Measuring 13.25 inches wide x 9.25 inches high x 1 inch thick, this wonderful piece patented February 16, 1886, is in very fine condition with a warm, rich patina and color as well as all 56 of its original wooden letters! To spell a word, one slides the letters along cut out tracks in the board.

Quite visually appealing!

Condition: three of the 1/8th inch thick, round, wooden letters suffered partial breakage at one point in time, but these letters continue to remain quite structurally sound and "readable". Some tiny edge chips to the wood- quite reasonable given its age.

In addition to making children's games, The Milton Bradley Company, for many, many years, produced an extensive array of school supplies, equipment, and materials!

A wonderful addition to School or Artist Memorabilia collection!

Text indicates that the diploma was awarded to Josephine Downey on October 21, 1899, and certified her to teach the Grammar or Primary Grade for the subsequent 6 years. Signed by Thomas Kirsh, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Secretary.

Further documentation on reverse reads, "Issued on the recommendation of the Board of Education of San Francisco County, in accordance with Section 1521 of the Political Code, upon a first grade or Grammar Grade Certificate of San Francisco County, California, 95% (Josephine’s teacher examination grade).”

With the exception of early fold lines, condition is mint! Measures 14.6 inches X 11.5 inches.

The sign is silver foil, reverse-painted on decorative, hand-chipped glass that has been protectively backed in metal. The sign has two holes at the sides to allow for hanging.

This children’s text is 318 pages in length, is further enhanced with numerous black and white photographs, is in never-used, near mint condition, and comes complete with the original, fine-condition, exterior paper wrapper.

Sample topics covered are: How the Wasp Taught us to make Paper, Of What are Pastes and Glues Made, The Mystery of Melted Sand, Wall Paper Designs, From Banana to Cactus Plants to Rope, Harnessing the Sparks of Heaven, The Cloth that Will Not Burn, The Mechanical Eye that Excels our Own, How Mother Nature uses her Paint Pot Underground, Pins and Pin Money, Tears of the Helliades, etc, etc.

All 5 of these artistically-rendered awards were presented to the same student, Maria Royce, and signed by her teacher, Isabella F. McCormick, as well as two representatives of the school committee for "regular and punctual attendance with correct deportment and diligent attention to her studies." Maria obviously was educated in a one room school house given that she had the same teacher over a four year period.

The awards are dated May 1841, May 1842, March 18-- (year inadvertently omitted), June 1842, and January 1844.

The merit awards measure 8 inches wide x 10 inches long and are adorned at the top of the award with a well-executed black line etching of a teacher and her students viewing a large world globe with an elegant school house of formal architecture standing imposingly in the background-- and at the base of the award, a delicate and detailed floral wreath.

The awards are in fine condition with very minor wrinkling to the edges. May 1841 and March 18-- also have minor edge-area foxing that will not be visible once the award is matted and framed.

These early examples of school ephemera are quite rare and would be a fabulous addition to a vintage school memorabilia collection!

Given away as a premium for opening a bank account, this bank advertises the Mechanics Savings Bank of Hartford, Connecticut.

The bank is complete with the famous Liberty Bell crack down its front as well as this slogan etched around its top, "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All The Inhabitants Thereof. LEV XXV 10".

Manufactured by the Bankers S & C System Company, Cleveland, Ohio, this bank bears a patent date of February 18, 1919, as inscribed on its base. Made of metal and wood. The whereabouts of the original key is unknown but it is likely that any flat metal key of the period of the appropriate size would open it.

The wooden box, now empty, was once filled with many 1 inch square wooden cubes, the purpose of which was to provide development of fine motor control in kindergartners through their play and manipulation. This box represents one of a series of "gifts" produced by J.L. Hammett designed for use in schools for the above stated purpose.

The box is in very good condition with subtle evidence of use and measures 4 inches in length, width and height.