search box on our website homepage.

A very difficult to find Tin, Black Man dancing toy!

In very fine condition, with faint, superficial scratches expected of a 70+ year old metal toy, this wonderful Tuxedoed Dancing Black Man is in working condition! He is stamped "Made in USA" on his back and was made by Buffalo Toy Works. It is operated via a small metal lever at the base that can be jiggled (thus, the name "Jigger" Toy) up and down and back and forth to make Dancing Sambo wave his arms and jiggle his legs!

Measures approximately 6.5 inches high. Maker unknown. Displays wonderfully!

Please note that any white spots appearing in photos are from the camera flash and are not imperfections!

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 9 inches high, these delightful examples of Folk Art styling, are two of a series of Black cloth character dolls made in Alabama in the 1930’s by unknown craftsmen/women.

It has been noted that their creation was encouraged through President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Depression era program, the Work Projects Administration (WPA), in existence from 1935-1943. The WPA was designed to provide jobs across the country during the Great Depression. While most jobs were in construction and infrastructure, the most well-known project arm of the WPA, known as Federal Project Number One, employed musicians, artists, writers, actors and directors in arts, drama, media, and literacy projects. The five projects assigned to this consortium were: the Federal Writers’ Project (FWP), the Historical Records Survey (HRS), the Federal Theatre Project (FTP), the Federal Music Project (FMP), and the Federal Art Project (FAP). The creation of these dolls fell under the WPA Federal Art Project, with the goal of representing the various aspects of the culture, work and lives of the Southern black community of this time period.

The doll clad in all black depicts the VERY rarely-found, black country preacher out for an afternoon stroll with his wooden walking stick in one hand and the Holy Bible clutched in the other. The preacher wears a machine-stitched suit thoughtfully detailed with fine, white shirt cuffs poking out from beneath his jacket and the white Reverend's collar at his neck. His left shoe reveals a hole with a sock-covered toe poking through! The preacher's stove-pipe-style hat is placed snugly on his head covering most of his gray hair although his full gray facial beard features prominently. His embroidered facial features, characteristic of these WPA dolls, are further accented with "steel-rimmed" style eye glasses. The 1.5 square inch bible actually has real pages! Also characteristic of this type of doll is a small square of asphalt shingle glued to the feet to serve as a stand. The doll's body is well-stuffed with cotton batting and he stands freely.

The gray-hair and bearded, chicken-toting black country gent doll is also attired in machine-stitched clothing and additionally shares a cotton-bating stuffed body, embroidered facial features, and an asphalt shingle tile stand. He wears cotton britches detailed with double knee patches and suspenders along with a blue and cream striped cotton shirt and a red and white polka dot kerchief around his neck. His hat is constructed of black-colored felt. This country gent holds a finely crafted and detailed brown chicken under his right arm, while his left hand clutches a wooden walking stick.

Two very special dolls that represent a snapshot of history, capturing the lives of poor Southern black folk of the Depression era.

The dolls are priced at $295.00 each.

Measuring 39.75 inches long x 17.50 inches high, this untouched, all-original, single-sided, porcelain, circa 1930-40s sign is an extraordinarily RARE piece of Black American history-- an artifact of the "Jim Crow" era when segregation of the African American race was unfortunately, most commonplace.

The origin of this sign is unknown, but given its very substantial size and weight, it likely once hung as a directional sign in a major bus or railroad station, designating the "WHITES ONLY" area where African-Americans were not permitted to sit, stand, or otherwise, occupy.

The subtly convex sign has had no restoration and remains in all-original condition. It bears areas of paint loss, scratching and superficial rusting (some areas larger in scope than others) typical for its age and use as noted in photos. Please view photos for further assessment of the sign's condition. The age and use-related signs of wear do not impact the physical integrity of the sign and are more than appropriate to the age and purpose of the piece.

An utterly phenomenal, extremely RARE, one-of-a-kind, museum-worthy piece of Black American history!

Please take a moment to view the other "Jim Crow" Segregationist Era signs that I currently have the pleasure of offering.

Measuring 9 inches high, this delightful example of Folk Art styling, is one of a series of Black cloth character dolls made in Alabama in the 1930’s by unknown craftsmen/women. It has been speculated that their creation was encouraged through FDR’s Depression era program, the Work Projects Administration (WPA), in existence from 1936-1940.

This doll depicts the black fisherman. He holds a bait pail and bunch of sticks tied together with string that has been flung under his right shoulder. In his left hand, he carries a wooden fishing pole from which a silver-colored, metal fish dangles (the fish appears to be newer than the doll and is likely a replacement). This is an older gentleman who wears a straw hat with gray hair and who has embroidered facial features –most characteristic of these dolls. Also characteristic of this type of doll is a small square of asphalt shingle glued to the feet to serve as a stand. This gent has lost his shingle stand but the remnants are still visible glued to the bottom of his left leather shoe. Clothing is machine-sewn cotton with careful detailing right down to the patches on his knees and the red hanker chief tied around his neck. His body is black cotton stuffed with cotton batting.

A very special doll that takes a snapshot of history in capturing the life of the poor southern black of the Depression era.