$125.00
Offered are two school slates, both designed to support children's learning, either while in school or at home.
The C1870 school slate was commonly known as a book slate as it is constructed of two separate slates that are bound together on one side allowing the slates to open and close like a book. This construction also allows the bound slates to stand freely on a flat surface. Each slate measures 7" wide x 9' long, and are framed in wood with a decorative, thread bound leather edging that has been tacked into place around the perimeter. The two slates are joined together by a cloth binding. The condition of the slates are quite fine with no cracks, fractures or missing elements either to the slates' surfaces or to the framing. Traces of ancient writings and numerals are subtly visible. Double slates are much less common versus the single slate as doubles were not only more expensive to produce but also were more expensive to purchase!
The companion slate offered was produced by the well-known US child toy and game manufacturer, Transogram, circa early 1960s. This slate retains its original and quite visually-appealing box and is constructed of a masonite-type board-- with a smooth surface on the backside and a textured gray-colored surface on the front side. The slate is in very good condition and is imprinted with the alphabet and numerals 0-9 as well as a pair of stars and school bells on either side of its name: TRANSO-SLATE. The slate is advertised on the box cover as washable, and the set originally came with a little eraser and colored chalk. The eraser is no longer present and only remnants of colored and white chalk remain. The condition of the box is quite fine with only superficial wear to some of the cover edges. No rips or repairs. Imaging and printing on the box cover remain bright and intact. The box measures 8.25" wide x 6.25" long. The slate measures just a fraction smaller, fitting snugly inside of the box.
A wonderful pairing of 19th and mid-20th century educational tools!
$65.00
Constructed with hardwood and featuring brass hardware, this delightful piece retains its original box labeled "Made In Korea", with design copyrighted by B. Shackman & Co, 85 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York.
The wood-turned legs, wood-carved detailing and overall meticulous attention to design detail is just superb! The desk features a total of 3 drawers which open and close smoothly and easily and which are finished with brass handles or knobs. Desk swinging doors open easily, have brass knobs, and reveal six desk cubby holes and a small drawer hidden inside, just as one would have found in an original 19thC school master's desk!
Condition is all-original and superb without injury! The desk even retains its original foil sticker on the underside. The original cardboard box features a well-designed cover that offers all essential details to the prospective buyer. The front label is in perfect condition, but the cover's four corner joints have all separated, albeit due to handling over the years. All parts are present, however.
This piece is a deaccession from my personal school teacher collection, with regrets, due to lack of display space. A unique addition to one's vintage school collection!
$195.00
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" or "Life Among the Lowly", is an anti-slavery novel that was published in two volumes and which had a profound effect on attitudes toward African-Americans and slavery in the U.S. It is said to have "helped lay the groundwork for the American Civil War".
Each plate is priced separately at $195.00 each or both plates for $325.00.
One plate depicts the sale of slave, Uncle Tom, while the other plate depicts the death of little Eva. The text on each plate is in German: "Evas Todt" or in English, "The Death of Eva", and "Slavel Tom Von LeGree Gekauft" or in English, "The Slave Tom Purchased by (Simon} LeGree".
Produced for use by children as subtle educational tools, the plates measure 7 5/8 inches in diameter and are decorated with black transfer, printed, Uncle Tom vignettes.
The condition of both plates is quite superb with subtle crazing lightly evident on the backs of plates only. Also on the backs of each plate are tiny, factory-flaw imperfections where glazing failed to bind to the earthenware (represented in close-up photo). The "Sale of Uncle Tom" plate has three such imperfections on its back side along with a tiny area of bleeding of transfer color under the glaze (see close-up photo). The "Death of Eva" plate displays more evident crazing on the back as compared to the "Sale of Tom" plate along with three factory-flaw imperfections, as described above. The "Eva" plate also appears to have three, extremely fine, light, scratch lines running across the front of the plate that are most readily noticeable only in close-up photos; when one runs a finger along the lines, the imperfections are so fine that they cannot be felt and certainly represent no threat to structural integrity.
The plates were produced by the Schramberg Pottery of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, founded in 1820 by stoneware expert, Isidor Faist. The plate featuring the sale of Uncle Tom is impressed "Schramberg" while the other plate has no marking. It is evident, however, that both plates were manufactured by the Schramberg factory.
$65.00
Evidence of hand-craftmanship are scribe marks that extend beyond their desired point. The metal working skate is crudely riveted to the wood. Various early forged screws and nuts secure the sliding arms. To add to the charm of this early tool are two animal horn repairs to the fence, one of which is quite small and difficult to photograph.
The condition is commensurate with the honorable wear one would expect of an antique, utilitarian woodworking tool. The patina is wonderful with a smooth brownish finish, various scratches and dings, and mild wear. The blade and wedge do not exist.
$175.00
This puzzle features a rendition of Little Black Sambo depicting Sambo trying on his new red jacket---one presumably crafted by his Mama given the sewing pins she clutches between her lips. His Pappy is at the threshold holding in hands, a new blue umbrella as well as new purple slippers to complete Sambo's new outfit! A joyous moment before Sambo then ventures into the jungle dressed in his newly acquired ensemble-- soon to attract the attention of those nasty tigers!
The puzzle is in very fine condition, clearly having seen little play from children. A previous owner chose to enclose it in a frame that complements the teal border of the puzzle which is labeled at the base: "little Black Sambo". Coloring is true and quite lovely.
A note to collectors: vintage Black Memorabilia puzzles from the pre-WWII era are a VERY rare find. Many were given out as "premiums" for utilizing a given product, and did not stand the test of time. Happy collecting!
To see all of the Little Black Sambo items currently available for sale, simply type “Sambo” into the search box on our website homepage.
$95.00
This smooth face club is stamped on the back "WILLIE DUNN - NEW YORK". The original appearing leather grip is in fair condition with some loss, and the hickory shaft sports a nice aged patina.
Measures 37 inches from heel to top of shaft and is probably a MASHIE NIBLICK although it is not marked as such. There are various small leading edge dings, minimal pitting to the metal surface and examples of wear commensurate with this club's 110+ years of age and use.
Of English origin, Willie Dunn settled with his wife and son in New York. His first professional position was at the Ardsley Country Club, Ardsley, New York, where he designed the course and established a club-making business in 1896. Not only was he a very talented golf club maker, he was also an accomplished professional golfer finishing 2nd in the inaugural US OPEN. He also gained a fine reputation as an outstanding golf course designer. Please refer to some wonderful history on his life on WIKIMEDIA.
INTERESTING INFO
In an interview Willie Dunn remembered he was the first to play with the rubber-cored ball which had just been invented. Dunn was on a train traveling from Chicago to New York when he received a telegram asking him to stop over in Cincinnatl, where he found a man named Haskell waiting for him. The gentleman told Willie Dunn he had invented a new golf ball and he told Dunn that he would give him $500 If he would try it and pass favourably upon it. Dunn stopped off and tried the ball, he just teed up the rubber core and was charmed by the sweet way it left the club. He just signed the recommendation and was the first pro to play the Haskell ball.
$75.00
The instrument is made of what appears to be aluminum or stainless steel and is in in excellent condition. The syringe measures about 14 inches long x 3.5 inches wide. The box is complete and a bit tattered, primarily at the seams. It sports 2 detailed labels as pictured. An unusual and rarely found dental tool-of-the-trade!
$395.00
This unique, Japanese made, 6" tall Black Sailor or Pirate ceramic nodder by UCAGCO is in mint condition--no cracks, chips, paint wear or repaint!!! Any white spots, etc in photos are purely the function of poor photography!
This interesting fellow wears blue and white striped pants, yellow and green shirt, and yellow jacket. His head nods "yes" and his flowered-painted fan can be made to wave in any direction.
Both head & fan have "Pat T.T." impressed on the weighted stem.
Truly a quite rarely-found piece of Black Americana with a book value exceeding $450.00.
Please see the two additional Black Memorabilia nodders also available by Ardalt Co., Japan - the darling Black Girl Child Nodder and her companion piece, the adorable Black Boy Child Clown Nodder.
$85.00
The two larger brushes have natural bristles, while the small red Mammy has solid red "plastic" brushes. They range in height from the Mammy at 6.5 inches and the Railroad Porter at 8 inches tall, to the smaller Mammy at 4.5 inches tall.
The two larger brushes are priced at $85 each. The small red 4.5" Mammy, is priced at $60.
All three brushes are in very good condition with evidence of having been very lightly used as described below:
Red Railroad Porter(A): small, superficial "dings" to paint here and there, with three teeny specks between the eyes. The majority of paint wear is seen around the bottom of the pedestal that the porter is standing on. The brush bristles are a mix of faint red and natural coloring.
Small Red Mammy(C): paint in excellent condition with only one superficial ding to the paint on her left side. An unusual feature: the black bow painted atop her hat!
Large Green Mammy(B): --paint in very good condition with tiny dings here and there and subtle paint wear to her hat on the right side. Slight bend to bristles, likely due to storage conditions at some point in time. Has a bit of faded green string around her neck which once may have been tied into a bow.
Please note that many of the white spots seen in the photos are light reflections and are NOT areas of missing paint. If one looks closely, the teeny areas of missing paint can be distinguished from the light reflections.
Enter "BRUSH" into the SEARCH BOX to find other Black Americana brushes for sale.
$75.00
Smooth face golf clubs fell out of fashion, and perhaps function, by the very early 1900s, yet they were still offered in catalogues for a number of years beyond this date.
The grip is missing except for the listing which is in good condition, and the almost-straight hickory shaft sports a nice aged patina. There is a stamp near the base of the grip noting the following: ???? A.& C.P. CO. Mfgr - Westboro, Mass. It measures 37 inches from heel to top of shaft and is likely a MASHIE NIBLICK although it is not marked as such. There are various minor dings to the metal surface and examples of wear commensurate with this club's use and 110+ years of age.
Interesting notes: This club was most likely imported from Scotland and sold by the English brothers Gilbert and Bernard Nicholls who emigrated to the US in the early 1900s. Both brothers (who were not clubmakers) had excellent professional golfing careers. Interestingly, Scotland imported thousands of wooden shafts from the US during the hickory golf club era as evidenced by the Westboro, Mass stamp on shaft.
$85.00
This type of display would have been placed on the counter next to the checkout register with the gum and candy to entice little girls and boys to purchase a whistle!
The display box cover features a city policeman demonstrating the authentic and powerful amplitude of the whistles. The cover has a perforated seam that was unfastened when the box was displayed open so that the policeman and city skyline stood tall above the whistles.
Condition: Whistles are all original and complete, in excellent, mint condition. Display box is in near-mint condition; subtle edge wear as seen in photos, one small, partial seam separation at the base of the box cover, where the tab tucks into the box base for closure (see last photo).
Marked ALL AMERICAN PLASTIC WHISTLES with no other maker’s mark evident. A 70+ year old, very cool and colorful, stand-out, Baby Boomer Collectible!
$95.00
This smooth face club is stamped on the back "WILLIE DUNN - NEW YORK". The leather grip is in good condition, and the slightly bent hickory shaft sports a nice aged patina.
Measures 39 inches from heel to top of shaft and is probably a MASHIE although it is not marked as such. There are various small dings, mild pitting to the metal surface and examples of wear commensurate with this club's 110+ years of age and use.
Offered is this very scarce, circa 1900, Willie Dunn, Smooth Face Hickory Shaft Golf Club. Although smooth face golf clubs fell out of fashion by the very early 1900s, they were still offered in catalogues for a number of years beyond this date. This smooth face club is stamped on the back "WILLIE DUNN - NEW YORK". The original appearing leather grip is in fair condition with some loss, and the hickory shaft sports a nice aged patina. Measures 37 inches from heel to top of shaft and is probably a MASHIE NIBLICK although it is not marked as such. There are various small leading edge dings, minimal pitting to the metal surface and examples of wear commensurate with this club's 110+ years of age and use. Of English origin, Willie Dunn settled with his wife and son in New York. His first professional position was at the Ardsley Country Club, Ardsley, New York, where he designed the course and established a club-making business in 1896. Not only was he a very talented golf club maker, he was also an accomplished professional golfer, finishing 2nd in the inaugural US OPEN. He also had gained a fine reputation as an outstanding golf course designer. Please refer to some wonderful history on his life on WIKIMEDIA. INTERESTING INFO In an interview Willie Dunn remembered he was the first to play with the rubber-cored ball which had just been invented. Dunn was on a train traveling from Chicago to New York when he received a telegram asking him to stop over in Cincinnatl, where he found a man named Haskell waiting for him. The gentleman told Willie Dunn he had invented a new golf ball and he told Dunn that he would give him $500 If he would try it and pass favourably upon it. Dunn stopped off and tried the ball, he just teed up the rubber core and was charmed by the sweet way it left the club. He just signed the recommendation and was the first pro to play the Haskell ball.
$75.00
The weights are housed in a fitted, hard wood case that appears to be maple, and it includes a brass tweezers for securing the six individual milligram weights. Also included are eight of the nine brass matching weights, with only the 1mg weight missing.
The wooden case measures 6 inches long x 2.5 inches wide x 1.5 inches high and sports a metal label on top. Condition is very good with the finish and wear commensurate of a used antique collectible.
$75.00
Mr. Layton was a skilled pitcher with a strong bat who had a four-year career in the Negro Leagues, playing for the Indianapolis Clowns, the New York Black Yankees and the Raleigh Tigers. One of his teammates was a promising infielder by the name of Hank Aaron, who signed with the Boston Braves in 1952, and eventually became a Hall of Famer. Layton received an invitation in 1951 to try out for the Brooklyn Dodgers, but by then his shoulder was troubling him so he declined, hoping it would heal and another opportunity would present, which unfortunately never came. As of 2016, Mr. Layton, at the age of 87, was enjoying retirement as an associate pastor in a North Carolina ministry.
A brief history of the Negro League:
African-Americans first began to play baseball in the late 1800s on military teams, college teams, and company teams, eventually finding their way to the established professional baseball teams of white players. However, racism and “Jim Crow” laws would force African-Americans from these teams by 1900, with black players left to form their own teams.
In 1920, an organized league structure was formed under the guidance of Andrew “Rube” Foster, a former player, manager, and owner for the Chicago American Giants. In a meeting held at the Paseo YMCA in Kansas City, Mo., Foster and several other Midwestern team owners joined to form the Negro National League. Soon, rival leagues formed in Eastern and Southern states, which brought black baseball to major urban centers and to rural countrysides in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. The Leagues maintained a high level of professional skill and inspired economic development in many black communities.
In 1945, when Major League Baseball’s Brooklyn Dodgers recruited Jackie Robinson from the Kansas City Monarchs, Robinson became the first African-American in the modern era to play on a Major League roster. While this historic event was a key moment in baseball and civil rights history, it marked the decline of the Negro Leagues. The best black players began to be recruited for the Major Leagues with their black fans following them, and the last Negro Leagues teams folded in the early 1960s.
$795.00
GOLD DUST Trolley Signs are a very rare find in today’s market as they were made of cardboard, a material much less likely to withstand the test of time as opposed to tin advertising signs which were much sturdier!
This Gold Dust trolley sign features the Gold Dust Twins dressed in ruffled, red skirts emblazoned with the words “GOLD DUST”, busily scrubbing the front porch and the kitchen in a vigorous attempt at “Spring Cleaning”. The colors featured in this trolley sign are just stunning—greens, pale peachy-colored orange, pale blue, and yellows with white apple blossoms and red tulips flowering in profusion!! To the left of the Gold Dust Twin scrubbing the front porch, sits a large box of Gold Dust Washing Powder. The advertisement proclaims in black-outlined, peachy-orange lettering: “For Spring House Cleaning”.
The condition of this trolley sign is truly quite fine. Colors are very strong and consistent throughout; please ignore the various glass reflections seen in some of the photos- they were unavoidable and do appear to make the colors appear a bit faded—which is inaccurate! The sign is free of rips or tears although it does have two, early, fold-creases – one running from top to bottom of the sign along the left side of the pail and between the “O” and “L” in “GOLD” and the other vertical crease on the very right edge of the sign, running through the stove in the kitchen to the “T” in “DUST”. The creases are very unobtrusive and do not detract from the wonderful, colorful imagery this sign conveys.
An unusual opportunity to acquire a very RARE piece of Black Americana!!
$95.00
Measuring about 7" x 4", this "Rolex" brand-labeled device and its three attachments are in very nice condition. The booklet has a copyright date of 1934 and is packed with photos and suggested uses for the massager including treatment of headaches and renewing vigor!
The case measures about 8" x 10" and sports a fabulous interior label. The cord is a bit dry so I opted to not plug it in. (I would expect that this device is functional as all the other electric medical devices from this collection were in working condition. Without plugging it in, I cannot guarantee if it works, so please purchase with this in mind.)
Working or not, this interesting, Quack Medical device is a unique "find" and is ready for your collection.
$195.00
Cardboard candy boxes with African-American themes remain EXTREMELY RARE finds in today's market due to their inherent fragile nature!!!
This wonderful piece is in very good condition with the expected aging, and edge and corner wear given its 100+ years of age.
The top left seam of the cover has the most edge wear of all areas of the box, and the bottom right seam of the cover has split (see photos for each), but otherwise, the box remains intact with no missing pieces! A very subtle crease runs along the top of the box cover above the word "CLARK", but it is indeed very obscure and difficult to photograph. Please note that the corner edge taping to all four corners of the box base is original manufacture meant to provide extra stability to that section of the box that held the weight of the candy. The box base is in near-perfect condition!
D. L. Clark Company History:
David L. Clark (1864-1939) was born in Ireland and came to America when he was eight years old. He entered the candy business working for a small manufacturer in New York. After three years as a salesman, he bought a wagon, horses and merchandise, and went into business for himself.
The D. L. Clark Company was founded in 1886 when Clark started manufacturing candy in two back rooms of a small house in Pittsburgh's North Side. He began selling his candy in the streets of Pittsburgh. During his lifetime, his company became a leading candy manufacturer.
By 1920, the D. L. Clark Company was making about 150 different types of candy, including several five-cent bars, specialty items and bulk candy. Clark was also manufacturing chewing gum in a building across the street from his candy factory. In 1921, they incorporated Clark Brothers Chewing Gum Company as a separate business.
By 1931, the candy bar business was so expansive that Clark decided to sell the gum company, and it was renamed the Clark Gum Company.
The D. L. Clark Company remained in the hands of the Clark family until it was sold in 1955 to the Beatrice Food Company who operated the company until 1983 when in turn, it was sold to the Pittsburgh Food and Beverage Company. In 1995, the Pittsburgh Food and Beverage was thrown into bankruptcy. The company was shut down for several months and its assets divested. Restructured as Clark Bar America, the company operated until May of 1999, when it was purchased by New England Confectionery Company (NECCO), the oldest candy manufacturer in the United States.
$165.00
George Thompson’s missionary service to Africa occurs approximately 7 years after the MENDI natives of the AMISTAD were accompanied by missionaries on their return to Africa. He serves this very same mission, now in the of colony Sierra Leone, a colony which was established to serve as refuge for the liberated Africans taken from slave ships.
356 pages long, this journal provides a fascinating account of all aspects of the Mendi culture seen through the eyes, however biased in his mission to convert the Africans to Christianity, of a genuinely well-meaning gentleman of his time. Condition: complete, tight binding, foxing throughout, spine wear as shown in picture.
Thompson states, “It is hoped that the following narrative may, in the hands of GOD, awaken a desire in many hearts to go to Africa, for the purposes of preaching, teaching, farming, building houses, mills, manufactories, etc., and thus assist in making long despised and neglected AFRICA, what it is capable of becoming, THE GARDEN OF THE WORLD.”