Catalog (38)

Measuring 7 inches long x 4 inches high x 6 inches wide, this all tin, 1943 copyrighted, WOLVERINE “SEE and SPELL” educational school toy is in fine overall condition! The tin is lithographed with a delightful scene of school children standing at the front of the class during a spelling bee with the teacher seen in the lower left corner holding a spelling book! Just adorable! On the back of the toy, a lone boy is seen drawing pictures and practicing spelling at a portable chalk board.

The toy is operated by pushing either side handle in a downward motion, which makes the words and pictures spin inside the toy. When the motion stops, four different spelling words with their accompanying pictures appear in the eight different windows.

Other than light surface blemishes due to age and gentle use, and the 4 missing tab covers which are supposed to keep the spelling words hidden, this vintage toy is in remarkable condition and makes a very colorful display piece!

Measuring 11 inches wide x 6.25 high x 1.25 deep, this circa 1920's, architectural, children's, wooden block set made by the W. C. Hoag Company of Burlington, Vermont, is in near perfect condition!

The set appears to have never been used! All blocks are present and are in wonderful condition! The paper label attached to the sliding, wood cover is intact with very minor, age-appropriate edge wear and scuffing. What a fabulous, graphic image that would certainly command presence when displayed on a shelf! The integrity of the all-wooden box remains strong and sturdy.

Sets such as these could be found in the more affluent home as well as in early elementary level classrooms, as such toys or learning manipulatives, promoted the development of eye-hand coordination and visual-spatial reasoning skills.

This 1851 educational text was published by the Sanborn & Carter Company of Portland, Maine. Authored by Salem Town, L.L.D., this revised edition from the original published in 1848 is touted as, “A reader designed for the middle class pupils of our public schools, embracing full and important exercises in elocution and articulation.”!

Hardcover, 288 pages; Good condition: Minimal foxing, no tears, tight binding, corner edge wear to cover.

A delightful addition to the School Memorabilia collection!

Measuring 9 inches long x 7 wide x 1.25 deep, this circa 1920's, children's architectural, wooden block set, likely made in Germany, is in near perfect condition!

The set appears to have been lightly used, if at all! Nearly all blocks are present, and all of these are in wonderful condition! It appears that one red triangular block is missing along with the four rectangular pieces needed to complete the second window frame (the second paper window insert remains).

The exterior paper label attached to the sliding, wood cover is beautifully intact with just a light water mark present on the upper left side. A glue remnant on the upper right corner of the cover remains. The paper label offers eight detailed examples of what one might choose to build with this lovely set! What a fabulous, graphic image that would certainly command presence when displayed on a shelf! The integrity of the all-wooden box remains strong and sturdy.

Sets such as these could be found in the more affluent home as well as in early elementary level classrooms. Such toys or learning manipulatives, promoted the development of the young learner's eye-hand coordination as well as visual-spatial reasoning skills.

An educational tool pairing that spans a century!

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!

Offered is an antique, hand-personalized and hand-signed, school merit award, circa 1860's.

The artistically-rendered award was presented to student, Eleanor R. Russell, and signed by her teacher, Angie M. Gibson.

The framed and matted merit award measures 8 inches wide x 10 inches long and is adorned with a delicate, hand-colored, floral wreath. The award features a poem of religious sentiment: "Tis sweet oh sweet to know, if we our time improve, we shall be happy while below, and dwell in heaven above".

A lovely and difficult to find piece of 19th century school memorabilia!

Please note that any white marks seen in photos are light reflections off the glass and are not damage to the piece.

Offered is an antique, C1910, German-made dexterity puzzle that measures 1 15/16" in diameter and 3/8" thick. This delightful game features a fixed, small mouse trap with two, moving, metal mice. The object of the game is to get the mice into the trap.

Colorful detailing of cats on cardboard covered-bottom is marked "Made in Germany". Tin frame holds game with glass cover on one side and mirror on reverse side.

In excellent condition considering age. Glass cover is free of cracks. Game color is still bright. Original mirror has a few spots of silvering and light scratching but is free of cracks. Displays quite well!

Offered is a group of five, antique paper, hand-personalized and signed, New York Public School student merit awards from the 1840's, each priced separately, and suitable for framing.

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!

As each is priced separately (see photos for pricing), please email us stating the number of items you wish to purchase so that we can customize your order form.

An ornately detailed and historical graphic of the California State Seal adds to the importance of this authentic and extremely RARE, museum-quality, 1859, TEACHING and PRINCIPAL’s LICENSE / DIPLOMA / CERTIFICATE issued by the STATE OF CALIFORNIA, and the City and County of SAN FRANCISCO, DEPARTMENT of PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, just 9 years after California became the 31st state!

Text indicates that this early Principal and Teaching Certification was awarded to Mr. O. P. Sarle on January 5, 1859. This “Certificate of Approval” found him qualified “with respect to Learning Utility and Moral Character” to not only teach but administer as Principal at the Grammar School Grade for “one year unless sooner revoked by the board”. Signed by five individuals constituting the Examining Board and the President of the Superintendent of Public Schools.

Measures 14 inches X 16.5 inches. Labeled lower left corner: "Fishbourne's Litho. Ohio Street San Francisco". With the exception of early fold lines and a lower left edge water mark (which will not be seen when framed), condition is mint! This certificate comes backed on a museum-quality, acid-free foam board which can be used when the piece is framed.

Truly a historically significant, museum-quality piece of ephemera which tells a part of the story of the beginnings of public school education in California.

A delightful and diminutive, circa 1950's set of children's wooden architectural building blocks marked "Made in Japan". Measuring a slight 4" x 5", the brightly painted blocks are housed in a cardboard box featuring a darling, colorful graphic of a child playing with them. Used in the primary grade schools to help develop fine motor coordination and dexterity. Condition is quite fine with the exception noted of 2 missing blocks.

These wonderful circa 1940-50's BRI-TONE Number 8, school or art crayons manufactured by the Imperial Crayon Company of Brooklyn, New York, are in near mint condition! The crayons are unused and are all original! The box features a fabulous graphic of a young boy and girl busily coloring using their Bri-Tone crayons! The box measures 4 inches tall x 2.75 inches wide x 1/4 inch deep.

An absolutely wonderful addition to one's School or Artist Memorabilia collection!

Measuring 4.25 x 4 x 1 inches, this all original cardboard display contains 24, full, bakelite capsules or tubes of EVERSHARPE RED TOP pencil-lead!

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.

An interesting and unusual item to add to one's advertising or olde school collection!

These wonderful circa 1930's school crayons manufactured by Milton Bradley of Springfield, Massachusetts, are in near mint condition with the exception of very, very light surface soiling to cardboard paper box! Crayons are unused and are all original!

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!

Although two boxes are pictured in the photo, sale is for ONE BOX ONLY.

Measuring 27 inches long x 18 inches wide, this wonderful, vintage, School Crossing Guard sign remains in all-original condition and is even dated "5-64"!

Double-sided, this visually-appealing school collectible displays stunningly whether displayed on the bright yellow "SLOW" side or the nearly-glow-in-the-dark red and white "STOP" side!

The metal sign retains its original wooden handle as well as its share of age and use-related surface scuffs, scratches and even a couple of errant paint spots that absolutely do not detract from its conversation-provoking appeal!

An interesting and unique enhancement to one's Vintage School Collection!

A wonderfully nostalgic look back in time to early education of the Depression era 1930's!

This 32 page, Pre-Primer called "Everyday Doings" written by Julia Letheld Hahn, was published in 1935 by the Houghton Mifflin Company, and was acquired for use by the York, Pennsylvania, School District in 1936 (see ink stampings to front cover).

In wonderful condition with absolutely no evidence of use, this booklet was one workbook within the Child Development Series of Houghton Mifflin Early Readers.

The interior front cover page lists the table of contents and the interior back cover page lists instructional suggestions "For The Teacher".

A selection of photos are offered to show the colored interior pages, each of which holds a particular title and 4 numbered drawings related to the subject title. These pages were undoubtedly used by the teacher to promote in her young students, thought, creativity, verbal expressive ability, and the development of both vocabulary and sequential thinking ability, to name a few of the necessary reading readiness skills!

A rarely found, early 20th century teaching tool as these workbooks were designed to be used and then discarded!

Please disregard any white spots or lines or areas which appear to be lighter than the rest of the page. All color is even throughout with no fading. These photo imperfections are simply due to sunlight reflections.

Offered for your consideration is a fabulous set of three, 1910, Anatomical Charts of the Skeleton, Muscles, and the Circulatory system.

Complete, National American Red Cross anatomical charts of this early 20th Century time period are quite an unusual find in today's market. Charts such as these were a frequently referenced visual aide for both the medical and nursing student, and due to this frequent educational use, not many have survived.

These wonderfully detailed teaching charts each measure 28.25" high x 20" wide and (to the best of our knowledge) are made of a wax-coated, heavy-weight, linen canvas. The top and bottom only of each chart are framed by black painted, wooden supports designed to facilitate the hanging of each chart.

The condition of each chart demonstrates mild crackling of surface and light wear and tear, as well as discoloration consistent with their 100+ years of age. Slight, unobtrusive loss of fabric is also apparent. Overall, the condition and patina of these charts are commensurate with vintage teaching tools that had been frequently referenced.

The charts are published by P. BLAKISTON'S SON & CO., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1880, this company focused its production upon the publication of high quality medical and scientific books, charts, and graphs.

Reading "SAFETY FIRST" "EMERGENCY SHOWER EYE BATH", this green, white and black painted sign dates to the 1950's and was likely meant for use in either a professional or academic laboratory.

The sign measures 14 inches wide x 10 inches high, and is quite bright and visually appealing.

This painted metal sign remains in fine condition with minor surface scratching, tiny areas of paint loss and tiny areas of superficial rusting, all as noted in photos.

This wonderful, late 19th / early 20th century photograph of students and teacher from a New England, one-room school house measures 10 x 8 inches including mat. Actual size of the sepia toned photo is 8 x 5 inches. The subjects are posed on the stairs in front of the schoolhouse porch or veranda. The ten young gentlemen in the front row, while quite fashionably attired, don’t appeared to be very enthusiastic about their participation in this photography session! Look at those faces!

Condition is wonderful- no rips or creases. 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.

A delightful and early schoolhouse collectible!