Catalog: Archives (250)

Measuring 5.25 inches high x 6.50 inches wide, this near mint, three piece, Black Mammy and Chef Oil and Vinegar Cruet was produced in 1940s Japan.

The bodies are one single piece with one hand each on Mammy and the Chef that serve as stoppers for the two pouring spouts. The piece is marked with a "V" for Vinegar and an "O" for Oil on each arm. Very sweet faces!

All original with no breaks, cracks, repaint or repairs, the cruet retains the original corks as well! In truly lovely condition with just one scrape to the red paint under the chef's left arm and some missing paint spots on his right arm. (see photos) Otherwise quite perfect, and displaying very, very well!!! An eye-catching piece!!!

Measuring 7 3/4 inches long, this VERY RARE, 1930’s VINTAGE, Cast Iron, Mammy spoon rest retains most of its original gold paint suggesting that it saw minimal actual use! The well-dressed Mammy sports a wide grin and holds an iron in her right hand and other household implements in the left.

She is in very fine condition with a smattering of teeny superficial dings to the front side paint surface as well as some very superficial rusting here and there. The back side of the spoon rest is perfect and looks as though it came right out of the factory just yesterday!

The following is imprinted on the backside: “Compliments The Toledo Stove And Range Co”, documenting the spoon rest’s original function- continuous promotional advertising presented as a free giveaway to buyers purchasing the company’s products!

Offered separately is the equally rare companion piece- The Black Chef Spoon Rest from Toledo Stove and Range! A fortuitous opportunity to acquire a very rare Black Memorabilia pair!

This extraordinarily difficult to find pharmacy “IDEAL CAPSULE FILLER” was used by early 20th century druggists in the Pierce Pharmacy, Hartford, Connecticut.

The machine was successfully developed to increase a pharmacist's capsule production. The patent date is stamped Oct. 31, 1905, and the direction guide is marked "Baltimore Capsule Co." The capsule filler has a filling plate with 4 parallel rows of 24 holes and each row was made for 2 different size capsules.

The condition of this wonderful apothecary tool of the trade is very good, complete with the warm, rich patina one would expect of an antique of this age including the usual scratches, marks and unobtrusive dings and tarnish. The metal parts appear to be nickel plated, and the wood base looks like walnut. The filler measures approximately 13”L x 4.5”W x 4.5” H.

The accessories appear to be complete when compared to the images seen in the guide that is included.

The interior has traces of residue from the sand that was used to stabilize the box when in use.

A must addition for any pharmacy/apothecary collection.

Please check my website often as this and many other vintage pharmacy items from the Pierce Pharmacy will be posted in the coming weeks. (Circa 1960 PHOTOS of the Pierce Pharmacy are NOT INCLUDED in the sale.)

This sweet, 1930's, wooden pull toy made by the Hustler Toy Corporation of Sterling, Illinois, features a darling little black character pulling the reins of his white mustang horse! The toy measures 12 inches long x 5.5 inches high.

When the toy is pulled, the wheels rotate and the horse's head bobs up and down! Just adorable!

This 75 year old toy is in very good condition with very minimal and expected, normal wear from light playing to appropriate areas (see photos).

All original including very aged (!)string, with no breaks and no repairs or replacements to either wooden or metal parts. There is evidence of repaint to the green platform and the red wheels only; however this was done a very, very long time ago as the repainted areas show old wear! The horse's black cloth ears are worn-looking but still intact!

A very charming old toy with fabulous, visual "shelf appeal"! Perfect for either the Early Toy or Black Memorabilia collection!

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!

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.

Measuring 4 inches high, this very visually appealing, VINTAGE, solid brass Grinning Black Man with Bowtie Bottle Opener is in near excellent condition with very minimal wear! Scarcely used, he still retains 90% of his original black and gold paint! Designed to be mounted to the wall via three screws, it is quite likely this bottle opener saw little use given its excellent condition! A fabulous find!

Offered is a complete Civil War Era traveling Doctor Medicine Case recently acquired from an estate in New Hampshire. The supple leather case houses 20 corked vials sporting vintage paper labels including some with partial contents. The condition is very good considering the age. There are minor areas where a mouse nibbled on an edge and some unobtrusive areas of loss due to ancient tiny insects nibbling on the strap.

The leather case measures 6"L x 4"W x 1.5"H and the corked bottles are just about 3" without cork. No damage to the glass.

Measuring 5.75 inches in length, this circa 1920s French clay pipe features an exquisite rendering of a Black Man's head. Details are quite finely executed making this a wonderful display piece!

The pipe remains in wonderful condition. It appears to have had some very limited use based upon the slightly darkened condition of the interior bowl.

The pipe is French made and bears the following on either side of the pipe stem, "Bon Fumeur" (Good Smoking) and "Tabaco" (Tobacco). The pipe stem also retains an orange colored, Dutch paper label which reads, "Holland Goedewaagen's" advertising that this pipe was exported for sale in The Netherlands.

This exceptional, one-of-a-kind, circa 1900, cloth doll was made and designed by Ruie Ann Park, a Van Buren, Arkansas, Civil War History author who wrote “Civil War Letters of the Shibley Brothers, Van Buren, Arkansas”.

This extremely rare SAMPLE doll was, at one time, exhibited by Mrs. Park at a Van Buren drug store for marketing purposes--orders would be taken at the drug store based upon her sample doll or dolls that were displayed.

This richly detailed, finely executed doll wears 2 authenticating cloth tags (see photos) that attest to this doll’s provenance; one tag is a hand-inked-in-script tag sewn to the base of the doll’s apron that reads “Sample”, and the other is a machine-printed tag that is stitched to the waist band of the apron and reads, “Designed by Ruie Ann Park, Van Buren, Ark., All Rights Reserved”.

This lovely, 13 ½ inch long, old black Granny doll has a delicately designed, serious looking face that has been carefully hand-etched in ink. Her curly gray hair pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck is crafted from yarn, and she wears a small, proper brown cloth hat with pink banding. Her body is quite firmly stuffed with cotton, her hands are stitched to delineate her fingers and (separated) thumbs, and her outfit is machine-stitched and completely original. She wears unbleached, ruffle-edged, muslin pantaloons and underskirt. Her dress is cream colored cotton calico printed with black and pink flowers, and further accented with the most delicate, pink-trimmed, pink polka-dotted, lace cuffs and collar. Her unbleached muslin apron is trimmed with light pink ric-a-rac along its hem and single pocket. Her outfit is completed with black cotton stockings and authentically detailed black, lace-up leather boots.

This extraordinarily rare doll with her very unusual, documented provenance is in very, very fine condition! A truly superb Black doll beckoning to the most sophisticated of doll collectors! Also offered from the same wonderful doll collection is a circa 1920 black cloth doll named "Sallie"- another must-have!

Offered is an interesting antique hearing device from the late 1800s called a CONVERSATION TUBE.

According to Elisabeth Bennion, author of “Antique Hearing Devices” page 31, “The great advantage of the conversation tube as a type of hearing aid was that it obtained greater enhancement of sound by placing the bell close to the mouth of the speaker, thereby allowing for a normal conversational tone;.......It proved very effective as the sound, having been collected at source before being conducted to the ear, the speech sound level could therefore be increased considerably without danger of background noise.”

The ear trumpet conversation tube measures approximately 39.5 inches. The metal bell and gutta percha ear piece are in very nice condition. The spiral conical long aluminum tube is encased in silk or plaited wool that is intact though worn and still appealing . A great “conversation” piece!

Measuring just 3 6/8 inches long x 2 ¾ inches wide x 2 inches high, this sweet little 1930’s Germany tin at one tin held coffee!

In very fine condition with the expected superficial scratches and rubs to the litho and some light rust spots on the inside bottom of the tin, the tin’s most endearing feature is the image of 3 adorable black children holding the brand name sign: MACHWITZ KAFFEE.

Brightly colored in orange, gold, black and cream, this darling tin is visually striking and displays very well!

Offered is an absolutely wonderful, giant-sized, 1960's, dental toothbrush which once served as an advertising display piece for "DR. WEST'S MIRACLE TUFT" toothbrushes!!

It measures a mammoth 18 inches long and is perfect for display in any dental collection, including in the dentist's office!

The condition is very good with some scratches and unobtrusive bent bristles (perhaps it was slightly used by the Jolly Green Giant??).

A truly unique and quite amusing dental display piece!!! A terrific conversation starter or fun teaching tool!!!

An absolutely RARE piece that crosses over many areas of collecting- Black Americana, Ye Old Country Shoppe, or Chocolate!!

"Twin Babies - The Best Choice Providing Quality Chocolate Since 1908!"

Measuring 7 inches in diameter x 7 inches high, this round, 2-piece-mold, clear glass, candy jar has a flattened base to allow the jar to sit on a shelf at angle that facilitates viewing of the both the chocolate advertising and the delightful, smiling Black Twins Chocolate logo graphic! The chocolate jar is in wonderful condition, free of chips or scratches.

The jar graphic and text are both done in black and remain in superb condition- as crisp and clear as the day the piece was first manufactured!

The jar has a 5 inch diameter opening with decorative edging that allows the chocolate jar to be easily filled and better yet, emptied!!

The jar also retains its original metal cover whose bright green painted surface is generally free of wear. The cover is completed by a black wooden knob. The underside of the cover has some very superficial rust staining that has not impacted the integrity of the lid.

A very, very RARE piece of Black Memorabilia that is both visually pleasing and continues to remain quite functional!

Those who are ardent collectors of the famed Florence Upton creation - the Golliwogg - recognize this 19th century, first edition, children's book as an extraordinarily RARE find indeed, very seldom available for purchase in today's market!

"The Golliwogg's Bicycle Club", published in 1896 by Longmans, Green & Co, London & New York, was illustrated by Florence K. Upton, with story written by her mother, Bertha. This book was the 2nd Golliwogg adventure in a series of thirteen Golliwogg adventures by Upton, with the last published in 1909-- all of which are incredibly difficult to find today.

This hard cover book, measuring 8.75 inches high x 11.5 inches long, is a total of 63 pages in length. The book is lavishly illustrated with 30 full-color illustrations and tells the story of Golly's world travels. Golly and his friends, suffering from boredom, create their very own bicycles out of tree-wood and then partake of marvelous adventures in Paris, Japan, Turkey and Africa!

The Golliwog, itself, was based on a Black minstrel doll that Florence Kate Upton, born in 1873 of English parents, had played with as a small child in New York. Upton's Golliwog character was first introduced to the world in her 1895 book entitled The Adventures of Two Dutch Dolls. Like the rag doll that inspired it, the Golliwog in her book was a less-than-handsome creature with very dark, jet black skin, large white-rimmed eyes, red clown lips, and wild, frizzy hair. Golliwogs are typically male and are generally dressed in a jacket, trousers, bow tie, and stand-up collar in a combination of red, white, blue, black, and occasionally yellow colors.

The book is in very fine but not perfect condition-- not surprising given the book's 114 years of age! Wear to hard-board-cover edges. Binding remains strong, but thread stitching securing pages to binding has weakened with the two, center-most pages separated from the others. Evidence of tape repair on these loosened pages present. Book is complete, with no missing pages.

Truly a fabulous find! The first time I have EVER had the pleasure of offering this wonderfully-rare children's book in my 26 years of dealing in Black Memorabilia!!

Measuring 6 inches high, this highly sought after Black 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 Ole Charley who, severely bent over with age, was once a well known figure in the Vieux Carre.

Vargas wax figures are distinctly characterized by their interesting but highly exaggerated facial features. Ole Charley wears a yellow hat with blue band, a red patterned neck scarf, a yellow flowered shirt and blue jeans- all constructed of actual cloth fabric that was coated with a fine layer of clear wax to stiffen them. He supports all of his weight with an actual stick cane! His wax body is internally supported by a wire frame through which the figure is securely attached to the wooden base.

This wonderful figure is in very fine condition for his 75+ years of age with the following imperfections: missing left-hand fingers with present left thumb (an unfortunate, but extremely common consequence of time), a chip out of his yellow hat (which actually looks appropriate to the character!!) and a re-molded right hand- a repair made long ago. There is a spot of old glue on the base which suggests that something might be missing- a small stool perhaps? Regardless of his imperfections, his brilliantly executed face and his incredibly realistic pose is most delightful- a snapshot of New Orleans history!

Please see the other two Vargas figures that are currently available. One is depicted in the group photo and all are priced separately. Please note that the Vegetable Seller (with basket) has been sold.

Please note- photos were taken outside in natural sunlight. Any white or light spots on the figure are a result of sun glare and are not reflective or discoloration or fading.

Offered is a seldom found, 19th century, drug store "tool of the trade" known as a tablet sorter. Made of wood, this pharmacist or druggist implement shows appropriate wear and patina commensurate with its age and use.

Diminutively sized, this tablet sorter is easily placed anywhere for display, measuring just 6" L x 6" W x 1.5" H.

A rare piece and a must-have for the advanced collector of early drugstore or apothecary items!

Measuring 8.25 inches long, this vintage, Black Chef Spoon rest was made in JAPAN in the 1950's. Along with its jolly, wide-eyed caricature, the spoon rest features a rose-colored tulip painted on both sides and reads “SPOON- REST” in partially worn, brown lettering at the top of the chef’s hat. Note small "hanging hole" in back for display on the kitchen wall!

Very few of these pieces survive due to the high level of use they encountered. This piece has obviously not seen any use at all as the paint remains absolutely perfect! No chips, cracks, breaks or repairs with very minor crazing and some very, very light beige discoloration at the outer edge of the handle bottom, this fine and very hard-to-find piece of Black Americana is an essential addition for the serious collector! Fabulous detailing!!

Please see the last photo for a companion piece-- an 6 inch Black MAMMY Spoon Rest, 1950's Japan-- also available for purchase and priced separately at $155.00.

In the mid-1800's, an unknown artist painted the face of a young Black boy in warm, soft colors, and unbeknown to the artist, forever immortalized the young boy's image! Since that time a variety of items were been produced in the image of the "Young Black boy with the Torn Hat" or "Johnny Griffin".

This circa 1920-30's Johnny Griffin item is constructed in solid brass and was designed for use as a pipe rack although it could hold spoons or even neckties.

It is in all original condition with delightful patina- not a reproduction- no replaced parts- and measures 13 inches long x 6 1/2 inches high and 1 1/2 inches deep. It does not retain any marking other than a mold number 1592.

Johnny Griffin Black Americana collectibles should form the cornerstone of any serious Black Memorabilia collection!

To see all of the Johnny Griffin items currently available for sale, simply type “Johnny Griffin” into the search box on our web home page.

Once part of the Middle Passage Museum inventory, these authentic and extraordinarily RARE child’s slave shackles have been de-accessioned. These plantation-made, iron, 19th century shackles were once used on a Georgia plantation. They remain all-original and untouched with sixteen small chain links. These RARE shackles measure a total of 20 inches in length and retain their original iron key, a find that is virtually un-heard of! A horrible, tangible testament to the malevolence of slavery.

Also currently offered for sale and priced separately are a second set of rarely found, Georgia, child's, slave shackles (no key with this set) that is featured in the last photo. An additional set of ADULT shackles is also available. Please type the word "shackles" in the search box on our home page to find all 3 sets of shackles currently offered for sale.

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."

A delightful and visually appealing Black Memorabilia kitchen item!

This circa 1940's Mammy and Uncle Mose ceramic Vinegar and Oil Set is marked "JAPAN" on each figure's base.

The pair measures approximately 5.25 inches tall and is in wonderful, all original condition! No chips, cracks or repairs. Mild surface crazing present as is appropriate to the age. Uncle Mose is missing a portion of his original cork neck stopper - a very minor inconvenience!

A less seldom seen pair!

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!

This vintage dosage spoon measures approx. 4 3/4" long dates to the 1930-1940 era. On one end of the spoon there is a clock face with a rotating dial indicating the next time to take your medicine.

The handle of the spoon is engraved "D & G DRUG STORE" and in the bowl of the spoon are the graduation marks for 1 and 1/2 teaspoons.

Very nice advertising / drug store collectible.

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!

This is an outstanding example of an apothecary counter urn dating back to the late 1800s. Appears to be hand blown with rippling marks in the glass. The bowl is molded to the pedestal base and the cover sports a decorative knob.

Measuring 13"H x 6"W this lovely urn in in very nice condition. The cover has a few unobtrusive edge chips. The urn portion has the expected wear of faint interior scratching which is expected in antique glass. A wonderful find indeed that has fabulous visual appeal!

In absolutely MINT condition, this wonderful, 1950's era, 5 piece, ceramic Spice Set features either a cheerful Black Mammy or Pappy on each jar. The set accommodates the following spices: CINNAMON, NUTMEG, SALT, PEPPER, and ALLSPICE.

Each ceramic jar measures approximately 3.25 inches high, and each is marked "JAPAN" on the bottom. They are of one-piece construction retaining the original corks in their bases. Each jar top features a different color which further adds to decorative appeal! Other than age-related crazing to the glaze, each jar is in perfect condition with no wear to the decorative paint!

The original wooden rack which- retains its original "MADE IN JAPAN" sticker on back- measures 9.50 inches long x 4.25 inches high x 2 inches deep and is in very fine condition. The rack features 2 holes for wall-mounting.

This delightful set has obviously seen little use in its 50+ years and would provide the collector with an interesting, visual kitchen display!

Offered for your enjoyment is an absolutely wonderful, one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted, miniature, folk art dentist office display model from the 1950’s! The display has been artistically crafted and assembled of randomly selected materials and miscellaneous fabrics to create a miniature model of a dentist practicing his craft on a most distraught patient.

This imaginative work of art is best appreciated in person as it was difficult to photograph due to glare from both flash and natural sunlight. All colors are quite rich and not at all faded as they may appear in some photos.

This fabulous vignette captures the apprehension we all may have felt at one time or another as we lay in the dentist chair! The patient’s face and body language tell it all! (Take a look at those nasty teeth! This poor dentist truly has his work cut out for him!)

Quite diminutive, the base measures 6 X 7 inches and the dentist stands just over 7.5 inches high. The condition is very good with crisp painted colors. Please view all photos- the detailing is marvelous! The patient is missing his (R) arm and the dentist had a couple of broken ankles repaired at some point in his career perhaps by a quack orthopedist!! Neither imperfection is readily apparent, as one's eye is drawn to this miniature scene as a whole and the very human message it exudes.

An absolutely wonderful and unique example of folk art ready to display and enjoy in your home or office!

This rarely found, copyright 1921, target, dexterity, game entitled "SAMBO FIVE PINS", was manufactured by Parker Brothers out of Salem, Massachusetts. This game appears to have seen little, or more likely, NO use whatsoever, as the two, original, wooden bowling balls remain sealed in their original packaging.

The game is complete and features five, brightly colored, lithographed-cardboard, standing "Sambo" targets or "pins". The "Sambo pins" are in fine condition with minimal wear to edges and a few wrinkles here and there. One Sambo pin has an obviously creased neck and this is pictured in the last photo. During this time period, game directions were typically printed on the inside of box covers; there is no evidence that this was the case with "Sambo Five Pins". Perhaps the manufacturer felt that the game of bowling was self-explanatory!

Measuring 10 3/4 inches tall x 13 inches wide, the game cover as well as the SAMBO bowling pins display absolutely wonderfully! As evident in the photos, the box cover shows some minimal and expected wear given its 90+ years of age. The box cover has some missing spots of paper, some surface creases and is missing one of its four sides- the box side placed at the bottom of the cover. The box base has minimal edge wear and remains quite sturdy.

A RARELY found, quite visually captivating Black Memorabilia collectible that displays absolutely wonderfully!

Offered for sale is a fabulous, Henry Troemner of Philadelphia, oak and pink marble balance scale from the late 1800s. Balances such as this were known as BOX or COUNTER scales and were used in pharmacies to weigh drugs and other items.

The brass pans and scale are marked “Henry Troemner” Philadelphia. His company began making balances in the USA in 1840, and was singularly, the most successful scale maker of his day.

The scale measures approximately 20 inches long x 9 inches wide and is in excellent condition. The oak wood case is designed in the handsome Eastlake style and retains its original honey colored finish. The pink marble top and brass pans round out a near mint 19th century scale!

Difficult to find in this condition!

Measuring 5 inches tall x 4.5 inches wide, this delightful and quite colorful mechanical bank was manufactured by the Chad Valley Company, England, circa late 1940's.

The Chad Valley Company was the most well-known manufacturer of toys in the United Kingdom during the 20th century, beginning in the 1920s. Metal toys were first produced at their factory in 1945 at the end of World War II, which is likely the time frame for production of this bank.

The bank features a well-dressed, smiling black man attired in a black and white checkered jacket with white shirt and black and green striped tie.

To operate the bank, the gent's tongue pops out to receive a coin. When his tongue pops back into his mouth, a wide, toothy smile is revealed. The tongue apparatus is operated via a lever on the front of the bank that is positioned at the knot of the the tie. The gent's eyes jiggle in a silly matter when his tongue moves in and out.

The bank comes complete with the original key. It is in fine condition with expected, light, superficial rubs and scratches to case paint. The face is in quite wonderful condition as seen in photos.

A delightful collectible which displays absolutely fabulously!

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!!

Measuring 10 1/2 inches high x 6 inches in diameter, this very visually appealing, very difficult to find, bright orange, 4 pound size, VINTAGE “MAMMY’S FAVORITE BRAND COFFEE” TIN is in near-excellent condition!

Some superficial scratches and rubs to the lithograph most notably on the back side of the tin above Mammy’s head. Structural integrity of the tin is quite sound with no holes, piercings, breaks, or dents, and only scarce, superficial rusting to base. See photos. (Please disregard any variation in surface color that may appear in some photos. Color is vivid and uniform throughout. Any color variation seen in photos is due to outdoor lighting conditions and light reflections, and not tin discoloration.)

This wonderful tin dates to the early 1920’s features a vivid graphic of "Mammy Serving Coffee". Processed and packaged by the C. D. Kenny Company of Baltimore, Maryland, this fabulous tin no longer retains its bail handle but does have its original cover!

In just wonderful condition with the front side displaying fabulously, this very difficult to find early coffee pail is an especially lovely and visually appealing piece of vintage Black Americana advertising!!!

Offered is an extraordinarily RARE, pre-Civil War, Negro slave document from Decatur County, Georgia, dated May 1837.

This document is an exceptionally rare piece of historical ephemera in that it is the actual, formal and legal lawsuit filed by slave owner, Esther Miller, along with 25 other named male citizens of Decatur County, Georgia, against one Cader Powell for the "offense of beating, whipping, and assaulting a slave without sufficient provocation."

The document goes on to state that Cader Powell assaulted "a certain male slave named Issac (property of Esther Miller) with sticks, fists, cow pokins, and other dangerous weapons and then did unlawfully whip beat him, so that the healthy body of service of said slave was greatly injured without sufficient provocation being first given by said slave to the great annoyance of the said Esther Miller, the lawful owner of said slave..."

While one would like to think that this formal lawsuit was filed as a result of the tremendous outrage against humanity felt by the 26 parties bringing the suit, one has to consider that this lawsuit was more likely filed due to financial considerations--that the cruelly assaulted slave, Issac's, monetary value as owned, usable property was greatly diminished as a result of his beating. It is quite reasonable to infer that the slave, Isaac, suffered permanent physical injury as a result of his beating and that his monetary worth was thus, permanently devalued.

Regardless of the motivation behind the filing of the lawsuit, to find such extant documentation describing the conditions of southern slavery as well as the objection of slave-owners to the cruel and inhumane treatment of a slave is rare indeed.

The document remains in excellent, all-original condition. It measures 7.75 inches wide x 9.75 inches long.

Measuring 13 inches long x 6 inches wide, this untouched, all-original, double-sided heavy metal 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 was once bolted onto 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 on both sides as follows: the back of the sign is painted with white lettering on a black background and reads, "THIS PART OF THE CAR FOR COLORED RACE". The front of the sign is painted with black lettering on a white background and reads, "THIS PART OF THE CAR FOR WHITE PEOPLE".

The sign is in all-original condition and has some paint loss and superficial rust as noted in photos that does not impact the integrity of the sign and is appropriate to the age and purpose of the piece. Wear to the "white side" of the sign has resulted in the removal of portions of the words "THIS PART".

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 5 inches tall, this EXTREMELY RARE, "Little Black Girl" Thermometer was made in 1955, by Multi-Products Corporation, Chicago, as the companion piece to the earlier released Black Boy Thermometer, "Diaper Dan".

Only 500 of these "Little Girl" thermometers WERE EVER MADE as opposed to the 15,000 Diaper Dan thermometers that can still be readily found in today's collector's market.

Made of pressed fiberwood, she is in MINT condition, retaining her original paper-backed glass thermometer that continues to be quite functional.

This sweet-faced, "Little Girl" Thermometer is rarely seen in the antiques market and is a MUST-HAVE for the serious Black Memorabilia collector!

This wonderful pharmacy prescription scale dating to the early 1900s is in very nice condition! The scale box is finely constructed of oak and the balance beam scale comes with 5 small brass weights. The weighing mechanism works like new, in fact, there is not much wear apparent indicating minimal use and loving care over the years.

The oak case measures 11.75"L x 5.5"W and has a rich warm patina with very minor staining to the top. Displays wonderfully!

This fabulous later 19th century/early 20th century, wool, needlepoint sampler measures 19" wide by 17" long and contains many truly fascinating images that add to the mystery of the sampler’s origin: an American flag and a Royal crown, a Canadian maple leaf, numerous varieties of lovely flowers, two black children on a see-saw, a black girl with her hands on her hips, a center hall style colonial era home, a woman carrying a bag with her hand extended out to a little dog, "Jumbo" the elephant from the circus; a yellow Labrador Retriever, several cats, a rooster, horse, and winged bug, a doe and stag, a bird on a branch, 2 little children -- a girl and boy -- with their backs to us, the initial “S” repeated twice, what appears to be a Celtic design, and a cross with wreath.

One cannot help but wonder whether or not this sampler was completed by black female who was illustrating her life history which included involvement in the UNDERGROUND RAILROAD! The references to BOTH Canada (the maple leaf and the crown) and the US (the American Flag) along with the black images are rather curious, making this a very plausible theory! The sampler certainly depicts happy images of life within an affluent (Irish?) household. Hmmm…could this well-executed sampler have possibly been completed by an ex-slave?????

This magnificent sampler is in very good condition for its 100+ years of age. There is some running of the red wool yarns, most probably the result of a previous owner’s attempt to clean the piece. This likely can be removed professionally, although I do not feel it is a significant detraction and question the necessity of attempting to do so. The edges are a bit frayed, but there are no dirt stains, holes, tears, or repairs, and except for isolated areas, the needlepoint stitching remains in wonderful condition!

This colorful and mysterious sampler would be a thought-provoking addition to one’s Black Americana collection!

Offered for sale is a lovely apothecary show globe that was originally offered to druggists in the 1960s – 1970s by Parke-Davis pharmacy salesmen. This 19.5 inch beauty sports a deep red decorated globe set upon a gold and black pedestal. The globe sports advertising on two sides of the base and the “Rx” on the globe.

The condition of the globe is very good with no damage to the plastic. There are some tiny white paint flecks to one side of the base otherwise the globe displays beautifully! Embossed “PRESCRIPTIONS” and “PARKE – DAVIS PHARMACEUTICALS” on the base.

A striking vintage advertising show globe ready for your collection.

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.

If found in mint condition, this incredibly rare game, THE PICCANINNY BOWLING GAME, copyright 1928 and designed by the Spear's Game Company, Germany, retails at $525!

This particular specimen, unfortunately, was not stored with care, and it suffered exposure to dampness at some time during its 85 years. It is, thus, being offered at significant discount.

Measuring 10 3/4 inches tall x 7 1/4 inches wide, the game retains its cover with three of four sides present, the directions card, ALL FIVE original wooden throwing balls, and the game target board which features the five "piccaninnies".

The box bottom is missing as is some of the purple paper that decorated the sides of the target board and which also once framed the front cover. Remnants of this paper remain on two sides of the box cover.

The target board, despite its exposure to dampness, remains completely intact including the original metal guide pins that are located at the bottom of each piccaninny's open mouth and which would have helped to "guide" the target ball into the piccaninny's mouth during play. The target paper litho is somewhat loosened at the edges here and there, and foxing is present. The cover suffered the most exposure to dampness as is evident from viewing photos. There is foxing and some surface paper loss is evident as seen in photos.

The Spear Game Company designed the game, and it was manufactured in their facility in Bavaria, Germany. (This information was printed along the base of the game cover, although 50% of it is now no longer readable.) The Spear Works of Germany operated prolifically from the 1890s through the 1930's, and during this time period, it was recognized as the most well known, international manufacturer of games and children's activity kits. Publishing rights are noted on the direction page as J. W. Spear + Sons, New York City.

RARELY found!!

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!

Offered for sale is a rare, 19th century, apothecary, pharmacy hanging show globe that is complete with original chains and wall hanging bracket. This hand-blown glass globe sports an interior that is somewhat hazy and could use a slight cleaning.

The 30 inch chains are complete and attach to the fancy collar. All parts are in very good condition and the globe CAN hold water. The decorative Victorian hanger and wall bracket make this handsome globe ready to display in your collection.

Showglobes have a rather interesting history in the early drug store / apothecary shop and can be compared to the "Trade Sign" that was hung on the exterior of a business to advertise a product or service. Although there has been much debate over time as to their actual purpose, it has been long thought that the color of the water was symbolic...for example, red and blue water representing arterial and venous blood. Some historians have suggested that showglobes were used as visual communication tools with red water representing plague or disease present in the community, and green water signaling an "all is well" in the community to travelers wishing to stop overnight. It has also been said that show globes in New England apothecaries would be illuminated at night to warn ships in the harbor of sickness, plague, etc.

Measuring 7 3/4 inches long, this VERY RARE, 1930’s VINTAGE, Cast Iron, Black Man Chef spoon rest retains most of its original gold paint suggesting that it saw minimal actual use! The well-appointed Black Chef sports a very wide grin and holds a bowl of eggs in his right arm and a wooden mixing spoon in his left.

He is in very fine condition with a smattering of teeny superficial dings to the front side paint surface as well as some very superficial rusting here and there. The backside of the spoon rest is perfect and looks as though it came right out of the factory just yesterday!

The following is imprinted on the backside: “Compliments The Toledo Stove And Range Co”, documenting the spoon rest’s original function- continuous promotional advertising presented as a free giveaway to buyers purchasing the company’s products!

Offered separately is the equally rare companion piece- The Black Mammy Spoon Rest from Toledo Stove and Range! A fortuitous opportunity to acquire a very rare Black Memorabilia pair!

Measuring nearly 8 inches tall, this fabulous Mammy walker toy is constructed of lithographed tin and was made by the Lindstrom Tool & Toy Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Mammy is so marked on her backside!

This 1920-30's toy is the earlier version of the two Mammy walker toys produced by this company, and as one of the early tin African-American-themed toys, it is considered an important addition to any vintage toy collection representing this genre.

Mammy shuffles along quite nicely via her original wind-up mechanism. Over 80 years old, Mammy is still quite sturdy as she was very well made, but she does show some expected scratching from use over the years, and she also has some very typical, superficial surface rusting- most notably at one side seam.

Measuring 9 inches long, this extremely RARE, 1930's, Black Wooden Pull Toy doubles as a wonderfully unique advertising piece!

This fabulous toy is labeled on each side of the orange wagon as follows: "HAPPY HAM FARM PRODUCTS, Newton & Thompson MFG CO, Brandon, Vermont".

The wagon is being "driven" by a hand-painted black figure who moves forward and back again as the wagon is pulled along on its wooden wheels.

In wonderful, all-original condition--no repaint or replaced wooden pieces. One little staple holding the rear axle in place appears to have been replaced as well as the little metal rod which acts as the axle holding the black boy in proper position.

A fabulously RARE piece to embellish one's Black Memorabilia or Vintage Pull Toy collection.

Measuring 9 inches high, these delightful examples of Folk Art styling, represent two 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.

Offered are two of these fabulous WPA craft Black Character dolls.

One 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 fishing bowl has a bit of scotch tape wrapped around it, leading one to believe that there is some weakness to the pole that required stability provided through the tape). This is an older gentleman who wears a straw hat with gray hair (peeking through the top as well as undersides of the straw hat) 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. 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.

The second doll, who is posed in the photos lovingly draping her right hand through the crook in the Fisherman’s arm while holding a plaid valise in her left, is dressed quite stylishly in flowered skirt with white bloomers showing, a wine-colored jacket with darling round, matching buttons, and a phenomenal black felt hat adorned with ruby red ribbon accented with pink and white flowers. Quite the stylish Grande Dame!

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

Dolls are priced separately at $245.00 each.

Never opened and retaining all of its original powdered scouring cleanser, this near mint canister of Gold Dust cleanser remains a classic and must-have addition to any Black Memorabilia collection!

Measuring 4.75 inches high x approximately 3.25 inches in diameter, the container has slight scuffing to its paper cover and light rust to the base --which in the photo appears more significant than it actually is--- however, there is no problem with structural integrity to the base!

Eye-appealing with its classic "GOLD DUST TWINS" graphic!!

Offered for sale is a wonderful 19th century brass and wood English Apothecary Balance Scale. This lovely balance retains its original patina on both the wooden base and brass scales.

The arm is marked "T.O.Co. J. HALL & SON-Makers-Birmingham" and "Class 1 - To Weigh 1 lb."

The scale measures 16"L x 8"W at the wood base and 16 inches high. The condition appears original with only minor distortion to the wood base.

Offered for sale is a wonderful early 20th century, apothecary pharmacy bottle from Eli Lilly & Co. labeled “CHLORODYNE”. The back side sports 2 labels, one of which mentions the 1906 Food & Drug Act, and the other indicates the pharmacy “L.J. Madsen & ? – Hartford, Conn.

This 2.75 inch high amber corked bottle is in very nice condition. The cork is actually pushed inside the bottle.

The labels have darkened with age but remain quite clear and easily readable.

The bottle once contained (it is presently empty) 100 chocolate coated pills consisting of multiple ingredients including the Extract of Cannabis Indica P.T. (Ext. Can. Ind. P.T.) and Morphine Hydrochloride (Mor. Hydrochlo.)!!

Measuring 9.5 x 11.5 inches framed, this lovely, circa 1950’s, multi-colored, cross stitch sampler is entitled, “Enough Is As Good As A Feast”. In excellent condition and appearing to have been recently re-framed, this lovely piece features a Mammy and child carrying meal-filled dishes, presumably, to the dinner table. The sampler also features pretty flowers, and appropriately, a knife and a fork! The tiniest trace of a stain is barely visible at the top of the fork, but truly, it is not readily noticeable and certainly does not detract from the marvelous visual appeal of this very sweet piece!

This interesting, circa 1930's, dentist's kit was used to match size and shape of teeth to be replaced! The handsome black Bakelite case is in nice condition, containing many original sample teeth and sporting 9 drawers with oval metal labels. All drawers open smoothly except for the top one. Small unobtrusive right edge chips on 3 shelves fail to detract from this interesting dental collectible.

Measures 6.5"H x 7"W x 5"D and bears the label, "The Dentists’ Supply Co. of N.Y. – Bioform".

A striking dental display!

Measuring approximately 15 inches in length, this 1930's, vintage, J. Chein, tin, wind-up toy remains in all-original condition!! With detailed graphics, this toy has NO repairs, replaced parts, or repaint!

A wonderful addition to any vintage toy or Black Memorabilia collection, this vividly colorful toy remains in great working condition. Wind up the alligator, and his mouth viciously snaps open and closed as he rolls along, with the black native balancing on his back! (Mr. Alligator is a bit fussy with regard to what type of surface he will roll upon, but the mechanism functions fine!)

Some missing paint here and there as would be expected given its 80+ years of age (please see photos), as well as some superficial scratches, and some crimping to the alligator's tail.

A seldom-found toy!

Please note that white spots in photos are the result of flash reflection and not imperfections to the toy.

An utterly fabulous, all-original, 1930s, "pure licorice", English Toffee tin with a phenomenal caricature of a black man eating a large piece of yummy toffee! This piece is enhanced with a striking visual graphic making this the centerpiece of one's Black Memorabilia collection!!

Measures 9.75 inches high x 6.25 inches wide x 4.25 inches deep. Condition is quite fine with superficial scratches and minor surface rust near the base and on some seams--see photos--no problems to structural integrity!

Measuring approximately 5 inches high, this very RARE, Japan-made, circa 1930’s pair of Black Butler and Mammy Salt and Peppers are in unused, mint condition, with just the lightest of glaze crazing visible. This highly appealing pair is considered rare as the Butler wears a green jacket versus the very common black jacket. Each is marked “Japan” on the base. A very wonderful addition to the special Black Memorabilia collection!

A representative sampling of pages from this hard-to-find, 1938, hard cover, Little Black Sambo book published by McLoughlin Brothers, Inc., of Springfield, Massachusetts, has been photographed for one’s viewing pleasure!

In utterly excellent condition with the only flaws noted being very subtle wear to spine edges and book cover tips, this version of Little Black Sambo is highly collectible as any item produced by its publisher, McLoughlin Brothers, is aggressively sought due to the company’s reputation for use of extraordinarily vivid graphics.

Thirty pages long with 14 vividly colored illustrations and 4 completed in black and white by Hildegard Lupprian. A must have edition for the collector of Little Black Sambo books!

Measuring 12 inches wide x 8 inches high, this untouched, all-original, double-sided, porcelain, circa 1930s 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.

This historically significant sign features a white background with deep blue lettering. It remains in all-original condition with very few flaws: faint, superficial scratches and minute pitting to the porcelain here and there, with most on or near sign edges. The sign is equipped with two metal eyelets at the top which would facilitate hanging so that the double-sided lettering, "COLORED REST ROOM", could be viewed from two opposing directions.

A 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.

A very nice early 1900's Veterinary medicine lithographed tin from The Newton Horse Remedy Co. Toledo, Ohio. This is the very rare small version of this neat tin that also mentions the 1906 Food and Drugs Act.

This very colorful and graphic Victorian era medicine tin has a wonderful and graphic image of a horse, sulky and driver. All 4 sides are packed with details, directions, price and a sales pitch.

The tin is 4.25 inches tall and 3.5 inches wide. The tin has some minimal denting, oxidation on the top, and spots of scattered, a few paint chips and minor unobtrusive surface rust to the edges. This wonderful early tin would be a great addition to any vintage tin collection.

*****Please go to http://petvet.home.mindspring.com/VCR/articles/newton.html for an unbiased and informative article on the history of Dr Newton>*****

Protected in a 12 ¾ x 22 ½ inch, gold and green painted wood frame, this authentic GOLD DUST Trolley Sign was manufactured by the N.K. Fairbanks Company in 1921!

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 busily scrubbing a bathtub in a gleaming blue-green tiled bathroom! On a stool to the left, sits a large, opened box of Gold Dust Washing Powder. The advertisement proclaims in yellow-outlined, navy blue lettering: “Kept Clean with Gold Dust”.

The Gold Dust sign is marked, “Copyright 1921 The N.K. Fairbanks Company.” in the lower left hand corner. In the lower right hand corner, the following appears: “G.D.115 10-21. 64”.

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 faded—which is inaccurate! The sign is free of rips or tears although it does have two surface abrasions at the lower left near the Twins where a top layer of paper is missing- looks as though this occurred long ago when some tape was removed. Some light dirt marks are also seen near the lower twin and between the letters G & O in the word “GOLD”. They are unobtrusive and do not detract from the wonderful image this sign conveys.

An unusual opportunity to acquire a very RARE piece of Black Americana !!

Please take a moment to view the circa 1910-1920 GOLD DUST Scouring Powder can filled with original contents-never opened- that I also have available for purchase as of this writing.

Measuring 3 1/4 inches high, this Japan-made, quite nicely detailed and hand-painted, pot metal figure depicts the traditional RED CAP Railroad Porter with his arms quite full of luggage along with a set of golf clubs slung over his shoulder!

In excellent condition with virtually no evidence of paint loss, this sweet little figure-- as an added bonus to its delightful appeal—features a detachable suitcase, as one of the porter’s hands is actually a tiny hook!

Once commonly found, the tiny Red Cap Railroad Porter figure is becoming quite scarce!

Measuring 4 3/4 inches high, this pre-World War II, Austrian-made, metal ashtray features a very intriguing, slouching, black nodder figure smoking a cigar!

In wonderful, working condition, the black man's head is attached to his body via the original, flexible, metal rod which allows the head to bob back and forth when jiggled.

Marked on the base of the ashtray "Made in Austria". Paint loss as seen in photos with no repairs or repainting!

An interesting character!