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.

Text indicates that the diploma was awarded to Mary L. Downey on January 15, 1892, and certified her to teach the Grammar or Primary Grade for the subsequent 6 years. Signed by 5 members of the California State Board of Education.

Further documentation on reverse reads, "Issued on the recommendation of the Board of Education of San Francisco, in accordance with Section 1521 of the Political Code, upon a first grade or Grammar Grade Certificate of San Francisco, 86.7% (Mary’s test grade).”

With the exception of early fold lines, condition is mint! Measures 8 inches X 10.5 inches.

Hardcover, 454 pages; very fine condition: no foxing, tight binding, corner edge wear to covers, pencil inscription on frontispiece, dirt stain to exterior edge of book pages visible when book is closed- does not penetrate pages.

Photo condition is wonderful- no rips or creases. Original mat board has seen much handling with rough edges and rips. This can be remedied through re-matting and re-framing. The full view photo appears faded or lighter on the right hand side, but this is camera flash glare only- tones/coloration are uniform throughout as seen in close-up photo.

They were hand-inscribed by two different teachers and presented to two brothers-- Willie and Decatur Gotts.

All four are in pristine condition and feature 4 different designs.

Interestingly, this display was found among the contents of an old North Carolina country store.

This product was made in the 1940's in the USA with tubes originally selling for 15 cents per tube. Each bakelite capsule or tube contains 45 sticks of "Q-15 Soft Standard" pieces of pencil-lead.

As seen in the photos, the red caps of the bakelite containers are brittle from age and are in varying states of "wholeness"--some intact and some not.

Red Seal Colored Chalk was produced by the Standard Crayon Manufacturing Company of Danvers, Massachusetts and was distributed by the J.L. Hammett Company, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, producers of school products and materials.

This wonderful, double-sided slate measures 10.25 inches x 14.25 inches and is in fine condition. This type of slate was also made in a smaller size, but either size is very, very seldom found today as the majority of 19th century school slates that were produced were rectangular in shape!

Close-up photos show the interesting wood frame seam as well as the hanging hole. Flecks of paint are evident here and there and are most concentrated in one corner on one side of the slate as shown in photos.

Items such as this were given to worthy students by their appreciative school teachers at the end of a term for a variety of reasons not the least of which were scholarship, attendance, and deportment.

This sweet little pin is in excellent, all original condition retaining its original and quite functional clasp! It measures 1/2 inch in diameter.