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The 1896-P

Philadelphia struck 9,976,000 Morgan dollars in 1896.

The Philadelphia Mint, America's first, was created by the Coinage Act of April 2, 1792, and in March 1793 delivered the nation's first circulating coins, 11,178 copper cents. The very first Morgan dollar was struck here on March 11, 1878. Philadelphia coins of this era carry no mint mark.

The Year 1896

On April 6, 1896, King George I opened the first modern Olympic Games in Athens, and Boston's James Connolly won the triple jump to become the first modern Olympic champion. A dollar in 1896 had the buying power of about $39 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 67 means no wear; within MS 60 to 70, the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. PCGS, founded in 1986, guarantees its grades. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the PCGS website.

Authenticity Guarantee

This coin is covered by eBay's Authenticity Guarantee for coins: after purchase it goes first to eBay's authentication partner, PCGS, which inspects it against this listing, then on to you. There is no extra cost to the buyer, and shipping to and from the authenticator is included in the free shipping.

Also In Our Store

• Silver Eagles carrying the Walking Liberty design of German-born sculptor Adolph A. Weinman.
• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Thank you!

Ref: 1.0100

Historical Context

President Theodore Roosevelt pushed for new, more artistic US coins, and Boston physician Dr. William Sturgis Bigelow suggested the incuse design for sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt, inspired by ancient Egyptian art. The quarter eagle first appeared in 1908. After a pause from 1916 through 1924, production resumed in 1925, and that year only the Denver Mint struck quarter eagles: 578,000 coins and no proofs. It was the last of Denver's three quarter eagle issues, after 1911 and 1914. David Akers, a leading authority on US gold coins, considered the 1925-D the hardest date in the series to find in Gem Mint State, because unstable dies and soft strikes troubled the issue.

Buying Power

In 1925 this $2 1/2 gold piece had the buying power of about $48.13 today.

Condition

[Est. AU] Circulated, with light wear on the cheekbone, the war bonnet and the eagle's shoulder and wing (see the photos). Light marks and fine scratches in the fields, as usual on this incuse design. A small red-brown spot below the lower lip, and a few tiny raised specks in the reverse field above IN GOD WE TRUST. The D mint mark is clear, although PCGS notes it is often faint on this issue. Checked for documented varieties: PCGS lists none for 1925-D. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but worth far more for its gold and to collectors than its $2.50 face value.

Also In Our Store

More gold coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=gold+coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

President Theodore Roosevelt pushed for new, more artistic US coins. Boston physician and art collector Dr. William Sturgis Bigelow suggested the incuse design, inspired by ancient Egyptian art, and recommended Boston sculptor Bela Lyon Pratt, who had worked with Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The new quarter eagle appeared in 1908 and was struck until 1929. Critics such as Philadelphia numismatist S.H. Chapman complained that dirt would collect in the sunken design. Philadelphia struck 722,000 in 1913, plus 165 proofs. On December 23, 1913, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act; twenty years later, in 1933, Franklin Roosevelt ended US gold coinage.

Buying Power

In 1913 this $2 1/2 gold piece had the buying power of about $85.08 today.

Condition

[Est. AU] Circulated, with light wear on the cheekbone, the war bonnet and the eagle's shoulder and wing (see the photos). Light marks and fine scratches in the fields, as usual on this incuse design. Faint dark toning in fine dotted lines on the band of the war bonnet (see the portrait close-up). Small dark spots on the reverse by the T of UNITED and left of PLURIBUS. Checked for documented varieties: PCGS lists none for 1913. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but worth far more for its gold and to collectors than its $2.50 face value.

Also In Our Store

More gold coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=gold+coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

The 1887-P

Philadelphia struck 20,290,000 Morgan dollars in 1887.

The Philadelphia Mint, America's first, was created by the Coinage Act of April 2, 1792, and in March 1793 delivered the nation's first circulating coins, 11,178 copper cents. The very first Morgan dollar was struck here on March 11, 1878. Philadelphia coins of this era carry no mint mark.

The Year 1887

In December 1887, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson made their first appearance, in Arthur Conan Doyle's "A Study in Scarlet," published in London's Beeton's Christmas Annual. A dollar in 1887 had the buying power of roughly $33 to $36 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 64 means no wear; within MS 60 to 70, the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. NGC, founded in 1987, has been the American Numismatic Association's official grading service since 1995 and has offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Munich and London. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Authenticity Guarantee

This coin is covered by eBay's Authenticity Guarantee for coins: after purchase it goes first to eBay's authentication partner, PCGS, which inspects it against this listing, then on to you. There is no extra cost to the buyer, and shipping to and from the authenticator is included in the free shipping.

Also In Our Store

• Silver Eagles carrying the Walking Liberty design of German-born sculptor Adolph A. Weinman.
• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1900-O

New Orleans struck 12,590,000 Morgan dollars in 1900.

The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838, struck half dollars for the Confederacy in 1861, and began striking Morgans in 1879. Since 1981 the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1900

On April 15, 1900, the Paris Exposition Universelle opened, drawing over 50 million visitors to a moving walkway, the Grand Palais and the Pont Alexandre III. A dollar in 1900 had the buying power of about $39 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 64 means no wear; within MS 60 to 70, the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. NGC, founded in 1987, has been the American Numismatic Association's official grading service since 1995 and has offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Munich and London. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Authenticity Guarantee

This coin is covered by eBay's Authenticity Guarantee for coins: after purchase it goes first to eBay's authentication partner, PCGS, which inspects it against this listing, then on to you. There is no extra cost to the buyer, and shipping to and from the authenticator is included in the free shipping.

Also In Our Store

• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1935 Peace Dollar

Philadelphia struck 1,576,000 Peace dollars in 1935, the final year Peace dollars were struck for circulation. The Philadelphia Mint, America's first, was created by the Coinage Act of 1792 and delivered the nation's first circulating coins in March 1793. Every one of the 1,006,473 Peace dollars dated 1921 was struck here.

The Year 1935

In 1935 Canada issued its first circulating silver dollar, the George V Silver Jubilee "voyageur" dollar. On July 16, 1935, the world's first parking meters went into service in Oklahoma City, charging a nickel for curbside parking. A dollar in 1935 had the buying power of about $23.50 today.

The Peace Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that the coin America struck to celebrate peace after the First World War was designed by a young Sicilian immigrant, and modeled on his Italian-born wife?

Anthony de Francisci, born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1887, won the design competition in December 1921; Liberty's face is based on his wife, Teresa, born in Laurenzana, Italy. The coin followed the Pittman Act of 1918, which melted 270 million silver dollars and sold their silver to Britain to steady the currency of British India, and the 1921 resolution formally ending America's war with Germany and Austria-Hungary. English-born Chief Engraver George T. Morgan removed a broken sword from the first reverse before Christmas 1921.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 64 means no wear, on a scale where the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. PCGS, founded in 1986, guarantees its grades. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the PCGS website.

This coin is covered by eBay's Authenticity Guarantee: after purchase it goes first to eBay's authentication partner, PCGS, which inspects it against this listing, then on to you at no extra cost. Shipping to and from the authenticator is included in the free shipping.

Also In Our Store

• Original Buffalo nickels, including a 1935.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Morgan dollars, designed by English-born George T. Morgan, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

2021 is the only year with two Gold Eagle reverses: the original family-of-eagles design (Type 1) until mid-year, then the new eagle portrait (Type 2). This is a Type 2 proof struck at West Point, New York, with the W mint mark. Proofs are struck more than once from polished dies on specially prepared blanks. The Gold Eagle program was created by the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-185, December 17, 1985); the first coins went on sale in October 1986.

The obverse is Augustus Saint-Gaudens' Liberty from the $20 gold coin commissioned by President Theodore Roosevelt and first struck in 1907. Saint-Gaudens, born in Dublin, Ireland, died on August 3, 1907, before the designs were finalized for production. London-born Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber then lowered the relief so the coin could be struck with a single blow.

The reverse, introduced in mid-2021 for the program's 35th anniversary, is a close-up of an eagle's head designed by Jennie Norris (JN) and sculpted by Renata Gordon (RG).

Condition

NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo, certification #6458750-002, sealed in the grading company's holder. PF (Proof) 70 is the top of the 1-70 scale; Ultra Cameo marks strong contrast between frosted design and mirrored fields. Holder: see the photos for its condition.

Also In Our Store

More gold coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=gold

• Indian Head $2.50 gold quarter eagles (1913 and 1925-D) and a 1945 Mexico 2½ pesos gold coin.
• American Silver Eagles, whose Walking Liberty is by Adolph A. Weinman, a student of Saint-Gaudens.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

2009 brought record demand for gold after the 2008 financial crisis. The Mint needed every gold blank it could get for bullion coins, so it struck no proof Gold Eagles dated 2009. PCGS gives its First Strike label to coins received within the first 30 days of release; the back insert reads "Delivered Within First 30 Days of Initial Release." The Gold Eagle program was created by the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-185, December 17, 1985); the first coins went on sale in October 1986.

The obverse is Augustus Saint-Gaudens' Liberty from the $20 gold coin commissioned by President Theodore Roosevelt and first struck in 1907. Saint-Gaudens, born in Dublin, Ireland, died on August 3, 1907, before the designs were finalized for production. London-born Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber then lowered the relief so the coin could be struck with a single blow.

The reverse, by Miley Busiek (initials MB), shows a male eagle carrying an olive branch over a nest with a female eagle and two eaglets. It was used from 1986 until mid-2021.

Condition

PCGS MS69, certification #15173488, sealed in the grading company's holder. MS (Mint State) 69 means no wear, one point below the top of the 1-70 scale. Disclosed: small copper-colored spots on the reverse. The largest sits right of UNUM, above the branch; a small dark spot is right of the eagle's head, below AMERICA; and there is orange toning along the rim at the left (see the close-ups, photos 7 to 9). Copper spots are common on 22-karat gold coins because of the copper in the alloy, and they can form after grading. Holder: see the photos for its condition.

Also In Our Store

More gold coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=gold

• Indian Head $2.50 gold quarter eagles (1913 and 1925-D) and a 1945 Mexico 2½ pesos gold coin.
• American Silver Eagles, whose Walking Liberty is by Adolph A. Weinman, a student of Saint-Gaudens.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

The 1885-O

New Orleans struck 9,185,000 Morgan dollars in 1885.

The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838, struck half dollars for the Confederacy in 1861, and began striking Morgans in 1879. Since 1981 the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1885

On June 17, 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor from France aboard the French ship Isère, packed in more than 200 crates. Her crown of rays later inspired Liberty's crown on the Peace dollar. A dollar in 1885 had the buying power of roughly $33 to $36 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 65 means no wear; within MS 60 to 70, the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. The "+" is NGC's Plus designation, "awarded by NGC to coins at the high end of their assigned grade, approaching the quality requirements for the next grade." NGC, founded in 1987, has been the American Numismatic Association's official grading service since 1995 and has offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Munich and London. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

• Peace dollars by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, whose Liberty wears a crown of rays inspired by the Statue of Liberty.
• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1923 Peace Dollar

Philadelphia struck 30,800,000 Peace dollars in 1923.

Philadelphia, America's first mint, was created by the Coinage Act of April 2, 1792, and George Washington chose the scientist David Rittenhouse as its first director. Every one of the 1,006,473 Peace dollars dated 1921 was struck here. Philadelphia coins carry no mint mark.

The Year 1923

In November 1923, one US dollar was worth 4,210,500,000,000 German paper marks. The same year, the giant HOLLYWOODLAND sign went up in the hills above Los Angeles. A dollar in 1923 had the buying power of about $19 today.

The Peace Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that the coin America struck to celebrate peace after the First World War was designed by a young Sicilian immigrant, and modeled on his Italian-born wife?

Anthony de Francisci, born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1887, came to the United States in 1905 and in December 1921 won an invitation-only design competition. Liberty's face is based on his wife, Teresa, born in Laurenzana in Italy's Basilicata region. Numismatist Farran Zerbe proposed it to restore the 270 million silver dollars melted under the Pittman Act of 1918, their silver sold to Britain to steady the currency of British India. In July 1921 the Knox–Porter Resolution formally ended America's war with Germany and Austria-Hungary, and the first Peace dollar was struck that December 28.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 62 means no wear at all, and the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. ANACS, founded in June 1972 as the American Numismatic Association's authentication service to fight counterfeit and altered coins, began grading in 1979 and is the oldest of the major services. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the ANACS website.

Also In Our Store

• A 1923 German 500-million-mark banknote from that year's hyperinflation.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Morgan dollars, designed by English-born George T. Morgan, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 2002 Silver Eagle

The Mint struck 10,539,026 bullion Silver Eagles dated 2002. Bullion Silver Eagles carry no mint mark. The program was authorized by the Liberty Coin Act, signed by President Reagan on July 9, 1985, and the first Silver Eagle was struck in San Francisco on October 29, 1986.

The Design

The obverse is Adolph A. Weinman's Walking Liberty, first used on the half dollar of 1916–1947. Weinman was born in Durmersheim, near Karlsruhe, Germany, came to America at 14, and studied under Dublin-born sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. When Walking Liberty first appeared in 1916, English-born George T. Morgan, designer of the Morgan dollar, was the Mint's assistant engraver; he became Chief Engraver the next year.

The reverse heraldic eagle is by John Mercanti, used from 1986 to 2021.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 69 means no wear, one point below the top of the 1–70 scale. NGC, founded in 1987, has been the American Numismatic Association's official grading service since 1995. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

• A Walking Liberty coin cutout cuff bracelet, featuring Weinman's design.
• Morgan dollars by English-born George T. Morgan, and Peace dollars by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, who studied under Weinman.
• More US and world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The Snowflake

The reverse is a magnified stellar dendrite ice crystal, with frosted branches and a crystal at the center, by Canadian nature and macro photographer Don Komarechka, whose "DK" initials appear on the reverse. Komarechka has written two books on snowflakes and macro photography, his snowflake images have appeared on Royal Canadian Mint silver coins in 2017, 2018, 2023 and 2024, and he now lives near Varna, Bulgaria. The six-sided coin echoes the snowflake.

The Crown And The Mint

The obverse carries Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt, with her "SB" initials at the shoulder, in the transitional version made after the Queen's death: below "ELIZABETH II" are the dates 1952 and 2022, separated by four pearls for the four effigies that appeared on Canadian coins during her reign. It was used on 2023 collector and bullion coins, and Canadian coins released from 2024 on carry King Charles III, by Steven Rosati.

The Royal Canadian Mint opened on January 2, 1908, as the Ottawa branch of Britain's Royal Mint and became the Royal Canadian Mint in 1931. Its Silver Maple Leaf bullion coins have been 99.99% silver since 1988, and in 2007 it struck the world's first 99.999% pure gold bullion coins. Britain's Royal Mint also has a link to American coins: in 1876 it recommended the English engraver George T. Morgan to the US Mint, where he went on to design the Morgan silver dollar.

Grade And Authenticity

PF (Proof) 70 is the top of the 1–70 scale. NGC, founded in 1987, has been the American Numismatic Association's official grading service since 1995. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

Visit TF Auctions Intl: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl

• Morgan dollars by English-born George T. Morgan.
• A 2026 Silver Britannia from Britain's Royal Mint, with King Charles III.
• More world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Specifications

Standard: 2.0833 grams, .900 gold, 0.0603 Troy oz actual gold weight, 15.5 mm diameter, 0.86 mm thick (Numista N#18813).

This coin, measured in hand: 2.07 grams on a consumer grade 0.01 g scale; 0.86-0.87 mm thick measured with calipers; diameter also measured with calipers and consistent with 15.5 mm specifications.

Professional Grade Sigma Precious Metal Verifier reads within range for 90% (.900) gold / balance copper (resistivity 10.89 µΩ·cm, conductivity 9.2 MS/m).

Historical Context

Mexico struck most 2.5 pesos gold coins between 1918 and 1948. From 1951 to 1972 the mint restruck the 2.5 pesos as bullion, more than 5 million coins, all dated 1945; the 1945 date today covers both the original 1945 strikes and those later restrikes. There is no reliable way to tell them apart by sight. These coins are valued for their gold content, and are prized by collectors around the world for their classic Hidalgo design and rich and significant history.

Condition

[UNC] Uncirculated, with original satin mint luster that brightens across the fields as the coin is tilted and shows no wear on the high detailed points; bag and handling marks are visible from years of storage alongside other gold coins, including fine hairline marks across the obverse field near DOS and Hidalgo's head. Never cleaned or polished. Grade estimated; not professionally graded.

Provenance

Family history: this coin has been in the family since the approximate year of issue or shortly after, before 1950, which is earlier than the 1951 start of the restrikes. We have no paperwork to prove the date, so the coin is described and priced as a standard 1945 2.5 pesos. From my family's estate collections, handed down from my grandmother to my parents at the time of their wedding more than 60 years ago and now to me.

Shipping

Ships free by USPS Priority Mail, fully insured, signature required. Ships in an airtight capsule (not shown).

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Moneda de oro de 2.5 pesos (Dos y Medio Pesos) de México, 1945, Miguel Hidalgo, oro de .900, 0.0603 oz Troya de oro, KM#463, sin circular, sin certificar [UNC] — Envío Priority asegurado con firma.

Mexiko 2,5 Pesos (Dos y Medio Pesos) Goldmünze 1945, Miguel Hidalgo, Gold .900, 0,0603 oz Feingold, KM#463, unzirkuliert, nicht zertifiziert [UNC] — Versicherter Priority-Versand mit Unterschrift.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven’t confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

The 1883-O

New Orleans struck 8,725,000 Morgan dollars in 1883. PCGS estimates about 400,000 survive in Mint State. Strike quality on this date varies, often soft at the centers, so please judge this coin from the photos.

The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838, struck half dollars for the Confederacy in 1861, and began striking Morgans in 1879. Since 1981 the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1883

The first Orient Express left Paris for Vienna, and the Brooklyn Bridge opened. Near Tulsa, where our store is based, Catoosa opened its first post office; today barges from Catoosa's river port reach New Orleans, where this coin was struck. A dollar in 1883 had the buying power of roughly $31 to $35 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 62 means no wear, with some marks. PCGS, founded in 1986, guarantees its grades. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the PCGS website.

Also In Our Store

• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1885-O

New Orleans struck 9,185,000 Morgan dollars in 1885.

The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838, struck half dollars for the Confederacy in 1861, and began striking Morgans in 1879. Since 1981 the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1885

On June 17, 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor from France aboard the French ship Isère, packed in more than 200 crates. Her crown of rays later inspired Liberty's crown on the Peace dollar. A dollar in 1885 had the buying power of roughly $33 to $36 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 64 means no wear; within MS 60 to 70, the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. PCGS, founded in 1986, guarantees its grades. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the PCGS website.

Also In Our Store

• Peace dollars by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, whose Liberty wears a crown of rays inspired by the Statue of Liberty.
• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1904-O

New Orleans struck 3,720,000 Morgan dollars in 1904. It was the last year of regular Morgan production; the silver set aside by Congress ran out, and no more Morgans were struck until 1921.

The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838, struck half dollars for the Confederacy in 1861, and began striking Morgans in 1879. Since 1981 the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1904

On April 30, 1904, the St. Louis World's Fair opened to honor the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase, formally handed over at New Orleans' Cabildo, in the city where this coin was struck. The following year the Ida Glenn No. 1 struck oil south of Tulsa, where our store is based, launching the boom that made Tulsa "the Oil Capital of the World." A dollar in 1904 had the buying power of about $36 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 64 means no wear at all, and the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. NGC, founded in 1987 by John Albanese, is the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association, with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Munich and London. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1880-O

New Orleans struck 5,305,000 Morgan dollars in 1880.

The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838, struck half dollars for the Confederacy in 1861, and began striking Morgans in 1879. Since 1981 the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1880

On January 27, Thomas Edison received a US patent for his incandescent electric lamp, the invention that brought practical electric light into homes. On October 1 the Melbourne International Exhibition opened in Australia, drawing 33 countries and over 1.3 million visitors. A dollar in 1880 had the buying power of roughly $31 to $34 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

AU (About Uncirculated) 55 means only traces of wear. ANACS, founded in 1972 as the American Numismatic Association's authentication service, is the oldest of the major grading services. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the ANACS website.

Also In Our Store

• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1899-O

New Orleans struck 12,290,000 Morgan dollars in 1899.

The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838, struck half dollars for the Confederacy in 1861, and began striking Morgans in 1879. Since 1981 the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1899

On March 27, 1899, Guglielmo Marconi sent the first wireless radio signal across the English Channel between England and France. A dollar in 1899 had the buying power of about $39 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 64 means no wear; within MS 60 to 70, the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. PCGS, founded in 1986, guarantees its grades. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the PCGS website.

Also In Our Store

• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Congress authorized the Kennedy half dollar in December 1963, weeks after President Kennedy's assassination, and the first coins were released in March 1964. Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts sculpted the portrait (his GR monogram is on the truncation of the neck); Frank Gasparro designed the reverse from the Presidential Seal (his FG is near the eagle's tail feathers). 1964 is the only year the Kennedy half was struck in 90% silver for circulation; from 1965 the silver content dropped to 40%.

Condition

Uncirculated, our conservative estimate MS+ (not professionally graded). Satin luster with light natural toning, from soft gray to light golden; scattered contact marks typical of roll coins. See the photos of each coin, obverse and reverse.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

The 2023-W Proof

The Mint struck 560,403 proof Silver Eagles dated 2023. The "W" mint mark means West Point, New York: built in 1937 as "the Fort Knox of Silver," it became an official US Mint on March 31, 1988.

The Design

The obverse is Adolph A. Weinman's Walking Liberty, first used on the half dollar of 1916–1947. Weinman was born in Durmersheim, near Karlsruhe, Germany, came to America at 14, and studied under Dublin-born sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. When Walking Liberty first appeared in 1916, English-born George T. Morgan, designer of the Morgan dollar, was the Mint's assistant engraver; he became Chief Engraver the next year.

The reverse, an eagle landing on a branch, is by Emily Damstra. It was introduced in 2021 for the program's 35th anniversary.

Grade And Authenticity

PF (Proof) 70 is the top of the 1–70 scale. NGC's Ultra Cameo designation marks a pronounced contrast between the frosted design and the mirrored fields. NGC, founded in 1987, has been the American Numismatic Association's official grading service since 1995. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

• A Walking Liberty coin cutout cuff bracelet, featuring Weinman's design.
• Morgan dollars by English-born George T. Morgan, and Peace dollars by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, who studied under Weinman.
• More US and world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1885-O

New Orleans struck 9,185,000 Morgan dollars in 1885.

The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838, struck half dollars for the Confederacy in 1861, and began striking Morgans in 1879. Since 1981 the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1885

On June 17, 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor from France aboard the French ship Isère, packed in more than 200 crates. Her crown of rays later inspired Liberty's crown on the Peace dollar. A dollar in 1885 had the buying power of roughly $33 to $36 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 64 means no wear; within MS 60 to 70, the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. NGC, founded in 1987, has been the American Numismatic Association's official grading service since 1995 and has offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Munich and London. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

• Peace dollars by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, whose Liberty wears a crown of rays inspired by the Statue of Liberty.
• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Both coins came from the same artist: sculptor Adolph A. Weinman designed the Walking Liberty half dollar and the Mercury dime, introduced together in 1916.

Condition

Natural patina, not polished; it can be polished bright, but we have left that choice to you. The band can be gently adjusted to fit.

Dimensions

Approx. 2.5 in. wide x 1.5 in. deep x 1.5 in. high; inside length approx. 5.5 in. Weight 22.88 g.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

The 1900-O/Cc

New Orleans struck 12,590,000 Morgan dollars in 1900.

This is the famous O-over-CC variety. The Carson City Mint stopped striking coins in 1893, leaving reverse dies already prepared with its CC mint mark; rather than waste them, the Mint punched an "O" over the "CC" and sent them to New Orleans. It is often called the last Carson City silver dollar. The New Orleans Mint, designed by William Strickland and opened in 1838, struck its last coins in 1909; since 1981 it has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1900

On April 15, 1900, the Paris Exposition Universelle opened, drawing over 50 million visitors to a moving walkway, the Grand Palais and the Pont Alexandre III. A dollar in 1900 had the buying power of about $39 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

F (Fine) 12 shows heavy but even wear. PCGS, founded in 1986, guarantees its grades. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the PCGS website.

Also In Our Store

• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 2026-W

The "W" mint mark means West Point, New York: built in 1937 as "the Fort Knox of Silver," it became an official US Mint on March 31, 1988. NGC gives the Early Releases designation to coins it or an NGC-approved depository received within their first 30 days of issue.

The Year 2026

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of American independence; the Mint's Semiquincentennial coins carry the dates "1776 ~ 2026." It is also the 100th anniversary of Route 66, whose number was won by Tulsa's Cyrus Avery, the "Father of Route 66"; our store is based in Tulsa.

The Design

The obverse is Adolph A. Weinman's Walking Liberty, first used on the half dollar of 1916–1947. Weinman was born in Durmersheim, near Karlsruhe, Germany, came to America at 14, and studied under Dublin-born sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. When Walking Liberty first appeared in 1916, English-born George T. Morgan, designer of the Morgan dollar, was the Mint's assistant engraver; he became Chief Engraver the next year. The reverse, an eagle landing on a branch, is by Emily Damstra, introduced in 2021.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 70 is the top of the 1–70 scale. NGC, founded in 1987, has been the American Numismatic Association's official grading service since 1995. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

• 1776–2026 Semiquincentennial "Enduring Liberty" half dollars.
• Morgan dollars by English-born George T. Morgan, and Peace dollars by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, who studied under Weinman.
• A Walking Liberty coin cutout cuff bracelet, featuring Weinman's design.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1884-O

New Orleans struck 9,730,000 Morgan dollars in 1884.

The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838, struck half dollars for the Confederacy in 1861, and began striking Morgans in 1879. Since 1981 the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1884

On December 16, New Orleans, where this coin was struck, opened the World Cotton Centennial, a world's fair whose Main Building was the largest roofed structure yet built, lit by 5,000 electric lights. A dollar in 1884 had the buying power of roughly $32 to $36 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 62 means no wear, with some marks. NGC, founded in 1987, has been the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association since 1995, with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Munich and London. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1904-O

New Orleans struck 3,720,000 Morgan dollars in 1904. It was the last year of regular Morgan production; the silver set aside by Congress ran out, and no more Morgans were struck until 1921.

The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838, struck half dollars for the Confederacy in 1861, and began striking Morgans in 1879. Since 1981 the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1904

On April 30, 1904, the St. Louis World's Fair opened to honor the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase, formally handed over at New Orleans' Cabildo, in the city where this coin was struck. The following year the Ida Glenn No. 1 struck oil south of Tulsa, where our store is based, launching the boom that made Tulsa "the Oil Capital of the World." A dollar in 1904 had the buying power of about $36 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 61 means no wear at all, and the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. PCGS, founded in 1986, guarantees its grades. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the PCGS website.

Also In Our Store

• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

1878 is the year the United States struck its first Morgan silver dollar, designed by Englishman George T. Morgan, while the Madrid Mint was striking these silver "duros" of Alfonso XII.

Condition

[Est. F-VF] Even circulation wear on the hair, cheek and shield; many fine hairlines; gray-brown toning with darker deposits in the legends and on the edge; a small rim bump below the date. The date stars are present, but their digits are worn and cannot be read. Not certified; grade is the seller's estimate. Please judge from the photos and video.

Shipping

Ships free within the US by USPS Ground Advantage with tracking.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Alfonso XIII was born at the Royal Palace of Madrid on May 17, 1886, the posthumous son of Alfonso XII, and was king from birth. His mother, Maria Christina of Austria, served as regent until 1902, which is why this coin shows a king not yet two years old.

Condition

[Est. VF-XF] Wear on the hair and cheek; many fine hairlines in both fields; a few dark toning spots on the face and reverse. Not certified; grade is the seller's estimate. Please judge from the photos and video.

Shipping

Ships free within the US by USPS Ground Advantage with tracking.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

The 1882-O

New Orleans struck 6,090,000 Morgan dollars in 1882.

The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838, struck half dollars for the Confederacy in 1861, and began striking Morgans in 1879. Since 1981 the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1882

On August 29, Australia beat England at the Oval, prompting a mock obituary for English cricket that gave birth to "The Ashes." The same year the Krewe of Proteus was founded in New Orleans, where this coin was struck; it is today the oldest continuously parading Old Line Mardi Gras krewe. A dollar in 1882 had the buying power of roughly $31 to $34 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

AU (About Uncirculated) 55 means only traces of wear. NGC, founded in 1987, has been the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association since 1995, with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Munich and London. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1883-O

New Orleans struck 8,725,000 Morgan dollars in 1883.

The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838, struck half dollars for the Confederacy in 1861, and began striking Morgans in 1879. Since 1981 the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1883

The first Orient Express left Paris for Vienna, and the Brooklyn Bridge opened. Near Tulsa, where our store is based, Catoosa opened its first post office; today barges from Catoosa's river port reach New Orleans, where this coin was struck. A dollar in 1883 had the buying power of roughly $31 to $35 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

AU (About Uncirculated) 55 means only traces of wear. NGC, founded in 1987, has been the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association since 1995, with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Munich and London. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1882-O

New Orleans struck 6,090,000 Morgan dollars in 1882.

The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838, struck half dollars for the Confederacy in 1861, and began striking Morgans in 1879. Since 1981 the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1882

On August 29, Australia beat England at the Oval, prompting a mock obituary for English cricket that gave birth to "The Ashes." The same year the Krewe of Proteus was founded in New Orleans, where this coin was struck; it is today the oldest continuously parading Old Line Mardi Gras krewe. A dollar in 1882 had the buying power of roughly $31 to $34 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

AU (About Uncirculated) 55 means only traces of wear. NGC, founded in 1987, has been the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association since 1995, with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Munich and London. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The Mark

Red-brown RS inside a leafy wreath with a star above, on the underside. The mark does not include the word "Prussia" or a country name. The R.S. wreath mark is known to have been copied, and we have found no evidence that settles the maker or country either way, so we describe this piece as R.S. Prussia style and make no claim that it is original or reproduction. Please see the photo of the mark.

Condition

Excellent vintage condition. Light crazing in the outer glaze across the yellow roses. A small glaze bubble and a few rough spots from manufacture. Please see all images; they are part of the description.

Provenance

This jewelry box sat on my grandmother's dresser when I was a young child and has been in our family for more than 50 years.

Also In Our Store

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Congress authorized the Kennedy half dollar in December 1963, weeks after President Kennedy's assassination, and the first coins were released in March 1964. Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts sculpted the portrait (his GR monogram is on the truncation of the neck); Frank Gasparro designed the reverse from the Presidential Seal (his FG is near the eagle's tail feathers). 1964 is the only year the Kennedy half was struck in 90% silver for circulation; from 1965 the silver content dropped to 40%.

Condition

Uncirculated, our conservative estimate MS+ (not professionally graded). Bright luster with scattered light contact marks typical of roll coins. The Denver coin has a long thin contact mark above WE TRUST and light surface marks near LIBERTY. See the photos of each coin, obverse and reverse.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

This was not written for mothers. It was a desk piece for a doctor, with a calendar on the back so it stayed on the desk all year, and tables inside he might actually reach for. Every time he used them, the can was on the cover.

The obstetric table is still correct: the 280-day rule it uses is the one obstetricians use today. The diagnosis table is very much of its time, and it is what makes the booklet a real document of how American infant feeding was argued over in the 1920s.

Condition

Light edge wear and faint surface soiling; both staples present; the covers and all three inside spreads are complete and the text fully legible. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This is a twentieth-century commercial printing, not a Victorian chromolithograph. It is printed in a single dark blue ink on tan stock, laid down as solid areas of color with crisp edges rather than blended tone.

Under magnification the ink sits in solid fields with no dot structure and no four-color rosette. The exact press method cannot be determined with certainty from a scan, so none is claimed here.

Provenance

This item comes from the personal collections of my family estate, accumulated over more than 200 years — including items that came west by wagon train to Colorado and later to Oklahoma. Now that my parents have passed we cannot keep all of these cherished items. They were well-educated antiques collectors/traders and continued to build their collections over more than 60 years. The vast majority of the pieces are from the Victorian Era, however there are plenty of older and newer items. Everything has been stored in a climate-controlled environment over time.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1885-O

New Orleans struck 9,185,000 Morgan dollars in 1885.

The New Orleans Mint opened in 1838, struck half dollars for the Confederacy in 1861, and began striking Morgans in 1879. Since 1981 the building has been part of the Louisiana State Museum.

The Year 1885

On June 17, 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor from France aboard the French ship Isère, packed in more than 200 crates. Her crown of rays later inspired Liberty's crown on the Peace dollar. A dollar in 1885 had the buying power of roughly $33 to $36 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 63 means no wear; within MS 60 to 70, the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. PCGS, founded in 1986, guarantees its grades. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the PCGS website.

Also In Our Store

• Peace dollars by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, whose Liberty wears a crown of rays inspired by the Statue of Liberty.
• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The Bicentennial Dollar

For the Bicentennial the Mint dual-dated the dollar "1776–1976." The reverse, the Liberty Bell over the Moon, was designed by Dennis R. Williams, a 22-year-old art student and the youngest person to that point to design a US coin; Frank Gasparro, who also designed the obverse, modified it. The 40% silver dollars were struck at San Francisco and sold as uncirculated and proof coins. All of the silver pieces have the Type I lettering.

The San Francisco Mint

The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854 for the Gold Rush. In the 1906 earthquake its building survived under Superintendent Frank A. Leach, holding a third of the nation's gold reserves.

The Eisenhower Dollar

On December 31, 1970, minutes before midnight, President Nixon signed the law that created the Eisenhower dollar, took the silver out of the half dollar, and authorized the GSA sale of the Treasury's Carson City silver dollars.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 66 means no wear; within MS 60 to 70, the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. PCGS was founded by seven dealers in California and opened for business on February 3, 1986, with a guarantee of grading accuracy. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the PCGS website.

Also In Our Store

• 1970-S Kennedy proof half dollars, the last silver-clad year, ended by the same 1970 law.
• An 1883-O Morgan dollar in its original GSA soft pack.
• More Eisenhower dollars, including 1971, 1972 and 1974 dates.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1924 Peace Dollar

Philadelphia struck 11,811,000 Peace dollars in 1924. The Philadelphia Mint, America's first, was created by the Coinage Act of 1792 and delivered the nation's first circulating coins in March 1793. Every one of the 1,006,473 Peace dollars dated 1921 was struck here.

The Year 1924

From January 25 to February 5, 1924, Chamonix, France, hosted 304 athletes from 16 nations at what the IOC later named the first Winter Olympic Games. A dollar in 1924 had the buying power of about $19 today.

The Peace Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that the coin America struck to celebrate peace after the First World War was designed by a young Sicilian immigrant, and modeled on his Italian-born wife?

Anthony de Francisci, born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1887, won the design competition in December 1921; Liberty's face is based on his wife, Teresa, born in Laurenzana, Italy. The coin followed the Pittman Act of 1918, which melted 270 million silver dollars and sold their silver to Britain to steady the currency of British India, and the 1921 resolution formally ending America's war with Germany and Austria-Hungary. English-born Chief Engraver George T. Morgan removed a broken sword from the first reverse before Christmas 1921.

Grade And Authenticity

PCGS does not give a numeric grade to cleaned coins, but it will authenticate them and assign a "details" grade: this label means genuine, cleaned at some point in its life, with wear equal to Extremely Fine (XF 40 shows light wear). PCGS, founded in 1986, guarantees its grades. The coin is offered as a genuine, certified example, priced to reflect the cleaning. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the PCGS website.

Also In Our Store

• Morgan dollars, designed by English-born George T. Morgan, who removed the broken sword from the Peace dollar.
• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1922 Peace Dollar

Philadelphia struck 51,737,000 Peace dollars in 1922.

Philadelphia, America's first mint, was created by the Coinage Act of April 2, 1792, and George Washington chose the scientist David Rittenhouse as its first director. Every one of the 1,006,473 Peace dollars dated 1921 was struck here. Philadelphia coins carry no mint mark.

The Year 1922

On November 4, 1922, Howard Carter's team uncovered the first step of Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, reaching its treasure-filled antechamber on November 26. A dollar in 1922 had the buying power of about $19 today.

The Peace Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that the coin America struck to celebrate peace after the First World War was designed by a young Sicilian immigrant, and modeled on his Italian-born wife?

Anthony de Francisci, born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1887, came to the United States in 1905 and in December 1921 won an invitation-only design competition. Liberty's face is based on his wife, Teresa, born in Laurenzana in Italy's Basilicata region. Numismatist Farran Zerbe proposed it to restore the 270 million silver dollars melted under the Pittman Act of 1918, their silver sold to Britain to steady the currency of British India. In July 1921 the Knox–Porter Resolution formally ended America's war with Germany and Austria-Hungary, and the first Peace dollar was struck that December 28.

Grade And Authenticity

AU (About Uncirculated) 58 shows only traces of wear. CAC, founded in 2007 by John Albanese, spent years re-examining coins already graded by PCGS and NGC and adding a green sticker, the "green bean," when it judged a coin "solid for the grade it was assigned." On October 2, 2023, CAC Grading (CACG) began grading coins itself under the same standard. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the CACG website.

Also In Our Store

• Morgan dollars, designed by English-born George T. Morgan.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Victorian advertising trade cards, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1922 Peace Dollar

Philadelphia struck 51,737,000 Peace dollars in 1922.

Philadelphia, America's first mint, was created by the Coinage Act of April 2, 1792, and George Washington chose the scientist David Rittenhouse as its first director. Every one of the 1,006,473 Peace dollars dated 1921 was struck here. Philadelphia coins carry no mint mark.

The Year 1922

On November 4, 1922, Howard Carter's team uncovered the first step of Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, reaching its treasure-filled antechamber on November 26. A dollar in 1922 had the buying power of about $19 today.

The Peace Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that the coin America struck to celebrate peace after the First World War was designed by a young Sicilian immigrant, and modeled on his Italian-born wife?

Anthony de Francisci, born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1887, came to the United States in 1905 and in December 1921 won an invitation-only design competition. Liberty's face is based on his wife, Teresa, born in Laurenzana in Italy's Basilicata region. Numismatist Farran Zerbe proposed it to restore the 270 million silver dollars melted under the Pittman Act of 1918, their silver sold to Britain to steady the currency of British India. In July 1921 the Knox–Porter Resolution formally ended America's war with Germany and Austria-Hungary, and the first Peace dollar was struck that December 28.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 63 means no wear at all, and the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. NGC, founded in 1987 by John Albanese, is the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association, with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Munich and London. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

• Morgan dollars, designed by English-born George T. Morgan.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Victorian advertising trade cards, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1926-S Peace Dollar

San Francisco struck 6,980,000 Peace dollars in 1926. The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854 to turn California Gold Rush gold into coin. Its 1874 building, built with sandstone imported from British Columbia, survived the 1906 earthquake and fire while holding a third of the nation's gold reserves.

The Year 1926

In 1926 Tulsa's Cyrus Avery, the "Father of Route 66," won the number 66 for the Chicago–Los Angeles highway. Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, and near Tulsa the Blue Whale of Catoosa reopened with a new visitor center on May 30, 2026. A dollar in 1926 had the buying power of about $18 today.

The Peace Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that the coin America struck to celebrate peace after the First World War was designed by a young Sicilian immigrant, and modeled on his Italian-born wife?

Anthony de Francisci, born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1887, won the design competition in December 1921; Liberty's face is based on his wife, Teresa, born in Laurenzana, Italy. The coin followed the Pittman Act of 1918, which melted 270 million silver dollars and sold their silver to Britain to steady the currency of British India, and the 1921 resolution formally ending America's war with Germany and Austria-Hungary. English-born Chief Engraver George T. Morgan removed a broken sword from the first reverse before Christmas 1921.

Grade And Authenticity

"MS 60 DETAILS, CLEANED" means ANACS found the coin genuine, with Mint State detail, but cleaned at some point in its life, so it carries a details grade; it is priced to reflect the cleaning. "VAM-4A" is a Van Allen–Mallis die-variety attribution; the 1926-S VAM-4 "Dot" is one of the "Top 50" Peace dollar VAMs, a list collectors pursue as a set. ANACS, founded in 1972 as the American Numismatic Association's authentication service, began grading in 1979. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the ANACS website.

Also In Our Store

• Morgan dollars, designed by English-born George T. Morgan, who removed the broken sword from the Peace dollar.
• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1922 Peace Dollar

Philadelphia struck 51,737,000 Peace dollars in 1922.

Philadelphia, America's first mint, was created by the Coinage Act of April 2, 1792, and George Washington chose the scientist David Rittenhouse as its first director. Every one of the 1,006,473 Peace dollars dated 1921 was struck here. Philadelphia coins carry no mint mark.

The Year 1922

On November 4, 1922, Howard Carter's team uncovered the first step of Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, reaching its treasure-filled antechamber on November 26. A dollar in 1922 had the buying power of about $19 today.

The Peace Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that the coin America struck to celebrate peace after the First World War was designed by a young Sicilian immigrant, and modeled on his Italian-born wife?

Anthony de Francisci, born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1887, came to the United States in 1905 and in December 1921 won an invitation-only design competition. Liberty's face is based on his wife, Teresa, born in Laurenzana in Italy's Basilicata region. Numismatist Farran Zerbe proposed it to restore the 270 million silver dollars melted under the Pittman Act of 1918, their silver sold to Britain to steady the currency of British India. In July 1921 the Knox–Porter Resolution formally ended America's war with Germany and Austria-Hungary, and the first Peace dollar was struck that December 28.

Grade And Authenticity

AU (About Uncirculated) 58 shows only traces of wear. CAC, founded in 2007 by John Albanese, spent years re-examining coins already graded by PCGS and NGC and adding a green sticker, the "green bean," when it judged a coin "solid for the grade it was assigned." On October 2, 2023, CAC Grading (CACG) began grading coins itself under the same standard. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the CACG website.

Also In Our Store

• Morgan dollars, designed by English-born George T. Morgan.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Victorian advertising trade cards, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1923 Peace Dollar

Philadelphia struck 30,800,000 Peace dollars in 1923.

Philadelphia, America's first mint, was created by the Coinage Act of April 2, 1792, and George Washington chose the scientist David Rittenhouse as its first director. Every one of the 1,006,473 Peace dollars dated 1921 was struck here. Philadelphia coins carry no mint mark.

The Year 1923

In November 1923, one US dollar was worth 4,210,500,000,000 German paper marks. The same year, the giant HOLLYWOODLAND sign went up in the hills above Los Angeles. A dollar in 1923 had the buying power of about $19 today.

The Peace Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that the coin America struck to celebrate peace after the First World War was designed by a young Sicilian immigrant, and modeled on his Italian-born wife?

Anthony de Francisci, born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1887, came to the United States in 1905 and in December 1921 won an invitation-only design competition. Liberty's face is based on his wife, Teresa, born in Laurenzana in Italy's Basilicata region. Numismatist Farran Zerbe proposed it to restore the 270 million silver dollars melted under the Pittman Act of 1918, their silver sold to Britain to steady the currency of British India. In July 1921 the Knox–Porter Resolution formally ended America's war with Germany and Austria-Hungary, and the first Peace dollar was struck that December 28.

Grade And Authenticity

NGC defines "Brilliant Uncirculated" as MS 60 or higher: an uncirculated coin, without a specific number assigned. NGC, founded in 1987 by John Albanese, is the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association, with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Munich and London. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

• A 1923 German 500-million-mark banknote from that year's hyperinflation.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Morgan dollars, designed by English-born George T. Morgan, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Sweden replaced its banknotes between 2015 and 2017 with a new series honoring Swedish cultural figures of the 1900s. Greta Garbo, born in Stockholm, became one of Hollywood's biggest stars, and her 100 kronor note pairs her portrait with her home city. Consecutive runs are popular with collectors because they come straight from the same bundle.

Condition

[UNC] Crisp, uncirculated paper, confirmed in hand. Not professionally graded. Not star or replacement notes; no errors found.

UV CHECK: UV-reactive fibers, a large "100" block and the three crowns on the front glow brightly under ultraviolet light (UV reactive, confirmed).

Legal Tender

Yes. The 100 kronor Garbo note is current legal tender in Sweden (Sveriges Riksbank lists it among valid banknotes). Collector demand is strong all the same.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

The 1881-S

San Francisco struck 12,760,000 Morgan dollars in 1881.

The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854 to turn California Gold Rush gold into coin. Its 1874 building, designed by Alfred B. Mullett with sandstone imported from British Columbia, survived the 1906 earthquake and fire while holding $300 million, a third of the nation's gold reserves.

The Year 1881

On February 8, King Kalākaua of Hawaii sailed from San Francisco, where this coin was struck, on his celebrated voyage around the world. Two years later the San Francisco Mint struck Hawaii's own silver coins, designed by US Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber. A dollar in 1881 had the buying power of roughly $31 to $34 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. His model for Liberty was Anna Willess Williams of Philadelphia. In 1918 the Pittman Act melted over 270 million silver dollars, and sold much of the silver to Britain to back its currency in India.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 62 means no wear, with some marks. PCGS, founded in 1986, guarantees its grades. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the PCGS website.

Also In Our Store

• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

About The Maker

Guglielmo Cini was born in Italy and trained in Florence. He opened his own silver shop in Boston, Massachusetts, around 1922, moved to Laguna Beach, California, in 1957, and worked until about 1970.

Condition

Good vintage condition. The original oxidized patina has been left as found and not polished. A few tiny specks of what appears to be old polish residue sit in the recesses; they are visible in the enlarged images but hard to see in hand. Pin and clasp work.

Dimensions

Approx. 3 in. wide x 2.16 in. high x 0.25 in. deep (including pin and clasp). Weight 26.37 g.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Condition

Good vintage condition with light wear (see images).

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

The 1921

Philadelphia struck 44,690,000 Morgan dollars in 1921, part of the Mint's 86,730,000 that year, the largest single-year silver dollar mintage in US history, struck to replace the coins melted under the Pittman Act.

Philadelphia, America's first mint, was created by the Coinage Act of April 2, 1792. The very first Morgan dollar was struck here at 3:17 p.m. on March 11, 1878. Philadelphia coins of this era carry no mint mark.

The Year 1921

On May 5, 1921, Coco Chanel launched Chanel No. 5 at her boutique on the rue Cambon in Paris, and on August 5 Pittsburgh's KDKA aired the first radio broadcast of a major league baseball game. A dollar in 1921 had the buying power of about $18 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. After German wartime propaganda set off a run on silver in British India, the Pittman Act of 1918 melted over 270 million silver dollars and sold much of the silver to Britain. The law required the melted dollars to be replaced, so in 1921 Morgan's design returned for one final year, struck while Morgan himself was Chief Engraver, before the Peace dollar took over.

Grade And Authenticity

MS (Mint State) 62 means no wear at all, and the number rises as marks decrease and luster and strike improve. PCGS, founded in 1986, guarantees its grades. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with silver), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the PCGS website.

Also In Our Store

• Silver Eagles carrying the Walking Liberty design of German-born sculptor Adolph A. Weinman.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1923-S Peace Dollar

San Francisco struck 19,020,000 Peace dollars in 1923. The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854 to turn California Gold Rush gold into coin. Its 1874 building, built with sandstone imported from British Columbia, survived the 1906 earthquake and fire while holding a third of the nation's gold reserves.

The Year 1923

In November 1923 one US dollar was worth 4,210,500,000,000 German paper marks. In San Francisco, where this coin was struck, the Steinhart Aquarium opened in Golden Gate Park on September 29, 1923. A dollar in 1923 had the buying power of about $19 today.

The Peace Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that the coin America struck to celebrate peace after the First World War was designed by a young Sicilian immigrant, and modeled on his Italian-born wife?

Anthony de Francisci, born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1887, won the design competition in December 1921; Liberty's face is based on his wife, Teresa, born in Laurenzana, Italy. The coin followed the Pittman Act of 1918, which melted 270 million silver dollars and sold their silver to Britain to steady the currency of British India, and the 1921 resolution formally ending America's war with Germany and Austria-Hungary. English-born Chief Engraver George T. Morgan removed a broken sword from the first reverse before Christmas 1921.

Grade And Authenticity

This coin has not been professionally graded; [Est. XF40] is the seller's visual estimate on the 1–70 Sheldon scale, where XF (Extremely Fine) 40 shows light wear. Please judge from the photos.

Also In Our Store

Visit TF Auctions Intl: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl

• A 1923 German 500-million-mark banknote from that year's hyperinflation.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Morgan dollars, designed by English-born George T. Morgan, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1923-S Peace Dollar

San Francisco struck 19,020,000 Peace dollars in 1923. The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854 to turn California Gold Rush gold into coin. Its 1874 building, built with sandstone imported from British Columbia, survived the 1906 earthquake and fire while holding a third of the nation's gold reserves.

The Year 1923

In November 1923 one US dollar was worth 4,210,500,000,000 German paper marks. In San Francisco, where this coin was struck, the Steinhart Aquarium opened in Golden Gate Park on September 29, 1923. A dollar in 1923 had the buying power of about $19 today.

The Peace Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that the coin America struck to celebrate peace after the First World War was designed by a young Sicilian immigrant, and modeled on his Italian-born wife?

Anthony de Francisci, born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1887, won the design competition in December 1921; Liberty's face is based on his wife, Teresa, born in Laurenzana, Italy. The coin followed the Pittman Act of 1918, which melted 270 million silver dollars and sold their silver to Britain to steady the currency of British India, and the 1921 resolution formally ending America's war with Germany and Austria-Hungary. English-born Chief Engraver George T. Morgan removed a broken sword from the first reverse before Christmas 1921.

Grade And Authenticity

This coin has not been professionally graded; [Est. XF40] is the seller's visual estimate on the 1–70 Sheldon scale, where XF (Extremely Fine) 40 shows light wear. Please judge from the photos.

Also In Our Store

• A 1923 German 500-million-mark banknote from that year's hyperinflation.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Morgan dollars, designed by English-born George T. Morgan, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

The Liberty Coin Act of 1985 created the American Silver Eagle, and the first were struck in 1986, so 2026 is the program's 40th year. It is also America's 250th year. Weinman, born in Germany, came to America as a boy and became one of its leading sculptors; his Walking Liberty has been on the Silver Eagle since the start.

Condition

[Est. BU] Uncirculated with a matte, satin-like finish, ungraded. A small pale bluish spot in the reverse field left of the eagle's leg, and faint bluish specks and a few fine lines in the obverse field to the right of Liberty, as seen in the photos. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. US legal tender with a $1 face value, worth far more for its silver. Ships in an airtight capsule inside a dark blue velvet presentation box with an eagle emblem on the lid and UNITED STATES MINT inside the lid. The box did not come with this coin (bullion Silver Eagles are not sold in boxes), and no certificate is included.

Also In Our Store

Morgan and Peace silver dollars and more silver: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=silver

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

The 1970-S Proof Half

In 1970 no half dollars were struck for circulation; this San Francisco proof was one of 2,632,810 struck for proof sets. The Kennedy half was 40% silver clad from 1965 to 1970 and had no silver from 1971, making 1970 the final silver-clad year. The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854 to coin California Gold Rush gold; its current building on Hermann Street, opened in 1937, focuses primarily on proof coins like this one.

The Year 1970

On December 31, 1970, minutes before midnight, President Nixon signed the law that took the silver out of the half dollar, authorized the GSA sale of the Treasury's Carson City silver dollars, and created the Eisenhower dollar. In 1970 a dollar had the buying power of about $8.30 today, so this half dollar's 50 cents was worth about $4.15.

The Kennedy Half Dollar

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, and when his memorial half dollar went on sale on March 24, 1964, a line a block long formed at the Treasury windows. Gilroy Roberts adapted his Kennedy medal portrait for the front, and Frank Gasparro adapted the presidential seal for the back. Only months before his death, Kennedy declared "Ich bin ein Berliner" in West Berlin, visited his family's ancestral home in Ireland, and went on to Italy.

Grade And Authenticity

A proof is struck specially for collectors, with mirror-like fields, and PR69 is one point below a perfect 70. PCGS, founded in 1986, guarantees its grades. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with the 40% silver-clad composition), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), confirmed the certification number on the PCGS website, and tapped the NFC chip with an iPhone, which opened the matching PCGS record.

Also In Our Store

• Eisenhower dollars and GSA-sold Morgan dollars from that same 1970 law.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1923 Peace Dollar

Philadelphia struck 30,800,000 Peace dollars in 1923.

Philadelphia, America's first mint, was created by the Coinage Act of April 2, 1792, and George Washington chose the scientist David Rittenhouse as its first director. Every one of the 1,006,473 Peace dollars dated 1921 was struck here. Philadelphia coins carry no mint mark.

The Year 1923

In November 1923, one US dollar was worth 4,210,500,000,000 German paper marks. The same year, the giant HOLLYWOODLAND sign went up in the hills above Los Angeles. A dollar in 1923 had the buying power of about $19 today.

The Peace Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that the coin America struck to celebrate peace after the First World War was designed by a young Sicilian immigrant, and modeled on his Italian-born wife?

Anthony de Francisci, born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1887, came to the United States in 1905 and in December 1921 won an invitation-only design competition. Liberty's face is based on his wife, Teresa, born in Laurenzana in Italy's Basilicata region. Numismatist Farran Zerbe proposed it to restore the 270 million silver dollars melted under the Pittman Act of 1918, their silver sold to Britain to steady the currency of British India. In July 1921 the Knox–Porter Resolution formally ended America's war with Germany and Austria-Hungary, and the first Peace dollar was struck that December 28.

Grade And Authenticity

This coin has not been professionally graded. [Est. AU50] is the seller's visual estimate on the 1–70 Sheldon scale: XF (Extremely Fine) 40 shows light wear; AU (About Uncirculated) 50–58 shows only traces of wear. Please judge from the photos.

Also In Our Store

• A 1923 German 500-million-mark banknote from that year's hyperinflation.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Morgan dollars, designed by English-born George T. Morgan, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

The Bland-Allison Act of 1878 required the Treasury to buy two to four million dollars' worth of silver every month and coin it into silver dollars, and George T. Morgan's design carried that silver from 1878 to 1904. The Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 then raised the Treasury's purchases to 4,500,000 troy ounces of silver a month. San Francisco struck 8,230,373 Morgan dollars in 1890, coins known for a strong strike.

Buying Power

In 1890 this dollar had the buying power of about $37.03 today.

Condition

[Est. XF-40] Circulated, original and never cleaned, in light gray. Light wear on the cheek, the hair above the ear and the center of the eagle's breast; the hair strands above the forehead, the cotton blossoms and the wing feathers are well defined, with full rims. Rust-orange deposits on the obverse left of the hair, by the eye and at the nose and lips, and on the reverse by the left wreath and the arrows (see the photos). The S mint mark is single, with no repunching. Tested on a Sigma Metalytics precious metal verifier: reading consistent with silver. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but worth far more to collectors and for its silver than its face value.

Also In Our Store

More Morgan and Peace silver dollars: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=silver+dollar

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

The 1970-S Proof Half

In 1970 no half dollars were struck for circulation; this San Francisco proof was one of 2,632,810 struck for proof sets. The Kennedy half was 40% silver clad from 1965 to 1970 and had no silver from 1971, making 1970 the final silver-clad year. The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854 to coin California Gold Rush gold; its current building on Hermann Street, opened in 1937, focuses primarily on proof coins like this one.

The Year 1970

On December 31, 1970, minutes before midnight, President Nixon signed the law that took the silver out of the half dollar, authorized the GSA sale of the Treasury's Carson City silver dollars, and created the Eisenhower dollar. In 1970 a dollar had the buying power of about $8.30 today, so this half dollar's 50 cents was worth about $4.15.

The Kennedy Half Dollar

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, and when his memorial half dollar went on sale on March 24, 1964, a line a block long formed at the Treasury windows. Gilroy Roberts adapted his Kennedy medal portrait for the front, and Frank Gasparro adapted the presidential seal for the back. Only months before his death, Kennedy declared "Ich bin ein Berliner" in West Berlin, visited his family's ancestral home in Ireland, and went on to Italy.

Grade And Authenticity

A proof is struck specially for collectors, with mirror-like fields; "Cameo" means the portrait and lettering are frosted against those fields, and PF69 is one point below a perfect 70. NGC, founded in 1987, is the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association, with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Munich and London. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with the 40% silver-clad composition), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

• Eisenhower dollars and GSA-sold Morgan dollars from that same 1970 law.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

The 1970-S Proof Half

In 1970 no half dollars were struck for circulation; this San Francisco proof was one of 2,632,810 struck for proof sets. The Kennedy half was 40% silver clad from 1965 to 1970 and had no silver from 1971, making 1970 the final silver-clad year. The San Francisco Mint opened in 1854 to coin California Gold Rush gold; its current building on Hermann Street, opened in 1937, focuses primarily on proof coins like this one.

The Year 1970

On December 31, 1970, minutes before midnight, President Nixon signed the law that took the silver out of the half dollar, authorized the GSA sale of the Treasury's Carson City silver dollars, and created the Eisenhower dollar. In 1970 a dollar had the buying power of about $8.30 today, so this half dollar's 50 cents was worth about $4.15.

The Kennedy Half Dollar

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, and when his memorial half dollar went on sale on March 24, 1964, a line a block long formed at the Treasury windows. Gilroy Roberts adapted his Kennedy medal portrait for the front, and Frank Gasparro adapted the presidential seal for the back. Only months before his death, Kennedy declared "Ich bin ein Berliner" in West Berlin, visited his family's ancestral home in Ireland, and went on to Italy.

Grade And Authenticity

A proof is struck specially for collectors, with mirror-like fields; "Cameo" means the portrait and lettering are frosted against those fields, and PF69 is one point below a perfect 70. NGC, founded in 1987, is the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association, with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Munich and London. The seller also tested the metal through the holder with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier (consistent with the 40% silver-clad composition), inspected the holder for tampering (none found), and confirmed the certification number on the NGC website.

Also In Our Store

• Eisenhower dollars and GSA-sold Morgan dollars from that same 1970 law.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

The great Paris department store. The back invites visitors to see the store as "one of the most remarkable curiosities of Paris," with "interpreters in every language," and names its founder, Aristide Boucicaut.

Paris 1900. At the Exposition Universelle of 1900 the store was "Hors Concours — Membre du Jury": too distinguished to compete, it sat on the jury instead.

A fable for children. The front illustrates La Fontaine's fable of the hen that laid golden eggs, from a numbered series.

Condition

Front: very good, bright color with a slick finish. Back: light foxing, crisp green printing. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The front has a slick, glossy finish, and the back is printed in a single green ink.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The Bland-Allison Act of 1878 required the Treasury to buy two to four million dollars' worth of silver every month and coin it into silver dollars, and George T. Morgan's design carried that silver from 1878 to 1904. Philadelphia struck 20,290,000 Morgan dollars in 1887.

Buying Power

In 1887 this dollar had the buying power of about $35.47 today.

Condition

[Est. VF-35] Circulated, original and never cleaned, with natural gray toning that darkens toward the rims. Wear on the cheek, the hair above the ear and the cotton blossoms; LIBERTY on the headband is sharp and the hair strands above the forehead still show. The eagle's breast feathers are mostly worn flat and the tops of the wings show wear. Light handling marks (see the close-ups). Checked for the 1887/6 overdate (VAM-2) and the Alligator Eye (VAM-12): none seen. Tested on a Sigma Metalytics precious metal verifier: reading consistent with silver. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but worth far more to collectors and for its silver than its face value.

Also In Our Store

More Morgan and Peace silver dollars: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=silver+dollar

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The Bland-Allison Act of 1878 required the Treasury to buy two to four million dollars' worth of silver every month and coin it into silver dollars, and George T. Morgan's design carried that silver from 1878 to 1904. In 1886 Philadelphia struck 19,963,000, a record for the denomination at the time. That same year, on October 28, 1886, President Grover Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.

Buying Power

In 1886 this dollar had the buying power of about $35.64 today.

Condition

[Est. XF-40 Details, Cleaned] Circulated. Fine hairlines across both sides show an old cleaning, done before the coin came to us. Light wear on the cheek, the hair above the ear and the eagle's breast; the cotton blossoms and wing feathers are well defined and the rims are full. Small red-brown spots in the cotton leaves of the hair and on the reverse at the L of DOLLAR, left of the D and by the M of AMERICA (see the close-ups). Checked for the 1886 VAM-1C clashed reverse: none seen. Tested on a Sigma Metalytics precious metal verifier: reading consistent with silver. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but worth far more to collectors and for its silver than its face value.

Also In Our Store

More Morgan and Peace silver dollars: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=silver+dollar

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

The 1921-P

Philadelphia struck 44,690,000 Morgan dollars in 1921. That year the Mint struck 86,730,000 Morgan dollars in all, the largest single-year silver dollar mintage in US history. The Philadelphia Mint, America's first, struck the very first Morgan dollar on March 11, 1878.

The Year 1921

On May 5, 1921, Coco Chanel launched Chanel No. 5 at her boutique on the rue Cambon in Paris, and on August 5 Pittsburgh's KDKA aired the first radio broadcast of a major league baseball game. A dollar in 1921 had the buying power of about $18 today.

The Morgan Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that one of America's best-known collectible coins was designed by an Englishman, who went on to become Chief Engraver of the United States Mint?

George T. Morgan, from the Birmingham area of England, joined the US Mint in 1876 on the recommendation of Britain's Royal Mint. The Pittman Act of 1918 melted over 270 million silver dollars, much of their silver sold to Britain to back its currency in India, and in 1921 Morgan's design returned for one final year to replace them.

WHY A POLISHED DOLLAR?

Collectors are often told never to buy a polished coin, and for a coin bound for a grading slab, that is good advice. This coin is for a different kind of collector: one who wants to hold history, not look at it through plastic. Pick it up and feel the weight of the silver, tap it gently and hear it ring, and turn it in the light to watch the mirror finish catch it. Then wonder how many hands it passed through between the bank in 1921 and yours.

Grade And Authenticity

AU (About Uncirculated) 50–58 shows only traces of wear; "Details" means a grading service would not give this coin a numeric grade because it has been polished. The seller tested the metal with a calibrated Sigma Metalytics verifier set for 90% silver (consistent with silver); the last photo shows the verifier with this coin.

Also In Our Store

• Silver Eagles carrying the Walking Liberty design of German-born sculptor Adolph A. Weinman.
• Victorian advertising trade cards, chromolithographed in the Morgan years.
• Peace dollars, designed by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Condition

Good vintage condition.

Size And Weight

Adjustable; currently US size 7.5 and can be adjusted by hand. Weight 3.99 g including the stone.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

The 1923 Peace Dollar

Philadelphia struck 30,800,000 Peace dollars in 1923. The Philadelphia Mint, America's first, was created by the Coinage Act of 1792 and delivered the nation's first circulating coins in March 1793. Every one of the 1,006,473 Peace dollars dated 1921 was struck here.

The Year 1923

In November 1923 one US dollar was worth 4,210,500,000,000 German paper marks. The same year, the HOLLYWOODLAND sign went up in the hills above Los Angeles, its 43-foot letters lit by 4,000 light bulbs. A dollar in 1923 had the buying power of about $19 today.

The Peace Dollar

Isn't it remarkable that the coin America struck to celebrate peace after the First World War was designed by a young Sicilian immigrant, and modeled on his Italian-born wife?

Anthony de Francisci, born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1887, won the design competition in December 1921; Liberty's face is based on his wife, Teresa, born in Laurenzana, Italy. The coin followed the Pittman Act of 1918, which melted 270 million silver dollars and sold their silver to Britain to steady the currency of British India, and the 1921 resolution formally ending America's war with Germany and Austria-Hungary. English-born Chief Engraver George T. Morgan removed a broken sword from the first reverse before Christmas 1921.

Grade And Authenticity

This coin has not been professionally graded; [Est. XF40] is the seller's visual estimate on the 1–70 Sheldon scale, where XF (Extremely Fine) 40 shows light wear. Please judge from the photos.

Also In Our Store

• A 1923 German 500-million-mark banknote from that year's hyperinflation.
• Holiday postcards from the Golden Age of Postcards, many printed in Germany.
• Morgan dollars, designed by English-born George T. Morgan, and more world coins and banknotes.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Condition

Good vintage condition with light wear to the band.

Size

US ring size 7.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Condition

Good for its age. Slight damage on the back: a small area of misaligned or missing mesh links, repairable by a skilled metalsmith (see images). No maker's or silver marks found, and the metal has not been tested, so it is described as silver-toned.

Dimensions

Approx. 3.75 x 2.5 x 0.75 in. Weight 44.94 g.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Condition

Clean, with light wear. The warm lighting gives the silver a golden tint in some images; the piece is silver in color.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Emma Gamboa Alvarado (1901-1976) was a teacher and education scholar who earned a PhD at Ohio State in 1951, helped found the national teachers' association and served as vice-minister of education. She was declared Benemerita de la Patria in 1980. The colon has been Costa Rica's currency since 1896 and has never been redenominated.

Condition

[Est. UNC] No folds, creases or handling marks. The paper is bright and crisp, with sharp corners and clean edges. No tears, holes, stains or writing. Grade estimated from the scans; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

No longer legal tender: withdrawn on 31 December 2012; it can still be exchanged or deposited at Costa Rican financial institutions with no time limit (BCCR).

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The 1971 coin came two years after Apollo 11, whose insignia inspired the eagle-on-the-Moon reverse (mintage 47,799,000). The Bicentennial coins were struck in 1975 and 1976 with the dual date (117,337,000). The 1978 coin is the final year (25,702,000) before the Susan B. Anthony dollar replaced it in 1979.

Buying Power

In 1971 one dollar had the buying power of about $8.25 today; in 1978, about $5.12.

Condition

1971 [Est. AU50], 1776-1976 [Est. AU50], 1978 [Est. AU50]. Circulated, original and never cleaned; light wear on the high points and contact marks typical of circulated dollars (see the photos). Bicentennial checked: Type 1 lettering. Grades estimated; not professionally graded.

Also In Our Store

More coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Background

Gail Borden Jr. patented his process for making condensed milk in 1856, revolutionizing the dairy industry and providing a shelf-stable milk product for consumers. The Eagle Brand Condensed Milk, established by Borden, quickly became a household name, particularly valued for its convenience and safety compared to fresh milk, which was often prone to spoilage. The company's marketing often featured idyllic scenes of healthy children and families, associating their product with purity and well-being.

This particular advertisement, likely a trade card or a similar piece of ephemera, showcases the popular Victorian aesthetic with its detailed lithography and sentimental imagery. Such cards were widely distributed to promote products and were often collected by households. The depiction of a child and a kitten alongside the milk can was a common marketing strategy to evoke feelings of domesticity, care, and nourishment, appealing to mothers and families.

More Background & Description

Gail Borden Jr. patented his process for making condensed milk in 1856, revolutionizing food preservation and infant nutrition. His "Eagle Brand" became a household name, offering a shelf-stable milk product that was particularly vital in times when fresh milk was scarce or unsafe. The New York Condensed Milk Company, founded by Borden, was instrumental in popularizing this innovation across the United States.

This advertisement trade card, dates from the late 19th century, as indicated by the "COPYRIGHT 1887" mark. Such cards were common promotional items, distributed to consumers to build brand recognition and provide product information. The imagery of the eagle, a symbol of American strength and freedom, was strategically used to associate these qualities with the Eagle Brand, while the detailed instructions highlight its versatility and importance as a food source, especially for infants.

Ref: 1.0516

• Please reivew pictures carefully as they are part of the item description and condition.
• Dimensions: H: 5.5" x W: 3.5"
• Composition: Heavy cardstock with color printing.
• Please visit our store as we are constantly adding more items of all types. Thank you!

Historical Context

A neighborhood shoe store. Rosenberg sold wholesale and retail from a double storefront on South Fourth Street and took in custom work and repairs.

A girl and her pug. Dog collectors prize pug cards, and this is one of the largest cards in the group.

Condition

Front: excellent, bright color, light edge wear. Back: blank and toned. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The Rosenberg imprint is printed in black, and the back is blank.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Jacob Rosenberg cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=rosenberg

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Condition

Light tarnish; it polished to a mirror shine in the past.

Dimensions

Approx. 1.9 in. wide x 2.1 in. high x 0.7 in. deep. Weight 10.67 g.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Condition

Structurally sound, with tarnish and wear. It can be cleaned and polished, or left with its aged look.

Dimensions

Approx. 1.25 in. x 1.25 in. x 0.25 to 0.5 in. deep. Weight 4.79 g.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Winsch. The Winsch Publishing Company of Stapleton, New York, produced thousands of postcards from 1910 to 1915, printed in Germany; many were designed by the artist Samuel Schmucker. This card is unsigned, so no artist is claimed.

Two languages, one family. A Thanksgiving card made for the American market, carrying a sister's anniversary thanks in German script — a family keeping its language while taking up an American holiday.

For the frame. With its ribbon, gold and relief, this card displays as well as it stores.

Condition

Very good. The silk ribbon is bright and intact, the bow full, and the embossing crisp. Light toning and soft corners; the white border is clean. Back lightly toned, with the full ink message and a faint erased pencil mark at the top.

About The Printing

Deep embossing lifts the oval above the scanner's plane of focus, so its dot structure cannot be read reliably from our scans, and no printing method is claimed here. The grape and leaf relief in the border is blind-embossed — raised with no ink at all — and the oval carries a raised gold rim.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Sculptor Adolph A. Weinman designed the Walking Liberty half dollar, struck from 1916 to 1947. In 1942, the first full year after Pearl Harbor, Denver struck about 11 million of them, under a quarter of Philadelphia's 48 million. Weinman's Liberty returned in 1986 as the obverse of the American Silver Eagle, so this classic design is still being struck today.

Buying Power

In 1942 this half dollar had the buying power of about $10.24 today.

Condition

[Est. VF-20] Circulated, original and never cleaned or polished, with light gray toning and hints of blue. Full rims and bold lettering; LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, the date and HALF DOLLAR are sharp. The skirt lines on Liberty's legs, the sandal, the sun's rays and the eagle's wing feathers show clearly; Liberty's head, hand and the eagle's breast are worn smooth. Light marks consistent with circulation (see the close-ups). Checked for the 1942-D/S over-mint-mark variety: the D appears single. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but its silver content and collector value are far higher than face value.

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More coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Queen Elizabeth II was crowned at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. That same morning, London learned that Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay of the British Everest expedition had reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, news held back and released to the public on Coronation Day.

Condition

Coin 1, polished display coin (left in the images): polished to a bright mirror finish on both sides for display. Design detail on the shields, crown and lettering remains crisp (see close-ups). Some contact marks remain on the raised horse and rider on the obverse, and a tiny dark speck on the obverse rim. Not a proof: proofs have frosted designs against mirror fields; this coin is bright all over.

Coin 2, original coin (right in the images): never cleaned or polished, original surfaces and luster.

Please judge both coins from the images and video, which show these exact coins.

Also In Our Store

More world coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Congress authorized the Kennedy half dollar in December 1963, weeks after President Kennedy's assassination, and the first coins were released in March 1964. Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts sculpted the portrait (his GR monogram is on the truncation of the neck); Frank Gasparro designed the reverse from the Presidential Seal (his FG is near the eagle's tail feathers). 1964 is the only year the Kennedy half was struck in 90% silver for circulation; from 1965 the silver content dropped to 40%.

Condition

Uncirculated, our conservative estimate MS+ (not professionally graded). Natural gray toning; scattered light contact marks. See the photos of both coins, obverse and reverse.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Condition

Good vintage condition with light wear.

Size And Weight

US ring size 5.75. Weight 1.58 g including the stone.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Sculptor Adolph A. Weinman designed the Walking Liberty half dollar, struck from 1916 to 1947. His Liberty returned in 1986 on the American Silver Eagle, so the design is still being struck today. Denver struck 10,973,800 in 1942, under a quarter of Philadelphia's 47.8 million. That June the U.S. Navy turned the Pacific war at the Battle of Midway.

Buying Power

In 1942 this half dollar had the buying power of about $10.24 today.

Condition

[Est. F-15] Circulated, original, with light gray toning. Full rims and bold lettering; the date, IN GOD WE TRUST and HALF DOLLAR are sharp. Liberty's head and hand are worn smooth, the skirt lines show on the lower gown, the eagle's breast is worn flat and the wing feathers show in part. Light marks consistent with circulation (see the close-ups). Checked for the 1942-D/S over-mint-mark variety: the D appears single. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but its silver content and collector value are far higher than face value.

Also In Our Store

More coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Description

This trade card served as an advertisement for fashion patterns, using a sentimental image of a fairy child and the phrase "He Loves Me A Little" to evoke a sense of romance and domesticity. Such ephemera provides a fascinating glimpse into the popular culture, artistic styles, and marketing strategies of the Victorian period, making them sought after by collectors of antique paper goods and advertising.

Company Background

Maison Demorest was a prominent fashion and pattern company in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, founded by Ellen Louise Demorest. They were known for their "Reliable Patterns," which were widely distributed and advertised through various means, including trade cards like this one. These cards often featured charming illustrations to attract customers and promote their sewing patterns, which were essential for home dressmaking during the Victorian era. Mme. Demorest's Reliable Patterns were a popular brand of sewing patterns during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, founded by Jane Conklin. These patterns enabled home sewers to create fashionable garments, and their availability in dry goods stores made them accessible to a broad audience. The agency for these patterns signifies A. Block's role in providing not just materials but also the means for creating finished goods, reflecting a common business model of the era.

Histrorical Context

Dry goods stores were a staple of commerce in the 19th and early 20th centuries, offering a wide array of textiles, clothing, and household items. These establishments served as crucial community hubs, providing essential goods and often acting as agents for popular pattern companies, like Mme. Demorest's, which allowed individuals to create fashionable clothing at home. The variety of items listed on this card indicates a comprehensive general store catering to the needs of its local clientele.

Ref: 1.0522

• Please visit our store as we are constantly adding more items of all types. Thank you!

Historical Context

Before the message side. Until March 1, 1907, US postcards could carry only the address on the back; messages had to go on the front, as Clara's does here. Divided backs came in that spring.

The turkey's champion. Benjamin Franklin, whose face is on this card's stamp, wrote to his daughter in January 1784 that the eagle was "a Bird of bad moral Character" and the turkey "a much more respectable Bird." He did not propose the turkey as the national bird, but he would have liked this card.

Two states, two marks. Sent from East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and backstamped on arrival in Attleboro, Massachusetts, the card carries both ends of its journey.

Condition

Good to very good. A faint crease runs through the left side of the front near the eagle, visible mainly under bright light or magnification; it shows in the eagle close-up. Light corner wear and even toning. Back clean apart from a small dark spot at the upper left; postmarks clear.

About The Printing

This card is printed in halftone. Under magnification the black and the colors resolve into a regular, even grid of dots rather than the irregular hand-drawn stipple of a chromolithograph, as expected for a card of this date. The birds are embossed and outlined in gold, and the embossing shows through on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Zoë Mozert (1907–1993), born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, often served as her own model, using cameras and mirrors to capture the pose. She signed an exclusive calendar contract with Brown & Bigelow in 1941, painted the "Victory Girls" series during the war, and created the poster art for the film The Outlaw. By 1950 she was counted among the "big four" of American pin-up art with Rolf Armstrong, Earl Moran and Gil Elvgren. The "B&B" mark on this card is Brown & Bigelow's.

Mutoscope cards were sold one at a time from coin-operated vending machines in arcades and amusement parks during the 1940s. Most of them carried pin-up art, and the series were issued as named sets through the decade. The 1945 "Artist Pin-Up Girls" set ran to 64 cards. This one carries a baseball theme in its caption.

More vintage paper, Victorian trade cards, antique postcards and US silver dollars are in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl

Condition

Very good. Bright, solid color. A small crease or dent along the top edge near the upper right corner; corners otherwise sharp to slightly soft. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This card is printed in halftone: under magnification the color resolves into a regular, even grid of dots, the photomechanical process used for mass-produced cards of the period. The caption and imprints are printed in black. The card is flat, not embossed.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Sculptor Adolph A. Weinman designed the Walking Liberty half dollar, struck from 1916 to 1947. His Liberty returned in 1986 on the American Silver Eagle, so the design is still being struck today. Philadelphia struck 53,190,000 in 1943, the highest mintage of the series. That year the war took the copper out of the cent, struck in zinc-coated steel, but the half dollar stayed 90% silver.

Buying Power

In 1943 this half dollar had the buying power of about $9.65 today.

Condition

[Est. F-12] Circulated, with gray toning that deepens to violet and brown in the recesses. Full rims and clear lettering; the date is readable but worn low. Liberty's head, hand and upper body are worn smooth and the skirt lines show only in part; the eagle's feathers are worn, with the wing outlines clear. Fine scratches and light marks across both sides (see the close-ups). Checked the date and IN GOD WE TRUST for doubling: none seen. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but its silver content and collector value are far higher than face value.

Also In Our Store

More coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Sculptor Adolph A. Weinman designed the Walking Liberty half dollar, struck from 1916 to 1947. Denver struck only 1,165,000 in 1919, one of the lower mintages of the series. Weinman's Liberty returned in 1986 as the obverse of the American Silver Eagle bullion coin, so this design is still being struck more than a century later.

Buying Power

In 1919 this half dollar had the buying power of about $9.65 today.

Condition

[Est. AG-3] Original and never cleaned or polished, with even gray silver toning and no luster. Heavily worn: Liberty's figure, the sun and IN GOD WE TRUST are clear; LIBERTY, the date and HALF DOLLAR are worn into the rims, with the final 9 of the date and the D mint mark visible (see the close-ups). A long scratch across the eagle's wing and light marks on both sides. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but its silver content and collector value are far higher than face value.

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More coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Earl Moran (1893–1984), born in Belle Plaine, Iowa, signed an exclusive contract with the calendar publisher Brown & Bigelow in 1932, and by 1937 his pin-ups had sold millions of calendars. Life magazine made him a national name in 1940, and from 1946 a young Marilyn Monroe posed for him for four years. The "B&B" mark on this card is Brown & Bigelow's.

Mutoscope cards were sold one at a time from coin-operated vending machines in arcades and amusement parks during the 1940s. Most of them carried pin-up art, and the series were issued as named sets through the decade. The 1945 "Artist Pin-Up Girls" set ran to 64 cards.

More vintage paper, Victorian trade cards, antique postcards and US silver dollars are in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl

Condition

Very good. Bright, clean color. Corners sharp to very slightly soft; edges clean. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This card is printed in halftone: under magnification the color resolves into a regular, even grid of dots, the photomechanical process used for mass-produced cards of the period. The caption and imprints are printed in black. The card is flat, not embossed.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Patriotic Thanksgiving. Turkeys dressed as Uncle Sam made the holiday a national one on the card itself, and they draw patriotic collectors as well as holiday collectors.

A boy's mail. "Master" was the courtesy title for a young boy. Melvin Hutchinson of North Raynham received this card from his Aunt Hattie in 1910; a second card to him, from his "Florence baby" cousin in 1911, is also in our store.

Condition

Very good. Bright, clean colors and crisp embossing. Wear at the lower left and lower right corners, where the red band shows small chips. Back clean with light toning, a small rust-colored spot at the lower left of the message side, and the pencil address and signature as described.

About The Printing

This card is printed in halftone. Under magnification the colors resolve into a regular, even grid of dots rather than the irregular hand-drawn stipple of a chromolithograph. The wishbone, column and lettering accents are in gold, and the design is embossed so the turkey stands up in relief on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Earl Moran (1893–1984), born in Belle Plaine, Iowa, signed an exclusive contract with the calendar publisher Brown & Bigelow in 1932, and by 1937 his pin-ups had sold millions of calendars. Life magazine made him a national name in 1940, and from 1946 a young Marilyn Monroe posed for him for four years. The "B&B" mark on this card is Brown & Bigelow's.

Mutoscope cards were sold one at a time from coin-operated vending machines in arcades and amusement parks during the 1940s. Most of them carried pin-up art, and the series were issued as named sets through the decade. The 1945 "Artist Pin-Up Girls" set ran to 64 cards.

More vintage paper, Victorian trade cards, antique postcards and US silver dollars are in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl

Condition

Very good. Bright color. Corners sharp to slightly soft, the lower left a little softer. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This card is printed in halftone: under magnification the color resolves into a regular, even grid of dots, the photomechanical process used for mass-produced cards of the period. The caption and imprints are printed in black. The card is flat, not embossed.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

After President Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, Congress authorized a half dollar in his memory on December 30, 1963. Gilroy Roberts engraved the obverse and Frank Gasparro the reverse. 1964 is the first year of the Kennedy half and the only year it was struck in 90% silver for circulation; from 1965 the half dropped to 40% silver. Denver struck about 156 million in 1964.

Buying Power

In 1964 this half dollar had the buying power of about $5.39 today.

Condition

[Est. MS-60] Uncirculated and original, never polished or cleaned, with even gray toning in blue and gold tones that mutes the luster. Strong hair detail with the individual strands showing across the head; the eagle's feathers, shield lines and stars are crisp. Light contact marks and fine hairline scratches in the fields from decades of storage, mostly on the obverse, and a few small dark specks near the date (see the close-ups). Checked for the 1964-D doubled die obverse (FS-101) and the 1964-D/D repunched mint mark (FS-501): none seen; the D is single. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but its silver content and collector value are far higher than face value.

Also In Our Store

More coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Gil Elvgren (1914–1980), born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, became one of the best-known pin-up artists in America. In 1937 he began painting calendar pin-ups for Louis F. Dow, and stayed with Dow until about 1944; he then worked with Brown & Bigelow from 1945 to 1972, and his clients ranged from Coca-Cola to General Electric. This card comes from his Dow years, which fits the absence of a Brown & Bigelow mark.

Mutoscope cards were sold one at a time from coin-operated vending machines in arcades and amusement parks during the 1940s. Most of them carried pin-up art, and the series were issued as named sets through the decade. "Glorified Glamour Girls" of 1940 was the first of the 1940s pin-up sets, with 32 cards.

More vintage paper, Victorian trade cards, antique postcards and US silver dollars are in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl

Condition

Very good. Bright color. Corners sharp to slightly soft, with a small nick at the lower right corner. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This card is printed in halftone: under magnification the color resolves into a regular, even grid of dots, the photomechanical process used for mass-produced cards of the period. The caption and imprints are printed in black. The card is flat, not embossed.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

A Des Moines sweet shop. Fidler & Gould had a stock picture card imprinted with their name, a common way for a local confectioner to advertise.

Sending a message. The boy with his dove and letter is a charming subject for collectors of birds, children and Iowa history.

Condition

Front: very good to excellent, bright color, light edge wear. Blank back with foxing spots. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The confectioner's imprint is printed in black, and the back is blank.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A Detroit stove giant. The Michigan Stove Company sold its Garland stoves and ranges across the country, and the back calls the firm the largest maker of stoves and ranges in the world.

Heat for the parlor. The Oak-Michigan is a classic Victorian oak stove, with nickel trim and an ornate finial, built to burn coal, coke or wood.

Condition

Front: light toning, clean image. Back: clean and bright, crisp stove engraving. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Condition

Good vintage condition with light surface wear and tarnish in the recesses.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Condition

Excellent, with very little wear and a mirror-like shine.

Dimensions

Approx. 3.25 in. high x 3.5 in. wide x up to 0.75 in. deep. Weight 41.09 g.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Condition

Very good overall. Stones are missing: at least one blue teardrop and a few small clear rhinestones (see images).

Dimensions

Approx. 1.75 in. x 1.75 in. x 0.25 to 0.45 in. deep. Weight 7.91 g.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Christmas Day in Colorado. Written on Christmas Day 1909 in Breckenridge, Colorado, and addressed to Pittsburg, Kansas. With no stamp or postmark, it was presumably delivered by hand or tucked into an envelope or parcel.

Printed in Germany, the year the tariff came. German printers dominated early postcard printing, producing inexpensive, high-quality lithographs for American publishers. The same year this card was written, the Payne-Aldrich Tariff of 1909 taxed imported postcards at a much higher rate, and with the First World War American printers took over most of the market.

For Old World Santa collectors. A robed, hooded Santa in a gilt hexagon, with an Arts and Crafts panel below.

The Golden Age of Postcards. Usually dated 1907 to 1915, when Americans sent hundreds of millions of postcards every year.

Condition

Very good. Silver ground bright, embossing crisp. A fine curved scratch or hairline in the silver near the top right corner and a faint crease line near the lower left corner of the front, with a small white abrasion near the left edge by the holly and light scuffing on the black panel. Corners softly rounded with light wear; edges slightly toned. Back clean with light, even toning, the ink inscription and two old pencil prices.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The holly is embossed, the silver ground carries an embossed line texture, and the hexagon and panel are edged in gold.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Another 1909 embossed Christmas card with holly, this one mailed from Baxter Springs, Kansas: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158180868901

Another embossed Christmas card with holly and silver metallic ink: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158180794660

The immigrant story behind early American imagery runs through our US silver dollars too: the Morgan dollar was designed by English-born George T. Morgan, the Peace dollar by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Congress authorized the Kennedy half dollar in December 1963, weeks after President Kennedy's assassination, and the first coins were released in March 1964. Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts sculpted the portrait (his GR monogram is on the truncation of the neck); Frank Gasparro designed the reverse from the Presidential Seal (his FG is near the eagle's tail feathers). 1964 is the only year the Kennedy half was struck in 90% silver for circulation; from 1965 the silver content dropped to 40%.

Condition

Our conservative estimate AU+ (not professionally graded). One coin has gray-tan toning, a dark spot on the cheek near the jaw and a small rim nick at about 5 o'clock on the reverse. The other has blue-gray toning and a long scratch across the obverse, from the left field through the portrait toward LIBERTY. See the photos of both coins.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Patent medicine on parade. One remedy to purify the blood, clear the complexion, cure constipation and headache, and serve as the "Best Medicine for Babies and Children": claims like these ran freely before the federal Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. Garfield Tea and Garfield Tea Syrup were made by the Garfield Tea Company of Brooklyn, New York, and examples of the products are held in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

Pigs in their Sunday best. Dressed animals were among the most popular trade card subjects, and this courting couple, parasol and cane in hand, is a fine example for collectors of pigs and comic animals.

Condition

Very good for its age. Front: bright color; a faint vertical crease line near the right edge in the lower half; the card was cut close at the right, so the end of the heading runs off the edge; light toning; corners sharp to lightly worn. Back: light toning; a small grey smudge by "Cures"; a small dark fleck in "Garfield" in the lower text; a faint round dent in the left margin near the top; partial printing from the neighboring card along the left edge. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black type, separate from the color work on the front.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards for patent medicines, coffee and baking soda are in our store.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Business trade cards like these were a popular form of advertising in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often featuring colorful illustrations and company information. They were distributed as promotional items, similar to modern flyers or business cards, and were collected by many people, especially children. These cards provide valuable insights into the commercial practices and artistic styles of the era.

Ref: 1.0530

• Please visit our store as we are constantly adding more items of all types. Thank you!

Historical Context

Glazed coffee. Chicago roaster W. F. McLaughlin & Co. sold its XXXX brand roasted in the whole bean and coated with a glaze, and the back of this card makes the case in the company's own words. The firm names its own houses in Rio de Janeiro and Santos, Brazil, the coffee ports.

Collect the set. McLaughlin's issued its picture cards in numbered series, packed one to a package, and families saved them in albums.

Condition

Front: excellent, bright color. Back: light toning. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More McLaughlin's cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=mclaughlin

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Glazed coffee. Chicago roaster W. F. McLaughlin & Co. sold its XXXX brand roasted in the whole bean and coated with a glaze, and the back of this card makes the case in the company's own words. The firm names its own houses in Rio de Janeiro and Santos, Brazil, the coffee ports.

Collect the set. McLaughlin's issued its picture cards in numbered series, packed one to a package, and families saved them in albums.

Condition

Front: excellent, bright color. Back: light toning. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More McLaughlin's cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=mclaughlin

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Advertising for doctors. Drug makers sent blotters like this to physicians' offices, where they stayed on the desk.

"Nutley 10, N.J." is a postal zone address from before ZIP codes.

Condition

Front: very good, white margins. Back: blue blotter with a light wrinkle. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is a color print of the twentieth century, made by a modern commercial method. The exact process cannot be determined with certainty from a scan, so none is claimed here. Under magnification the image resolves into a regular dot pattern or flat solid inks, rather than the irregular hand-drawn stipple of an 1880s chromolithograph.

That is exactly what a piece of this date should show, so it is not a sign of reproduction here. The evidence of an original is the piece itself: its printed text, its imprints and the wear of its age.

The back is blue blotting paper.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More vintage advertising blotters and cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Victorian promotional trade cards were a popular form of advertising in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often featuring colorful illustrations of children, animals, or sentimental scenes. These cards were distributed by businesses to showcase their products and services, serving as both an advertisement and a collectible item. They were frequently given away with purchases, encouraging brand loyalty and providing a tangible reminder of the company.

Ref: 1.0526

• Please visit our store as we are constantly adding more items of all types. Thank you!

Historical Context

The 2000 was Paraguay's first polymer note, introduced in December 2009 to replace the worn 1000 note. Adela (1865-1902) and Celsa (1868-1918) Speratti were pioneering teachers who ran Paraguay's first graded girls' school from 1890.

Condition

[Est. UNC] Polymer note with no creases or ink wear seen, sharp corners and a clear, unclouded window. No marks or tape. Grade estimated from the scans; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

Still legal tender: current notes keep full value and will circulate alongside the new family the Central Bank presented in October 2026 until full replacement, expected around 2028-2029.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

From the iron range to a new state. Wakefield, in Gogebic County on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, grew up on the Gogebic iron range after iron ore was found at Sunday Lake in 1881; it was incorporated as a village in 1887.

Oklahoma postal history. Yale, in Payne County, had its post office from 1895 and had become a railroad, farming and cotton-processing town. Oklahoma had been a state for barely two years when this card arrived: Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory entered the Union together as the 46th state on November 16, 1907.

Made for America, in the German style. German printers dominated early postcard printing, and many cards of the period used embossing, metallic foils and decoration of the kind seen here. The same year this card was mailed, the 1909 Payne-Aldrich Tariff taxed imported postcards much more heavily, and World War I ended the German supply.

The Golden Age of Postcards. From 1907 to 1915 Americans mailed hundreds of millions of cards a year.

Condition

Good antique condition for a mailed card. Front: bright colors and strong embossing; rubbing and small paper loss to the silver sky at the top left corner; light wear to the other corners and edges; light rubbing to the gilt in places. Back: light even toning; pencil message and address as described; a few small red specks near the message; embossing shows through as raised relief. Postally used.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The card is also deeply embossed, with gold on the clock, horn and lettering and a silver metallic sky.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

The immigrant story behind early American imagery runs through our US silver dollars too: the Morgan dollar was designed by English-born George T. Morgan, the Peace dollar by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock designed the coin (his JRS initials are below the shoulder); it was released in 1948, after his death, and struck until 1963, when the Kennedy half replaced it. The Mint Act of 1792 required an eagle on the half dollar, which is why a small one sits beside the bell.

Condition

Our conservative estimate VF+ (not professionally graded). Even circulation wear on Franklin's cheek and hair; light scratches on the bell; natural gray toning. See the photos.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Glazed coffee. Chicago roaster W. F. McLaughlin & Co. sold its XXXX brand roasted in the whole bean and coated with a glaze, and the back of this card makes the case in the company's own words. The firm names its own houses in Rio de Janeiro and Santos, Brazil, the coffee ports.

Collect the set. McLaughlin's issued its picture cards in numbered series, packed one to a package, and families saved them in albums.

Condition

Front: excellent, bright color. Back: toned, with a spot. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More McLaughlin's cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=mclaughlin

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Made for America, printed in Saxony. Raphael Tuck & Sons was a London firm, founded in 1866, that held a Royal Warrant and issued its first postcards in 1900. Like most early Tuck cards, this one was printed in Germany, yet this series was made for an American holiday. German printers dominated early postcard printing, producing inexpensive, high-quality lithographs for American publishers.

The first year of the divided back. Until 1907 the back of a private postcard was for the address alone; on March 1, 1907, a new law let senders write messages on the left half of the back. Mailed in November of that first year, this card uses the new divided back, and the sender still added a greeting on the front. The Golden Age of Postcards is usually dated 1907 to 1915.

Ohio mail. The card went from Cincinnati to Bethel, in Clermont County, eight days before Thanksgiving 1907.

A holiday with more than one story. In the United States Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November; Canada gives thanks on the second Monday of October (October 12 in 2026). Since November 26, 1970, Native Americans have gathered at Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Thanksgiving Day for a National Day of Mourning, remembering the Wampanoag people and the history that followed the colonists' arrival. American families still gather each November to give thanks, much as the sender and recipient of this card did more than a century ago.

Condition

Good, with honest wear. Front: rich color and strong embossing; scattered small white surface scuffs and flecks of ink loss on the two lead turkeys; faint creases/surface lines in the upper center and right side; light corner and edge wear; pencil writing on the front as described. Back: toning and some light brown staining, mostly at center and left; ink message and address as described. Postally used.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The turkeys are embossed in high relief, visible from the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Another embossed turkey card for Thanksgiving, a 1909 design published by M.W. Taggart of New York: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158174523818

An American-made Thanksgiving card from 1927, after the German trade had ended, by Whitney Made of Worcester, Massachusetts: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158174535521

The immigrant story behind early American imagery runs through our US silver dollars too: the Morgan dollar was designed by English-born George T. Morgan, the Peace dollar by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Overnight across northwest Ohio. Mailed at Tiffin, the county seat of Seneca County, at 6:30 in the evening on December 13, 1910, the card was stamped on arrival at Wharton, a village in Wyandot County, at 7 the next morning. Wharton's post office opened as Whartonsburgh in 1852 and took the name Wharton in 1879.

Rural Free Delivery. "R.F.D." began as an experiment in 1896 and became permanent in 1902, bringing mail to farm families' own mailboxes. This is a family card, written to an aunt and uncle, with a note that it comes from Mary Hazel.

A flag on the cancel. The machine cancel is a waving flag with stars, a postal-history crossover for patriotic and cancel collectors.

European printers, American Christmas. Gold-ground embossed cards like this belong to the Golden Age of Postcards, roughly 1907 to 1915. German printers dominated the trade, prized for color, embossing and metallic foils, and European artists and printers did much to shape American popular imagery until the 1909 Payne-Aldrich Tariff and the First World War. This card is not marked with a country of printing.

Condition

Used. The front is described from a scan cut off at the bottom; a full report will follow a rescan. On the visible front: bright colors; light wear and rubbing to the gold on the raised dots; corners lightly rounded. The back is complete and shows heavy scattered foxing (rust-brown spots) over much of the surface, heaviest at the left and along the message, and some darkening along the left edge. Ink message and address; an old pencil mark at the upper left corner. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The gold ground is metallic gold embossed with a regular pattern of raised dots, and Santa, the tree, the toys and the vignette frame are embossed in relief.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

The immigrant story behind early American imagery runs through our US silver dollars too: the Morgan dollar was designed by English-born George T. Morgan, the Peace dollar by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

The coffee that came with a picture. Lion Coffee began in Toledo, Ohio, in 1864 and became part of the Woolson Spice Company in 1882. Alvin Woolson built the brand by putting picture cards in every package, and the back of this card says so.

Condition

Front: excellent, bright color. Back: light toning. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in a single brown ink.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Lion Coffee cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=lion+coffee

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Comapny Background

E.W. Hoyt & Co. was a pharmaceutical company based in Lowell, Massachusetts, known for products like Hoyt's German Cologne and Rubifoam. This advertising trade card highlights their dual marketing strategy, promoting both a personal fragrance and a dental product. The inclusion of pricing and dealer information aimed to facilitate direct sales and distribution. E.W. Hoyt & Co. was a prominent manufacturer of toiletries and perfumes. The company was well known for its "Hoyt's German Cologne," a popular fragrance, and "Rubifoam," a dental product. Their advertising often emphasized the quality and purity of their goods, aiming to establish brand loyalty and combat counterfeit products. This advertising card, likely distributed in the late 19th or early 20th century, served as a promotional tool. By perfuming the card itself, the company offered a tangible sensory experience of their cologne, making the advertisement more memorable and persuasive. Such items are now collected as examples of historical ephemera and early advertising practices.

Historical Context

Victorian business trade cards were a popular form of advertising in the late 19th century, often featuring colorful illustrations and product information. Companies used these cards to promote their goods, with many being perfumed or embossed to attract consumers. They served as early forms of collectible ephemera, with designs ranging from sentimental scenes to product endorsements.

Ref: 1.0531

• Please visit our store as we are constantly adding more items of all types. Thank you!

Historical Context

The coffee that came with a picture. Lion Coffee began in Toledo, Ohio, in 1864 and became part of the Woolson Spice Company in 1882. Alvin Woolson built the brand by putting picture cards in every package, and the back of this card says so.

Condition

Front: excellent, bright color. Back: light toning. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in a single brown ink.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Lion Coffee cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=lion+coffee

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

PFB. The PFB monogram is attributed by collectors to Paul Finkenrath of Berlin, one of the leading makers of embossed postcards; "Relief" on the back refers to the embossing.

The Golden Age of Postcards. The divided-back years, 1907 to 1915, are known as the Golden Age of Postcards, and German printers dominated the trade.

Up the river. Mailed from Cromwell to Hartford, a short run up the Connecticut River, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving 1908.

Condition

Very good. Some small areas of printing are rubbed from the high points of the embossing, as is common on these cards; colors otherwise rich. Light corner wear. Back clean with light toning; postmark and address clear.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The turkeys and fence are embossed, and the relief shows clearly on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Made for America, printed in Saxony: a 1907 Raphael Tuck Thanksgiving card: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158174532357

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The inti replaced the sol de oro at 1,000 to 1 on 1 February 1985, and this note was printed after that change; the later 50 intis note kept the design with only the green 50. Nicolas de Pierola, nicknamed 'El Califa', was president of Peru in 1879-1881 and 1895-1899.

Condition

[Est. F] Well circulated, with many creases, a vertical center fold and a horizontal fold, overall soiling and rounded corners. A faint blue ink line about 20 mm long runs above the top serial on the front, and a small cluster of brown stains sits under 'BANCO' on the back. No tears, holes or tape. Grade estimated from the scans; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

No longer legal tender: demonetized on 31 December 1986, and sol de oro notes cannot be exchanged for current soles.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Description

An antique Liebig trade card from the French-language series "Instruments de musique nationaux" (National Musical Instruments). This card, "TYROL – Cithare", shows a young Tyrolean man in a feathered green hat, red waistcoat and lederhosen playing a zither on his knees in front of an Alpine chalet. A smiling young woman in a wide-brimmed hat and apron stands behind him, and an older man sits listening on a stack of logs. Snow-capped mountains rise in the background. A jar of Liebig meat extract stands at lower left, and the bottom banner reads "VÉRITABLE EXTRAIT DE VIANDE LIEBIG" (Genuine Liebig Meat Extract). "Voir au verso" (see reverse) is printed at lower right.

The back, printed in French, carries the Compagnie Liebig advertisement, with a vignette of a young artist painting a jar of Liebig extract at his easel and a large blue facsimile of the "J. v. Liebig" signature. In translation: "Liebig Company. Works at Fray-Bentos and branches (South America). Hors concours [beyond competition] since 1885. No foreign matter is added to genuine Liebig meat extract. It is an absolutely pure meat juice. Sold by grocers and provision merchants. Insist on the Liebig signature in blue ink on the label and the paper wrapping the jars." A second panel advertises Liebig meat peptone, "because of its extreme digestibility and high nutritional value", as the fortifying food for "the weak, the anaemic, invalids and especially those who suffer from the stomach", sold in the principal pharmacies. The bottom line reads "Importé par la Compagnie Liebig, Paris" (Imported by the Liebig Company, Paris).

Historical Context

Liebig's Extract of Meat Company was founded in London on December 4, 1865, by the German chemist Justus von Liebig and the engineer George Christian Giebert. Its factory at Fray Bentos, Uruguay, was turning out 500 tonnes of meat extract a year by 1875; the company later gave its name to Fray Bentos corned beef and launched Oxo cubes in 1911. From 1872 Liebig packed collectible card sets with its product, usually six cards to a theme (stories, history, geography), printed in many languages for markets across Europe. The blue signature on the back was the company's guarantee of the genuine product, and the card itself tells buyers to look for it.

Tyrol is the historic Alpine region of the Habsburg lands, a crown land from the 12th century until 1919, when it was divided between Austria (today's State of Tyrol) and Italy (South Tyrol and Trentino). This card was printed for French buyers, about a people and an instrument of the Austrian Alps, by a company founded in London by a German chemist with its factory in South America: an early piece of truly international advertising.

More Victorian trade cards, antique postcards and US silver dollars are in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl

Condition

Good antique condition. Bright colors on the front with light wear to the corners and edges. Back clean and legible with light toning. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

Liebig cards of this era were printed by chromolithography, with each color laid down from its own stone. The rich, layered color on the front is typical of the process.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

----- Not For Pasting -----

Item Specifics

- Brand: Liebig

- Country of Origin: set to France by Joseph, 2026-10-03. eBay has no "Unknown" option, and the field feeds international export paperwork. The card was imported and distributed by the Paris office; the actual printer is unknown.

- Language: French

- Original/Reprint: Original

Notes

- Set name and card read from the front; back translated by Claude (UNSUPPORTED; Joseph can check the French).

- Year: the live title says 1900. The back proves only "after 1885" (hors concours depuis 1885). Not dated, so the new title leaves the year out.

- Printing: chromolithography is assumed from the age and look (Joseph: "very safe bet"). No dot check was done (no original scan).

- Sanguinetti catalog number and year: not confirmed. A search turned up "S 0561 National Musical Instruments", but the match isn't confirmed.

- Condition: written from the screenshots only. Adjust if needed.

SOURCES (retrieved 2026-10-03)

- Liebig company facts and trade cards: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebig%27s_Extract_of_Meat_Company (SOURCED)

- Tyrol: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrol_(region) (SOURCED)

Revision Log

r01 2026-10-03 Created from Joseph's front and back screenshots.

r02 2026-10-03 New title (79 characters), chosen by Joseph.

Historical Context

For the nation's 200th birthday the Mint replaced the reverses of the quarter, half dollar and dollar for two years: coins struck in 1975 and 1976 all carry the dual date 1776-1976. Seth G. Huntington designed the Independence Hall reverse; Gilroy Roberts' Kennedy portrait stays on the obverse.

Condition

Our conservative estimate AU+ (not professionally graded). Bright luster with light contact marks and fine hairlines from circulation. See the photos of each coin, obverse and reverse.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Christmas after the Armistice. Aunt Annie mailed this card from Lynn, Massachusetts, on December 23, 1918, six weeks after the Armistice of November 11, 1918, ended the fighting of World War I.

Lake Winnipesaukee mail. It went north to a boy in Center Tuftonboro, one of the villages of Tuftonboro, a Carroll County town on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.

A wartime postal rate. The US postcard rate was 1 cent for decades, but it rose to 2 cents on November 2, 1917, and went back to 1 cent on July 1, 1919, so this card was mailed during that short wartime window.

Printed in America. Before the war, German printers dominated American postcard printing; once the First World War began, American printers supplied most of the postcards sold in the United States. This card carries no "Germany" mark and was printed with a halftone screen, consistent with that shift.

For artist-signed collectors. The "Gassaway" signature in the printing gives this card appeal for collectors of signed postcard artists.

Condition

Very good. Front bright and clean, with light, even toning to the cream border and a few tiny spots in the left margin. Short diagonal crease line at the lower right corner of the front, near the 3146. Corners slightly softened. Back clean, with the ink message and address and a faint pencil mark at the top left. No tears or album residue seen.

About The Printing

This card is printed with a halftone screen. Under magnification the flesh tones of Santa's face resolve into a regular grid of dots set at an angle — about 100 lines to the inch — the mark of a photomechanical printing process rather than hand-drawn chromolithographic stipple. Other areas, like the hood and the tree, show a grainier, less regular texture, and the black drawing lines read as solid ink. There is no four-color rosette of the kind a modern reproduction would show. The card is flat, not embossed.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Another embossed Christmas postcard with a Santa portrait, from 1909: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158180900005

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Christian Gobrecht's Seated Liberty design appeared on the dime from 1837 to 1891. By 1853 the flood of California gold had made the silver in coins worth more than their face value, so silver coins were melted or hoarded and disappeared from circulation. The Coinage Act of 1853 cut the dime from 2.67 to 2.49 grams, and the Mint placed arrows beside the date from 1853 to 1855 to mark the new lighter standard. Philadelphia struck about 12 million arrows dimes in 1853, against only 95,000 of the 1853 No Arrows dimes struck before the change.

Buying Power

In 1853 this dime had the buying power of about $4.38 today.

Condition

[Est. G-6] Circulated, original and never cleaned, with even gray toning and some light brown toning in the obverse fields. Full rims on both sides; the date, arrows, stars and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA are bold and clear, and the reverse wreath still shows leaf detail. LIBERTY on the shield is worn away, as is usual at this grade. A small rim nick at about 2 o'clock on the reverse and a few light scratches, including one across the right side of the wreath (see the close-ups). Checked for the 1853 repunched date (FS-1301): none seen. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but its silver content and collector value are far higher than face value.

Also In Our Store

More coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Patent medicine on parade. Instant relief for aches, pains, neuralgia and rheumatism: claims like these ran freely before the federal Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.

Medicine and flavoring extracts. Many small-town druggists made both, sold side by side with spices and candy.

Condition

Front: very good, bright color. Back: toned with staining; text legible. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Quite lonesome. Ara wrote to Hattie two days before Thanksgiving 1907, missing the people back home: "Come out when you can."

The Golden Age of Postcards. The divided-back years, 1907 to 1915, are known as the Golden Age of Postcards, and German printers dominated the trade.

Condition

Very good. Subtle color and deep, crisp embossing; light corner wear and a few small dark specks near the pumpkin at lower right. Back clean with light toning; small pencil "15" at top.

About The Printing

The color on this card was airbrushed: sprayed onto deeply embossed stock. Under magnification it lies as a fine mist with soft edges and no dot screen at all, quite unlike the stipple of a chromolithograph or the regular dots of halftone. The turkey and cornucopias stand up in high relief on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A short-lived brand. The Alden Fruit Vinegar company was founded in St. Louis in 1878 and was gone by 1907 (Library Company of Philadelphia).

A Kansas railroad town. Waverly, Kansas, was platted in 1878 on the Ottawa and Burlington Railroad (Cutler, History of the State of Kansas).

Condition

Front: very good, bright color. Back: stains; text legible. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Santa in blue. Santa was not always dressed in red on early postcards, and a blue-coated Santa with gold trim is an uncommon variation for collectors of Santa imagery.

Two days before Christmas. The card was mailed on December 23, 1912, to Shauck, a small community in Perry Township, Morrow County, in central Ohio.

A first-year stamp. The 1-cent Washington first appeared in 1912, replacing Benjamin Franklin on the 1-cent value, so this card was mailed in that stamp's first year.

The Golden Age of Postcards. Heavily embossed, gold-trimmed cards belong to the years from about 1907 to 1915, when Americans mailed hundreds of millions of cards a year and German printers led the trade until the 1909 Payne-Aldrich Tariff and the First World War. This card is not marked with a country of printing.

Condition

Used. Condition can only be partly described from the current scans, which are cut off at the bottom of the front and the left side of the back; a full report will follow a rescan. On the visible portions: embossing deep and intact; gold bright, with light rubbing on the highest points; light corner wear. A small dark spot in the pink ground near "Merry". Back toned an even tan, with scattered light foxing spots and a few faint surface scratches at left center. Pencil address and message, faint old pencil notations and an old pencil mark on the back. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This card's color was not printed in dots at all. Under magnification there is no halftone screen, no four-color rosette and none of the hand-drawn stipple of a chromolithograph. The coral-pink ground and Santa's blue coat lie on the paper as soft, fine-grained color that shades smoothly into white: the look of color applied by airbrush. Airbrushed postcards of this period were almost always embossed as well, and this one is heavily embossed; the roof, icicles, Santa and the lettering stand in strong relief. The gold is a metallic finish with a fine sparkle.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Another embossed Christmas postcard with a Santa portrait, from 1909: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158180900005

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Florence. Florence is a village in the northwest of Northampton, known for its silk mills and for the Northampton Association of Education and Industry, the 1840s community that Sojourner Truth joined in 1843. The sender signed as the "Florence baby," and the postmark agrees: Florence Station.

A pair to one boy. Melvin Hutchinson's Aunt Hattie sent him a patriotic Thanksgiving card the year before; it is also in our store.

Condition

Good to very good. Front colors and gold strong, embossing crisp; some soiling and light edge wear on the cream border. Back shows foxing and toning, heaviest at the edges, with light corner wear; postmark, flag cancel and address clear.

About The Printing

This card is printed in halftone. Under magnification the turkey's blue-green resolves into a regular, even grid of dots rather than the irregular hand-drawn stipple of a chromolithograph. The wishbone and shield are in gold, and the card is embossed throughout, so the whole design stands up in relief on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Another M.132 card, the child chef riding a turkey, "Thanksgiving Joys," 1911: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158174533956

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Papa's Delight. Under the banner, Santa holds up slippers and a stocking while puffing on his pipe, a homely Christmas-morning scene with crossover appeal for pipe and tobacciana collectors.

A northwest Ohio village. The card went to a boy, "Master Lloyd", in Hoytville, Wood County. Hoytville's post office opened as Hoyts Corners in 1872 and took the name Hoytville in 1874.

A postmark with a quirk. The datestamp is struck in violet ink, with the year slug set upside down.

European printers, American Christmas. Embossed, gilded cards like this belong to the Golden Age of Postcards, roughly 1907 to 1915. German printers dominated the trade, prized for color, embossing and metallic foils, and European artists and printers did much to shape American popular imagery until the 1909 Payne-Aldrich Tariff and the First World War. This card is not marked with a country of printing.

Condition

Used. Condition can only be partly described from the current scans, which are cut off at the bottom of the front and the left side of the back; a full report will follow a rescan. On the visible portions: bright colors and gold, with light rubbing to the gold on the high points of the embossing; corners lightly rounded. The back shows light tan foxing spots, mostly around the edges and the stamp, fine surface cracking in the paper over some of the deeper embossing, and a short vertical crease line at the left of the message. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The bell is a textured metallic gold, and the bell, holly, Santa and scrollwork are embossed in relief.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

The immigrant story behind early American imagery runs through our US silver dollars too: the Morgan dollar was designed by English-born George T. Morgan, the Peace dollar by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Oklahoma City, before the name. Mailed on Christmas Eve 1908, a little over a year after Oklahoma became a state on November 16, 1907, when Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory were joined. The postmark reads "Oklahoma, Okla." because that was the post office's official name: the office at Oklahoma Station was renamed Oklahoma in 1888 and did not become Oklahoma City until July 1, 1923. Oklahoma City became the state capital in 1910, two years after this card was mailed.

A Payne County town on the rails. The card went out on Rural Route 1 from Yale, in Payne County, whose post office opened in 1895 and which was reached by the Eastern Oklahoma Railway in 1902 and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway in 1903. Yale is also home to the Jim Thorpe House, the former residence of the Olympic gold medalist.

An era shaped by European printers. German printers dominated early postcard printing, producing inexpensive, high-quality lithographs for American publishers. In the Golden Age of Postcards, usually dated 1907 to 1915, Americans sent hundreds of millions of postcards every year.

Condition

Fair to good, with honest age. The back is strongly toned to tan, with lighter diagonal bands across the corners, most likely where old album corner mounts once covered the surface. Small area of surface paper loss at the lower edge of the back, left of center. The front shows soft peach toning at the upper right and faint gray offset marks (ink transferred from another card) at the top. Corners lightly worn, with a small nick at the upper right corner of the back. Embossing strong and intact; gold bright. Handwritten message and address.

About The Printing

This card's soft colors were not printed in dots. Under magnification there is no halftone screen, no four-color rosette and none of the hand-drawn stipple of a chromolithograph. The pink and lavender in the beard and the peach toward the corners blend smoothly with a fine spray grain: the look of color applied by airbrush. The red coat is a solid field of ink with crisp edges. Airbrushed postcards of this period were almost always embossed, and this one is heavily embossed, with the whole head raised in relief; the holly, horn, lettering and outlines are in metallic gold.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Another card sent to Yale, Oklahoma, likely to the same family (surname is a best reading):

A 1909 Happy New Year card with gnomes and a clock in silver and gold: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158174121074

The immigrant story behind early American imagery runs through our US silver dollars too: the Morgan dollar was designed by English-born George T. Morgan, the Peace dollar by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

From Oklahoma's first capital. This card was mailed from Guthrie in December 1912. Guthrie was the territorial capital and then Oklahoma's first state capital, from statehood on November 16, 1907, until June 11, 1910, when voters moved the capital to Oklahoma City.

A Payne County farm town. Yale, about twenty miles east of Stillwater, was founded in 1895 and had railroad service by 1902–03. "Route 3" is Rural Free Delivery, which began as an experiment in 1896 and became permanent in 1902, bringing mail to farm families' own mailboxes.

An Olympic connection. Yale later became the home of Jim Thorpe, who won Olympic gold in the pentathlon and decathlon at Stockholm in 1912, the year this card was mailed. His house in Yale is preserved today as the Jim Thorpe House.

A first-year stamp. The 1-cent Washington first appeared in 1912, replacing Benjamin Franklin on the 1-cent value, so this card was mailed in that stamp's first year.

The Golden Age of Postcards. From about 1907 to 1915 Americans mailed hundreds of millions of cards a year, and German printers led the trade in color and embossing until the 1909 Payne-Aldrich Tariff and the First World War. This card is not marked with a country of printing.

Condition

Used. Condition can only be partly described from the current scans, which are cut off at the bottom of the front and the right side of the back; a full report will follow a rescan. On the visible portions: corners softly rounded, with light wear at the upper left of the back; light surface wear; embossing intact and crisp. Ink message and address on the back, old pencil marks at the top, and a small brown spot near the pencil "45". Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The card is also embossed: Santa, the girls, the tree and the holly stand in relief.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Another card sent to Yale, Oklahoma — a 1909 embossed New Year card with gnomes and a clock: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158174121074

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Joplin's mines. Joplin sat at the center of the Tri-State Mining District and became the lead- and zinc-mining capital of the world; by 1871 mining camps had spread through the Joplin Creek valley. A daughter in Chicago writing to her father at the Midway Mines puts a piece of that story on a holiday card.

Airbrushed cards. Spray-colored, heavily embossed cards like this one have a soft, sculpted look all their own.

Condition

Good. This is an unusually thick card, and the back layer is beginning to separate from the front at the edges. Front color soft but intact, embossing crisp, corners good. Back toned with light soiling; the pencil message is faint, as is the pencil address.

About The Printing

The color on this card was airbrushed: sprayed onto deeply embossed stock pressed with a wood-grain texture. Under magnification the color lies as a fine mist with soft edges and no dot screen at all, quite unlike the stipple of a chromolithograph or the regular dots of halftone.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A new state's mail. Oklahoma had been a state for barely two years when this card arrived; Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory were joined on November 16, 1907. It crossed the line from Baxter Springs, in the southeast corner of Kansas less than two miles from the border, the first "cow town" in Kansas in the early 1870s.

Rural Free Delivery. "R.F.D." delivery to farm families began on October 1, 1896, in West Virginia and became permanent in 1902, which is how a Christmas card reached a box on a country road outside Catoosa — today a Route 66 town in Rogers County, about fourteen miles northeast of Tulsa, home of the Blue Whale of Catoosa.

For trolley collectors. The electric streetcar beside Santa gives this card crossover appeal for transportation and trolley collectors.

A dozen languages on one card. The Universal Postal Union heading on the back, running from German and French through Hungarian, Polish, Czech, Russian and Spanish, was standard on European-printed cards and shows how international the postcard trade was. German printers led it until the Payne-Aldrich Tariff of 1909 raised the duty on imported postcards sharply.

Condition

Good for its age. The gold ground shows rubbing and some flaking along the edges, most at the lower left corner, with general wear to all four corners. Small dark green mark in the gold at the upper right of the front. Embossing crisp, colors bright. On the back: faint pink offset (ink transferred from another card) in the center, faint pencil marks along the top edge, corners lightly worn. Message and address in pencil. No tears seen.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The holly border, greeting and figures are embossed, and the frame is printed in metallic gold.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

An earlier card to Ethel Bradford of Catoosa, addressed "Ind. T." — Indian Territory, before statehood: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158180794660

The immigrant story behind early American imagery runs through our US silver dollars too: the Morgan dollar was designed by English-born George T. Morgan, the Peace dollar by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

The Congress shoe was an ankle boot with elastic panels in the sides — the gores — so it pulled on without laces. The weak point was always the elastic, which stretched and failed long before the leather wore out. This company made the elastic, and the card is a guarantee on that one part: eighteen months, or they would put in new gores free.

It is an early example of a component maker selling directly to the public over the head of the manufacturer. Ask for the shoe with our elastic in it, and keep this card as your proof.

Condition

Toning and age typical of the period. Faint pencil marks at the upper right of the reverse; light surface soiling; minor edge and corner wear. The winter scene on the front is clean and the certificate text fully legible. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

Provenance

This item comes from the personal collections of my family estate, accumulated over more than 200 years — including items that came west by wagon train to Colorado and later to Oklahoma. Now that my parents have passed we cannot keep all of these cherished items. They were well-educated antiques collectors/traders and continued to build their collections over more than 60 years. The vast majority of the pieces are from the Victorian Era, however there are plenty of older and newer items. Everything has been stored in a climate-controlled environment over time.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Condition

Good vintage condition. The black finish shows wear, with lighter metal visible on the high points and on the back (see images). All stones appear present.

Dimensions

Approx. 2.25 in. x 2.25 in. x 0.75 in. deep. Weight 27.12 g.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Francisco Bolognesi (1816-1880) died defending Arica against the Chilean assault of 7 June 1880, in the War of the Pacific, after vowing to fight 'hasta quemar el ultimo cartucho' (until the last cartridge is spent). He is a Peruvian national hero and patron of the Peruvian Army. In 1985 the inti replaced the sol de oro at 1,000 to 1.

Condition

[UNC] All five: no folds, creases or handling seen; crisp bright paper with sharp corners. No marks, holes or tape. Grade estimated from in hand inspection and high resolution scans; not professionally graded or certified.

Legal Tender

No longer legal tender: demonetized on 31 December 1986, and sol de oro notes cannot be exchanged for current soles.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

That last line dates the card exactly. The Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building was the largest structure at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, and this company had a stand in the north-west portion of it, Section H. The card was printed to be handed out there.

Which makes the picture a self-portrait of the moment. Uncle Sam distributing kalsomine to the nations on the steps of the White City is not subtle, but it is exactly how Chicago felt about itself that summer — and the fez in the crowd is there because the world really had turned up.

Condition

Toning and age typical of the period. Light surface soiling; minor edge and corner wear; light soiling to the reverse. The chromolithographed image remains bright with strong color and the reverse text is fully legible. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

Provenance

This item comes from the personal collections of my family estate, accumulated over more than 200 years — including items that came west by wagon train to Colorado and later to Oklahoma. Now that my parents have passed we cannot keep all of these cherished items. They were well-educated antiques collectors/traders and continued to build their collections over more than 60 years. The vast majority of the pieces are from the Victorian Era, however there are plenty of older and newer items. Everything has been stored in a climate-controlled environment over time.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Oklahoma before Oklahoma. "Ind. T." is Indian Territory. Catoosa lay in the Cherokee Nation; the railroad arrived in 1881–82 and the post office opened in 1883. Indian Territory ceased to exist on November 16, 1907, when it and Oklahoma Territory entered the Union as the State of Oklahoma. With a postmark of 1906 or 1908, this card was either written in the last year of Indian Territory or by a friend still using the old address after statehood.

Route 66 country. Catoosa, in today's Rogers County about fourteen miles northeast of Tulsa, later became a stop on Route 66 and is home to the roadside landmark the Blue Whale of Catoosa.

Made for America, printed in Germany. The Illustrated Postal Card & Novelty Co. of New York (active about 1905–1914) is known to have had many of its cards printed in Leipzig before it began making its own in 1909. This card carries no country of printing. German printers led the world in color, embossing and metallic inks until the 1909 Payne-Aldrich Tariff and then the First World War ended the trade.

The Golden Age of Postcards. From 1907 to 1915 Americans mailed hundreds of millions of cards a year. The divided back, with room for a message beside the address, was permitted from March 1, 1907.

Condition

Used, with honest age wear. Corners rounded and soft, most at the lower left. Light chipping and scuffing along the top edge, best seen on the back. Light overall toning, a few small light spots on the back. Embossing and silver intact; light rubbing to the silver in places. Pencil on the front border and a full pencil message and address on the back. Postmark lightly struck. Small old pencil mark at the upper left of the back. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This card combines two printing methods. The central photograph is a halftone: under magnification it resolves into a regular, even dot screen, as photographs were reproduced at the time. It is set into a chromolithographed frame of holly, where the reds and greens resolve into irregular stipple with no regular screen. The silver is metallic ink, and the holly, berries and frame are embossed.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

A second card to Ethel Bradford of Catoosa, mailed from Baxter Springs, Kansas, in 1909 — after statehood, and addressed "Okla.": https://www.ebay.com/itm/158180868901

The immigrant story behind this card runs through our US silver dollars too: the Morgan dollar was designed by English-born George T. Morgan, the Peace dollar by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Dating by the stamp. This Franklin 1-cent design was issued in December 1908, and Washington's portrait replaced Franklin's on the 1-cent value in February 1912, so the card was most likely mailed between those dates.

Condition

Very good. Outstanding gold detail and bright color; some flaking of the red border along the edges and light corner wear. Back clean apart from a couple of small ink spots; pencil "(35)."

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph: each color was drawn by hand onto its own stone and printed in its own pass. Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, with no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. The turkey, bows and fruit are embossed, and the relief shows on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The Mayflower. With the Pilgrims' ship on the horizon and the turkey on shore, the whole Thanksgiving story fits in one embossed scene.

Airbrushed cards. Color sprayed over deep embossing gives these cards a soft, sculpted look all their own.

Condition

Very good. Soft colors clean and even, embossing crisp, light corner wear. Back clean with light toning; the pencil address and signature are clear.

About The Printing

The color on this card was airbrushed: sprayed onto deeply embossed stock. Under magnification it lies as a fine mist with soft edges and no dot screen at all, quite unlike the stipple of a chromolithograph or the regular dots of halftone. The relief shows clearly on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The only card on hand. A cousin used the one card in the house, a Thanksgiving card, to send the real news: eight pigs and three calves.

Condition

Very good. Bright colors and gold, crisp embossing; light corner wear. Back clean, with a light crease at the upper left corner, the pencil message, and a small pencil mark in the stamp box.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph: each color was drawn by hand onto its own stone and printed in its own pass. Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, with no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. The wreath and ribbons are embossed, and the relief shows on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Heavy ink. The canceling ink was so heavy and wet that it soaked through the card and shows as dark marks at the upper left of the front. It is not terribly uncommon, and it shows the reality of a busy post office in the week before Thanksgiving; the close-up shows it.

Local mail. Mailed within Haverhill on the Wednesday morning before Thanksgiving 1913.

Condition

Very good. Clean cream stock with crisp embossing and bright gold. Cancel ink bleed-through at the upper left of the front, as described. Light corner wear. Back clean, postmark and address clear.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The whole card is embossed, the lettering and ornaments are in gold, and the patterned border stands up in relief on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The Oyster & Pearl monument on the Doha Corniche recalls pearl diving, Qatar's main trade before oil.

Condition

[Est. F-VF] Folds, light soiling and edge wear. Grade estimated; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

No longer legal tender since 1 July 2021, when Qatar withdrew its fourth series; the Qatar Central Bank redeems these notes for ten years from the withdrawal decision. Sold as a collectible.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The coffee that came with a picture. Lion Coffee began in Toledo, Ohio, in 1864 and became part of the Woolson Spice Company in 1882. Alvin Woolson built the brand by putting picture cards in every package, and the back of this card says so.

Condition

Front: very good, clean color. Back: light toning. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in a single brown ink.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Lion Coffee cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=lion+coffee

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The eve of the holiday. Postmarked on the Wednesday morning before Thanksgiving, which fell on November 28 in 1907.

The Mayflower. The Pilgrims' ship and the Thanksgiving turkey share one deeply embossed scene.

Condition

Good. Strong color and crisp embossing; light rubbing along the top edge, a few small gray marks, and light edge wear. Back toned and slightly wavy; message, address and cancel clear.

About The Printing

The color on this card was airbrushed: sprayed onto deeply embossed stock. Under magnification it lies as a fine mist with soft edges and no dot screen at all, quite unlike the stipple of a chromolithograph or the regular dots of halftone. The relief shows on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Mailed on Thanksgiving Day. Postmarked in Boston on November 24, 1927, Thanksgiving Day itself, which had been proclaimed for Thursday, November 24 that year.

New Hampshire shoe country. The card went from East Boston to Miss Horn in care of a shoe company in East Rochester, New Hampshire, a mill village within the city of Rochester that grew up on textile and shoe manufacturing. N.B. Thayer & Co., a shoe maker, had opened a factory at East Rochester in 1906.

Made in U.S.A. German printers dominated early postcard printing, but World War I ended that supply and American printers took over. The George C. Whitney Company of Worcester grew from a family stationery business opened in 1858 into a major maker of valentines and greeting cards, produced full-color printed cards like this one, and stayed in business until 1942.

The White Border era. The white border around the picture is typical of the White Border period of American postcards, which the Smithsonian dates 1915 to 1930.

A holiday with more than one story. In the United States Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November; Canada gives thanks on the second Monday of October (October 12 in 2026). Since November 26, 1970, Native Americans have gathered at Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Thanksgiving Day for a National Day of Mourning, remembering the Wampanoag people and the history that followed the colonists' arrival. American families still gather each November to give thanks, much as the sender and recipient of this card did nearly a century ago.

Condition

Fair to good, with visible wear. Front: a diagonal crease across the lower left corner through the grain sheaf and pumpkins, with a small crease and surface break near the left edge; light surface creasing and scuffing elsewhere; faint ink transfer from the postmarks in the sky; gold bright; corner wear. Back: light toning; a crease across the lower right through the address; pencil address and sender as described. Postally used.

About The Printing

This card is printed in halftone. Under magnification every color — the blue sky, the orange grain, the bronze turkey — resolves into a regular, even grid of dots rather than the irregular hand-drawn stipple of a chromolithograph. The title lettering and frame line are in gold, and the whole design is embossed, so the boy, the turkey and the fence stand up in relief on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Another Thanksgiving card with a child and a tom turkey, a little chef riding the bird, copyright 1911: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158174533956

Made for America, printed in Saxony: a 1907 Raphael Tuck Thanksgiving card from the German-printed era: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158174532357

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) created the two-part Latin naming system still used for plants and animals today. This note was replaced by the new Greta Garbo 100 kronor; the old 100s became invalid after 30 June 2017.

Condition

[Est. AU] Crisp paper with no folds or creases and sharp corners. Noticeable waviness in the paper from storage humidity. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. No errors found.

UV CHECK: Checked under a UV lamp: UV-reactive fibers and fluorescent printed areas on both sides glow under ultraviolet light (UV reactive, confirmed). UV photos are contrast-enhanced to show the security features.

Legal Tender

No. Older 100 kronor notes became invalid after 30 June 2017 (Sveriges Riksbank). It is sold as a collectible.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A Rhode Island village. The card went to Apponaug, today a neighborhood of Warwick and home of Warwick City Hall. Signed "Loving Mama", it is a short family note sent by penny postcard.

Sorted on a moving train. It traveled by Railway Post Office: a mail car on a train, where clerks postmarked and sorted mail while the train moved between cities.

For children's and kitchen collectors. A small chef with carving knife and fork riding the dinner itself, plus a harvest still life, gives this card crossover appeal beyond Thanksgiving.

The Golden Age of Postcards. From 1907 to 1915 Americans sent hundreds of millions of postcards a year. German printers dominated early postcard printing, and many cards were embossed and finished in gold, as this one is; after the 1909 Payne-Aldrich Tariff and World War I cut off the German supply, American printers took over. This card does not name its country of printing.

A holiday with more than one story. In the United States Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November; Canada gives thanks on the second Monday of October (October 12 in 2026). Since November 26, 1970, Native Americans have gathered at Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Thanksgiving Day for a National Day of Mourning, remembering the Wampanoag people and the history that followed the colonists' arrival. American families still gather each November to give thanks, much as the sender and recipient of this card did more than a century ago.

Condition

Very good. Front: bright color, crisp embossing and good gold; light corner wear, most noticeable at the top left; edges clean. Back: clean and bright with light toning at the edges; one small brown spot near the lower left of the message; blue-ink message and address as described. Postally used.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The lettering is in gold, and the card is richly embossed, including the raised beaded border.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Another embossed Thanksgiving card, also copyright 1911 and carried by a Railway Post Office, to Arlington, Massachusetts: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158174526499

Another Thanksgiving card with a child and a tom turkey, a farm boy on a fence, mailed in 1927: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158174535521

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Silver certificates promised the bearer one dollar in silver on demand. That promise ended in June 1968, when the Treasury stopped redeeming them for silver; the notes remain legal tender at face value.

Condition

[Est. F] Folds through portrait; light toning. Off-center: narrowest margin at the top, 2.7 mm. Grade estimated from the scans; not professionally graded. No errors found.

Legal Tender

Yes. United States currency issued since 1861 remains legal tender at face value; this $1 Silver Certificate is still worth one dollar, though it can no longer be exchanged for silver (that ended in June 1968).

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Silver certificates promised the bearer one dollar in silver on demand. That promise ended in June 1968, when the Treasury stopped redeeming them for silver; the notes remain legal tender at face value.

Condition

[Est. F] Center fold and more; soft; light soiling/toning on reverse. Off-center: narrowest margin at the top, 1.9 mm. Grade estimated from the scans; not professionally graded. No errors found.

Legal Tender

Yes. United States currency issued since 1861 remains legal tender at face value; this $1 Silver Certificate is still worth one dollar, though it can no longer be exchanged for silver (that ended in June 1968).

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A free picture with every package. The back says it plainly: the card was the premium, given away to bring the customer back.

Flowers for the album. Botanical cards like this were favorites for scrapbooks and still appeal to flower collectors.

Condition

Front: light toning, bright flowers. Back: toned. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A salesman's calling card. Ink blotters were handed out by salesmen and kept on desks for years, the name always in sight.

Postal zones. "Wichita 12" and "Kansas City 6" are the postal zone numbers used before ZIP codes arrived in 1963.

Condition

Excellent. Clean front, pink blotter back. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is a color print of the twentieth century, made by a modern commercial method. The exact process cannot be determined with certainty from a scan, so none is claimed here. Under magnification the image resolves into a regular dot pattern or flat solid inks, rather than the irregular hand-drawn stipple of an 1880s chromolithograph.

That is exactly what a piece of this date should show, so it is not a sign of reproduction here. The evidence of an original is the piece itself: its printed text, its imprints and the wear of its age.

The back is plain pink blotting paper.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More vintage advertising blotters and cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) created the two-part Latin naming system still used for plants and animals today. This note was replaced by the new Greta Garbo 100 kronor; the old 100s became invalid after 30 June 2017.

Condition

[Est. AU] Crisp paper with no folds or creases and sharp corners. Noticeable waviness in the paper from storage humidity. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. No errors found.

UV CHECK: Checked under a UV lamp: UV-reactive fibers and fluorescent printed areas on both sides glow under ultraviolet light (UV reactive, confirmed). UV photos are contrast-enhanced to show the security features.

Legal Tender

No. Older 100 kronor notes became invalid after 30 June 2017 (Sveriges Riksbank). It is sold as a collectible.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Description

This advertising trade card, with its depiction of a young girl holding a letter and a basket of flowers, likely served as a greeting card or a promotional item for a company that dealt with correspondence or floral arrangements. The style of the girl's dress, with its puffed sleeves and ruffled hem, along with her hairstyle, places it firmly within the late Victorian or Edwardian period. Such cards are sought after by collectors for their artistic merit, historical significance, and nostalgic appeal.

More Historical Context about Lion Coffee

Lion Coffee was a popular brand in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for its distinctive advertising campaigns that often included collectible trade cards. These cards were a common marketing strategy to encourage repeat purchases and build brand loyalty among consumers. The brand's advertising often highlighted the quality and purity of their coffee, differentiating it from competitors. This particular advertisement promotes the idea that Lion Coffee is not glazed, implying a superior, pure flavor compared to other brands that might use a "cheap coating." The mention of a "Picture Card" being included in each package further emphasizes the collectible nature of the brand's promotional materials during the Victorian era. These cards are now sought after by collectors of ephemera and advertising history.

• Time Period: Circa 1890-1910
• Origin: United States
• Composition: Cardstock with color printing
• Dimensions: H: 4" x W: 2.5" (approximate)
• Please reivew pictures carefully as they are part of the item description and condition.

Historical Context

Trade cards were a popular form of advertising and collectible ephemera during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Often featuring colorful illustrations, they were distributed by manufacturers and retailers to promote their products or simply as a form of goodwill. These cards depicted a wide range of subjects, from sentimental scenes and children to patriotic motifs and product advertisements, making them a valuable window into the social and cultural history of the era. Many were beautifully printed using chromolithography, a technique that allowed for vibrant and detailed color reproduction.

Ref: 1.0523

• Please visit our store as we are constantly adding more items of all types. Thank you!

Condition

Excellent for its age, with no visible defects.

Dimensions

Approx. 2.0 in. high x 3.0 in. wide x 0.5 in. deep. Weight 20.92 g.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A reward for Sunday school. Cards like this were given to children for learning a verse or for attendance, and many were saved in Bibles and albums.

A St. Louis religious publisher. The stamp names the John Burns Book Co. of St. Louis as the seller.

Condition

Front: very good, embossed, bright color. Back: embossed, light toning, faint stamp. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The card is embossed, and the back carries a rubber stamp.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The coffee that came with a picture. Lion Coffee began in Toledo, Ohio, in 1864 and became part of the Woolson Spice Company in 1882. Alvin Woolson built the brand by putting picture cards in every package, and the back of this card says so.

A Christmas card in the coffee. Woolson issued large seasonal greeting cards for Christmas, Easter and midsummer.

Condition

Front: very good, bright color; slightly out of square as trimmed. Back: light toning. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Lion Coffee cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=lion+coffee

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Written for Thanksgiving 1911. The message is dated November 26, 1911, four days before Thanksgiving, which had been proclaimed for Thursday, November 30 that year.

Sorted on a moving train. The card was carried by a Railway Post Office: a mail car on a train, where postal clerks postmarked and sorted mail while the train traveled between cities. The R.P.O. marking appears to name a Boston route, fitting a card addressed to Arlington, Massachusetts.

The Golden Age of Postcards. From 1907 to 1915 Americans sent hundreds of millions of postcards a year. German printers dominated early postcard printing, and embossing and metallic decoration were the fashion until the 1909 Payne-Aldrich Tariff taxed imported postcards much more heavily and World War I ended the German supply. This card carries no country of printing.

A holiday with more than one story. In the United States Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November; Canada gives thanks on the second Monday of October (October 12 in 2026). Since November 26, 1970, Native Americans have gathered at Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Thanksgiving Day for a National Day of Mourning, remembering the Wampanoag people and the history that followed the colonists' arrival. American families still gather each November to give thanks, much as the sender and recipient of this card did more than a century ago.

Condition

Very good. Front: bright, clean colors with strong embossing and good gold; light wear to the corners and edges; a tiny white scuff on a nut at left center. Back: light toning; embossing shows through in raised relief; ink message and address as described, with one word crossed out by the writer. Postally used.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The leaves and lettering include broad fields of solid color, and the blue shadows resolve into an irregular, worm-like grain. The title lettering carries gold, and the whole design is embossed.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Another embossed Thanksgiving card, also copyright 1911 and carried by a Railway Post Office, to Apponaug, Rhode Island: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158174533956

A patriotic Thanksgiving card mailed in Massachusetts the same week in 1911, to North Raynham: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158174523818

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Iwakura Tomomi (1825-1883) was a Meiji statesman who led the Iwakura Mission to the United States and Europe in 1871-1873.

Condition

[Est. UNC] Looks uncirculated; see the photos. Grade estimated; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

Still legal tender in Japan at face value (on the Bank of Japan list of valid notes), but worth more to collectors.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Condition

Excellent, with no visible damage.

Dimensions

Approx. 2.0 in. high x 2.5 in. wide x 0.5 in. deep. Weight 11.58 g.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Description

This beautiful card, with its depiction of a woman writing and the accompanying message, exemplifies the romantic sentimentality often found in Victorian ephemera. The detailed illustration, likely produced through chromolithography, showcases the artistic techniques and popular motifs of the era. Such items are now collected by enthusiasts of antique paper, social history, and Victorian art and are often framed for display.

• Time Period: Circa 1890-1910 (Victorian Era)
• Origin: Akron, Ohio, United States
• Composition: Cardstock with color printing
• Dimensions: H: 4.25" x W: 2.25" (approximately)
• Please reivew pictures carefully as they are part of the item description and condition.

Company History

E. M. Mabley & Co., operating as "The Mammoth Clothing House," was a retail establishment that specialized in men's and boys' apparel, including clothing, hats, caps, and furnishings. Such large clothing houses were common in urban centers during this period, catering to a growing demand for ready- made garments and offering a wide selection of goods. The address in Akron, Ohio, places this specific business within a significant industrial and commercial hub of the time.

-Historical Context

Victorian-era calling cards and illustrated stationery were popular forms of communication and social expression during the late 19th century. These cards often featured romantic or sentimental imagery, reflecting the prevailing aesthetic and social customs of the time. They served as a means of conveying invitations, greetings, or personal messages, adding a touch of elegance to everyday correspondence. Trade cards were a popular form of advertising in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, serving as precursors to modern business cards and flyers. They were often printed on cardstock and distributed by businesses to promote their goods and services, frequently featuring decorative elements and detailed information about the establishment. These cards provide valuable insights into the commercial practices and consumer culture of the era.

Ref: 1.0524

• Please visit our store as we are constantly adding more items of all types. Thank you!

Background

Advertising trade cards like this one were popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a form of marketing. They often featured colorful illustrations and catchy slogans to promote various products, from household goods to patent medicines. These cards served as a way for businesses to reach consumers directly, often distributed by merchants or included with product purchases.

Note: No image on back.

Ref: 1.0515

• Please reivew pictures carefully as they are part of the item description and condition.
• Dimensions: H: 5.5" x W: 3.5"
• Composition: Heavy embossed cardstock with color printing and handwriting.
• Please visit our store as we are constantly adding more items of all types. Thank you!

Historical Context

Farm news. Forrest dated the card Wednesday, November 23, 1910, the day before Thanksgiving, and it was postmarked that Saturday: a hat to fix, dye on order, and the butchering put off for now.

Condition

Very good. Bright color and gold, crisp embossing; light wear at the corners and edges. Back clean apart from a blue ink blot left of the address; a faint pencil number at top right.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph: each color was drawn by hand onto its own stone and printed in its own pass. Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, with no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. The border, flowers and fruit are embossed and gilded, and the relief shows on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The coffee that came with a picture. Lion Coffee began in Toledo, Ohio, in 1864 and became part of the Woolson Spice Company in 1882. Alvin Woolson built the brand by putting picture cards in every package, and the back of this card says so.

Easter in the coffee can. The large Easter Greetings cards were packed only in the one-pound packages, a reward for the bigger purchase.

Condition

Front: very good, clean color, light edge wear. Back: overall toning with blotchy stains at the center and lower right. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in a single brown ink.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Lion Coffee cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=lion+coffee

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Three seasons on one card. Spring violets, harvest pumpkins and a snow-covered village share the same design.

The eve of the holiday. Postmarked Wednesday, November 23, 1910, the day before Thanksgiving.

Condition

Very good. Bright color and gold, crisp embossing; a small crease and nick at the upper right corner. Back clean with light toning; pencil "20c."

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph: each color was drawn by hand onto its own stone and printed in its own pass. Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, with no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. The border, flowers and fruit are embossed and gilded.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A note to the hotel. Sent to Miss Walsh at the Riverside Hotel by someone who calls himself her "hubby" and signs "Billie," asking about plans for the holiday.

Flag cancel. The Holyoke machine cancel prints a waving American flag beside the postmark.

Condition

Good. Bright color and gold; corner wear with small chips at the front lower left and the back right edge, light rubbing, and two small dark spots among the forget-me-nots. Back with a blue ink smudge in the message area and a faint pencil number at top right.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph: each color was drawn by hand onto its own stone and printed in its own pass. Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, with no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. The gold leaf and border are embossed, and the relief shows on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Snuff advertised with apple blossom is a very Victorian combination. Tobacco cards of the period were often at their most delicate, because the advertiser wanted the card kept in a parlor album where a picture of the product itself would never have been welcome.

Helme's Railroad Mills was one of the best-known American snuff brands of its day, and the name alone was the whole message. A card like this needed only to remind.

Condition

Toning and age typical of the period. The blank reverse is toned, with a few faint pencil marks and a small brown fleck at the upper left; minor edge and corner wear. The front is clean and bright. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

Provenance

This item comes from the personal collections of my family estate, accumulated over more than 200 years — including items that came west by wagon train to Colorado and later to Oklahoma. Now that my parents have passed we cannot keep all of these cherished items. They were well-educated antiques collectors/traders and continued to build their collections over more than 60 years. The vast majority of the pieces are from the Victorian Era, however there are plenty of older and newer items. Everything has been stored in a climate-controlled environment over time.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Iwakura Tomomi (1825-1883) was a Meiji statesman who led the Iwakura Mission to the United States and Europe in 1871-1873.

Condition

[Est. UNC] Looks uncirculated; see the photos. Grade estimated; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

Still legal tender in Japan at face value (on the Bank of Japan list of valid notes), but worth more to collectors.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The Proclamation. Thanksgiving was set each year by proclamation, and this turkey has stopped to read his own fate.

The Jewelry Capital. The Attleboro area was once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its many jewelry makers.

Condition

Good. Front bright and clean with crisp embossing; light corner wear. Back shows scattered foxing and a rust-colored ring around the stamp, with the full ink message.

About The Printing

This card is printed in halftone. Under magnification the greens and yellows of the trees resolve into a regular, even grid of colored dots rather than the irregular hand-drawn stipple of a chromolithograph. The card is embossed, and the turkey and trees stand up in relief on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The coffee that came with a picture. Lion Coffee began in Toledo, Ohio, in 1864 and became part of the Woolson Spice Company in 1882. Alvin Woolson built the brand by putting picture cards in every package, and the back of this card says so.

Printed by Knapp. Knapp & Co. of New York was one of the great color printers of the period.

Condition

Front: very good, bright color. The top left corner has a small chip with tan board showing and a short crack running in from it. Back: toned. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in a single brown ink.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Lion Coffee cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=lion+coffee

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The coffee that came with a picture. Lion Coffee began in Toledo, Ohio, in 1864 and became part of the Woolson Spice Company in 1882. Alvin Woolson built the brand by putting picture cards in every package, and the back of this card says so.

Condition

Front: good color and gold; card slightly out of square with softly rounded corners. Back: light toning. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The gold band is printed in metallic ink, and the back is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Lion Coffee cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=lion+coffee

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A nickel a box, and the card cost the maker a good deal more to produce than the profit on the first sale. That arithmetic only works if the card stays in the house, and this one was built to — embossed, gilded, and prettier than most things a family owned.

The daisies and the child have nothing to do with a sore throat. They were not supposed to. The card's job was to be kept, and a picture worth keeping put the name in front of you every time you opened the album.

Condition

Toning and age typical of the period. The embossing and gilding remain crisp with light rubbing to the high points; minor edge and corner wear; light surface soiling. Colors remain strong. Blank reverse with toning. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

Provenance

This item comes from the personal collections of my family estate, accumulated over more than 200 years — including items that came west by wagon train to Colorado and later to Oklahoma. Now that my parents have passed we cannot keep all of these cherished items. They were well-educated antiques collectors/traders and continued to build their collections over more than 60 years. The vast majority of the pieces are from the Victorian Era, however there are plenty of older and newer items. Everything has been stored in a climate-controlled environment over time.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Detroit at war. Car makers like GM stopped building cars for civilians in early 1942; Ford's civilian car and truck lines shut down on February 10, 1942. GM's Chevy factories turned to aircraft engines, guns, shells and military trucks, and ads like this one told the home front where the cars had gone.

Pratt & Whitney's R-1830 Twin Wasp engine powered the B-24 Liberator.

Buying Power

In 1943, the average factory worker earned about $1.01 an hour. A $25 War Bond, the kind this ad urges readers to buy, cost $18.75: about 18.5 hours of factory pay, or roughly $560 at today's factory wage.

A WWII War Ration Book Four is also available in our store.

Condition

Untrimmed original page with its natural edges: no visible creases or folds, margins intact and ready for framing with a mat to highlight the piece and display your proudly. Made in U.S.A. Small chips along the left edge where the staples were pulled when the page was removed from the magazine. Light spotting in the top margin and a pink stain in the bottom margin, both clear of the image. The black illustration panel is bright and clean. Please study the images; they are part of the description.

About The Printing

Printed in 1943 by the magazine's own press. Under magnification the gray tones resolve into the regular halftone dot screen of period magazine printing on the original paper stock.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A milliner sold hats and the trimmings that went on them — ribbons, flowers, feathers, lace — and fancy goods covered the rest of what a well-dressed woman might want from a small shop. The satin cushion and the rose are the shop's own stock, shown at their most luxurious.

This is a single-shop card from one street address. A national brand might print millions; a card like this was printed for one milliner on Hamilton Street and handed out to her customers.

Condition

Toning and age typical of the period. The right edge is rough, with paper loss and small tears; a large brown stain on the blank reverse; minor corner wear. The rose and cushion on the front remain bright and the imprint fully legible. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

“One Price” was the selling point, and to a modern reader it looks like no selling point at all. In the 1880s it was the whole pitch. Haggling was still normal in dry goods, which meant the price you paid depended on how hard you argued and how the clerk read you. A one-price house was promising you would not be taken advantage of for being polite.

The picture makes the same argument without saying it. Two children, plainly dressed up warm, out on the ice. Buy the coats here and this is what your winter looks like.

Condition

Toning and age typical of the period. Light surface soiling; minor edge and corner wear; small nicks to the edges. Colors remain strong. Blank reverse with light toning. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph. Each color was drawn onto its own separate stone by hand and printed as its own pass through the press, every pass registering exactly against the last. This card uses the flat-color mode of the process — broad areas of solid, opaque ink with crisp boundaries rather than blended tone. It is the same technique that produced the great poster designs of the period.

Under magnification the colors resolve as solid fields with clean edges and no dot structure at all. There is no halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; here each color is its own ink, laid down whole.

Provenance

This item comes from the personal collections of my family estate, accumulated over more than 200 years — including items that came west by wagon train to Colorado and later to Oklahoma. Now that my parents have passed we cannot keep all of these cherished items. They were well-educated antiques collectors/traders and continued to build their collections over more than 60 years. The vast majority of the pieces are from the Victorian Era, however there are plenty of older and newer items. Everything has been stored in a climate-controlled environment over time.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

This is a stock card, drawn to be sold to garages and service stations who wanted something to hand customers at an oil change. The joke is the one the whole design is built on: pour your engine a glass of the good stuff, like a guest you want to keep happy.

It belongs to a different world from the Victorian cards in this collection. By the time this was printed the car was an ordinary part of life, and the advice — change your oil, it costs less than a repair — is advice every mechanic is still giving.

Condition

Clean, with light toning; minor edge and corner wear. No advertiser imprint, stamp or writing on either side. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This is a twentieth-century commercial printing, not a Victorian chromolithograph. It is printed in two flat inks, black and yellow, laid down as solid areas of color with crisp edges rather than blended tone.

Under magnification the ink sits in solid fields with no dot structure and no four-color rosette. The exact press method cannot be determined with certainty from a scan, so none is claimed here.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A Burlington clothier. W. L. Linder sold men's, boys' and children's clothing on Jefferson Street in Burlington, Iowa, and promised to undersell everybody.

Die-cut novelties. Shaped cards cost more to make than plain rectangles and were saved as keepsakes.

Condition

Die-cut, irregular outline, cut closely around the fan. Front: a crease across the left side of the fan and small surface losses. Back: light toning. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The card is die-cut with a scalloped edge, and the back is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The Eisenhower dollar was struck from 1971 to 1978. 1776-1976 was the Bicentennial: coins struck in 1975 and 1976 carry the dual date 1776-1976 and the Liberty Bell against the Moon. Mintage at Philadelphia: 117,337,000.

Buying Power

In 1976 this dollar had the buying power of about $5.89 today.

Condition

[Est. AU55] Circulated, original and never cleaned. Full rims; LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, the date and ONE DOLLAR are sharp. Light wear on the cheekbone and the hair above the ear; the bell and lettering are sharp. Contact marks and light scratches typical of a large dollar coin that circulated (see the close-ups). Checked for the Type 1 / Type 2 Bicentennial lettering: Type 1. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but worth more to collectors than face value.

Also In Our Store

More coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The Eisenhower dollar was struck from 1971 to 1978. 1776-1976-D was the Bicentennial: coins struck in 1975 and 1976 carry the dual date 1776-1976 and the Liberty Bell against the Moon. Mintage at Denver: 103,228,274.

Buying Power

In 1976 this dollar had the buying power of about $5.89 today.

Condition

[Est. AU50] Circulated, original and never cleaned. Full rims; LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, the date and ONE DOLLAR are sharp. Light wear on the cheekbone and the hair above the ear; the bell and lettering are sharp. Contact marks and light scratches typical of a large dollar coin that circulated (see the close-ups). Checked for the Type 1 / Type 2 Bicentennial lettering: Type 1. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but worth more to collectors than face value.

Also In Our Store

More coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

"Irma grows fast." A daughter writes home to her parents just before Thanksgiving 1912: the family will be up for the holiday, and the baby can sit up alone "for a little while."

Condition

Very good. Bright gold and color, crisp embossing; a small nick at the top edge and light corner wear. Back clean with light toning; pencil "50c" at top left.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph: each color was drawn by hand onto its own stone and printed in its own pass. Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, with no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. The gold vines and pumpkins are embossed, and the turkey stands up in relief on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Victorian trade cards were a popular form of advertising in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often featuring colorful illustrations of nature, children, or idealized scenes to attract attention. These cards served as a way for businesses to promote their products and services, often distributed with purchases or mailed directly to customers. They are now collected and often framed for their artistic merit and as historical artifacts of consumer culture.

Ref: 1.0525

• Please visit our store as we are constantly adding more items of all types. Thank you!

Historical Context

Mailed on the day. The postmark, Thursday, November 28, 1912, fell on Thanksgiving Day itself.

S L C 1911. The monogram of the Stecher Lithographic Company of Rochester, N.Y. carries the design's 1911 copyright date.

Condition

Very good. Bright colors and crisp gold; light corner wear. Back clean, with the ink message and address clear and a small pencil "20."

About The Printing

This card is printed in halftone. Under magnification the colors resolve into a regular, even grid of dots rather than the irregular hand-drawn stipple of a chromolithograph. The gold panel and figures are embossed and show in relief on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Another Stecher Series 204 Thanksgiving card from this group, a landscape design mailed in Rochester on Thanksgiving Day 1916, is also in our store. More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are there too.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The card is not really selling clothes. It is selling a reason to walk into the shop: the full series is on the wall, and you will have to come in to see the rest. A numbered card that admits it is only a sample of something better elsewhere is an unusually honest piece of advertising, and a clever one.

The scene itself needed no explaining to anyone who kept pigs, which in Stillwater in the 1880s was most people.

Condition

Toning and age typical of the period. A crease to the upper left corner; light surface soiling; minor edge and corner wear. The printed image remains clear and the reverse text fully legible. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This card was printed from a single stone in one ink, on tinted stock — an economical choice, since the colored card supplies a second tone at no extra press pass. The design was drawn by hand in reverse on the stone, the shading built from the density of the drawn marks rather than from color.

Under magnification the tone resolves into drawn line and hatching, not a mechanical screen. There is no halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show.

Provenance

This item comes from the personal collections of my family estate, accumulated over more than 200 years — including items that came west by wagon train to Colorado and later to Oklahoma. Now that my parents have passed we cannot keep all of these cherished items. They were well-educated antiques collectors/traders and continued to build their collections over more than 60 years. The vast majority of the pieces are from the Victorian Era, however there are plenty of older and newer items. Everything has been stored in a climate-controlled environment over time.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

A card that speaks for the customer. Instead of the maker praising itself, the back is written in the buyer's voice: "The Best Yeast I ever used."

Yeast cakes for home baking. Dry yeast cakes, sold several to a package, were a pantry staple when most bread was baked at home.

Condition

Front: very good, bright gilt and color, light edge wear. Back: surface scuffs and small areas of paper loss from old album removal, light staining at right, embossing intact. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is embossed and printed in a single blue ink.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

California mail. A Thanksgiving card from Woodland, California, already looking ahead to Christmas: "Santa will be good to you."

The stamp. Washington replaced Franklin on the 1-cent stamp in February 1912, so this perf 12 Washington places the card in 1912 or later.

Condition

Very good. Bright gold and color, crisp embossing, light corner wear; a faint impression of a postmark has transferred to the top center of the front. Back clean; pencil "50c."

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph: each color was drawn by hand onto its own stone and printed in its own pass. Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, with no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. The gold bouquet is embossed, and the turkey and bouquet stand up in relief on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Three days before the feast. Mailed in South Braintree, Massachusetts, on November 27, 1911, this family greeting from "Fred and Aunt" went to Melvin Hutchinson of North Raynham, Massachusetts, ahead of Thanksgiving, proclaimed that year for Thursday, November 30.

A turkey in the national colors. The gold eagle and stars-and-stripes shield make the turkey a patriotic emblem as well as a holiday one, and the waving-flag cancel on the back carries the theme through.

1909, a turning point. M.W. Taggart of New York copyrighted this design in 1909, the year the Payne-Aldrich Tariff taxed imported postcards much more heavily. German printers had dominated early postcard printing, and embossing and metallic gold like this were part of the appeal; when World War I ended the German supply, American printers took over. This card carries no country of printing.

The Golden Age of Postcards. From 1907 to 1915 Americans mailed hundreds of millions of postcards a year.

A holiday with more than one story. In the United States Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November; Canada gives thanks on the second Monday of October (October 12 in 2026). Since November 26, 1970, Native Americans have gathered at Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Thanksgiving Day for a National Day of Mourning, remembering the Wampanoag people and the history that followed the colonists' arrival. American families still gather each November to give thanks, much as the sender and recipient of this card did more than a century ago.

Condition

Very good. Front: strong, bright color and crisp gold; light corner wear; a few small surface scuffs and faint creasing in the white area at upper left near the shield; a tiny nick on the right edge near the copyright imprint. Back: clean, with light toning and a few small spots; embossing shows through in raised relief; ink address and message as described. Postally used.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The red ground and the shield stripes are broad fields of solid color, each laid down from its own stone. The eagle, shield border, lettering and feather highlights are printed in gold, and the whole design is embossed.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

Another embossed Thanksgiving card mailed in Massachusetts the same week in 1911, to Arlington: https://www.ebay.com/itm/158174526499

The immigrant story behind early American imagery runs through our US silver dollars too: the Morgan dollar was designed by English-born George T. Morgan, the Peace dollar by Sicilian-born Anthony de Francisci.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Congress authorized the Kennedy half dollar in December 1963, weeks after President Kennedy's assassination, and the first coins were released in March 1964. Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts sculpted the portrait (his GR monogram is on the truncation of the neck); Frank Gasparro designed the reverse from the Presidential Seal (his FG is near the eagle's tail feathers). 1964 is the only year the Kennedy half was struck in 90% silver for circulation; from 1965 the silver content dropped to 40%.

Condition

Our conservative estimate AU+ (not professionally graded). Blue-gray toning with spots on both sides; see the photos.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Apponaug. A village on Apponaug Cove in central Warwick, Rhode Island; the name comes from a Narragansett word meaning "place of oysters."

A reply in kind. Ira answered a brother's card the same night with this one — "Here's your turkey."

Condition

Very good. Gold ground bright; small white abrasion at the lower right corner and light wear at the other corners. Back clean with even toning.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The gold ground carries a fine textured pattern that catches the light.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Description

Ten notes in consecutive (sequential) serial order from the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan. The front shows two Bja Tshering, the mythical birds of long life, flanking the Dharma wheel. The back shows Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest monastery clinging to the cliffs above the Paro valley. Series 2015, signed by Governor Daw Tenzin (2010–2015), printed by Giesecke & Devrient. About 125 x 60 mm.

Historical Context

Bhutan is one of the few countries with no formal diplomatic relations with the United States; contact runs through the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. These notes belong to the current 2006–present series.

Condition

Uncirculated. Crisp, original paper, serials J14687658–J14687667, consecutive.

Also In Our Store

More world banknotes: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=banknote

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber designed the dime, quarter and half dollar introduced in 1892. His dime was struck until 1916, when the Mercury dime replaced it. In 1914 Denver struck 11,908,000 Barber dimes, against about 17.4 million at Philadelphia. That August the Panama Canal opened, and the next year Barber and George T. Morgan designed the Panama-Pacific half dollar for the San Francisco exposition that celebrated it.

Buying Power

In 1914 this dime had the buying power of about $3.37 today.

Condition

[Est. G-6] Circulated, original and never cleaned, with gray toning on the obverse and darker brown toning on the reverse. Full rims on both sides; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the date and ONE DIME are bold and clear. LIBERTY on the headband is worn away, as is usual at this grade, and the wreath leaves are worn flat. Scattered scratches from circulation, heaviest on the reverse across the upper wreath and ONE, plus a few small dark spots (see the close-ups). Checked for the six documented 1914-D repunched mint marks: the D appears single. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but its silver content and collector value are far higher than face value.

Also In Our Store

More coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Congress authorized the Kennedy half dollar in December 1963, weeks after President Kennedy's assassination, and the first coins were released in March 1964. Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts sculpted the portrait (his GR monogram is on the truncation of the neck); Frank Gasparro designed the reverse from the Presidential Seal (his FG is near the eagle's tail feathers). 1964 is the only year the Kennedy half was struck in 90% silver for circulation; from 1965 the silver content dropped to 40%.

Condition

Our conservative estimate AU+ (not professionally graded). Fine hairlines and contact marks across the obverse face and field, with streaky gray toning; see the photos.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

This is a printer advertising himself. Stock cards like this one were designed and printed in quantity by publishers such as Haddock in Philadelphia, then sold on with the space left open for a local business to add its name. A job printer was the one customer who could put his own imprint on the card and hand it out as a sample of what he could do for yours.

The design belongs to a genre the period loved: children dressed as the nations, each carrying the symbols of the country. The bundle of rods with an axe is the fasces, the old Roman emblem of authority that the French Republic had taken up as its own.

Condition

Toning and age typical of the period. Four round patches of album-mount residue at the corners of the reverse, with faint show-through; light surface soiling; minor edge and corner wear. The metallic ground and the chromolithographed figure on the front remain bright. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

Provenance

This item comes from the personal collections of my family estate, accumulated over more than 200 years — including items that came west by wagon train to Colorado and later to Oklahoma. Now that my parents have passed we cannot keep all of these cherished items. They were well-educated antiques collectors/traders and continued to build their collections over more than 60 years. The vast majority of the pieces are from the Victorian Era, however there are plenty of older and newer items. Everything has been stored in a climate-controlled environment over time.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

A Newark original. The back is signed by G. Mennen of 577 Broad Street, Newark, the start of a name still on the toiletries shelf.

Powder for the nursery. "Love the Babies!" speaks straight to mothers, the buyers trade cards were made for.

Condition

Front: faded, top lettering faint, show-through from the back. Back: clean, crisp text. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Alfredo Gonzalez Flores, president 1914-1917, founded the International Bank of Costa Rica, today the Banco Nacional. This polymer version entered circulation on 1 December 2020 as the Central Bank moved to polymer, and the cotton-paper notes were withdrawn in 2022.

Condition

[Est. UNC] Polymer note with no creases or ink wear seen. The clear window is bright with no clouding, and the corners are sharp. No marks or tape. Grade estimated from the scans; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

Legal tender: the BCCR lists this polymer 5,000 colones (series C) as currently circulating.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Thanks!

Ref: 1.0112

Historical Context

Patent medicine on parade. Four cures on one card: a salve for everything from burns to piles, a blackberry cordial for teething babies, a pepsin tonic for the liver, and a sarsaparilla sold as the world's best blood purifier. Bold promises like "No Cure. No Pay" were the stock in trade of the nineteenth-century medicine business.

One picture, many advertisers. Printers sold stock cards like this with the picture finished and space left blank, and each merchant added his own advertising. Here the front stayed clean and Brown's filled the entire back.

A dog on guard. The little dog standing sentry with a rifle is a charming subject for dog collectors as well as for collectors of patent medicine and pharmacy advertising.

Condition

Very good for its age. Front: clean color; a grey smudge in the lower margin below the dog; a small dark dot at the upper right; a light soft crease and edge wear at the lower right; corners lightly rounded; light toning. Back: clean and bright for its age, with light toning and slight edge wear; no writing. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black type, separate from the color work on the front.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards for patent medicines, coffee and baking soda are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A Cincinnati brand. Kenton Baking Powder was made by Potter, Parlin & Co. of Cincinnati, and the owl with the smiling moon was its trademark.

Selling on price. Baking powder was one of the most heavily advertised grocery products of the trade card era. Kenton's pitch is plain value: a full pound for twenty cents, with a money-back guarantee.

Summer and winter. Stock designs like this were printed in quantity and sold to merchants, who added their own advertising, here on the back. A summer rose set against a farmyard in snow is a typical decorative pairing of the period.

The trade card craze. In the 1880s grocers handed out colorful cards like this by the thousand, and families saved them in scrapbooks.

Condition

Very good. Colors bright and clean. A short surface crease in the sky at the upper right of the front, near the top edge. A tiny dark speck in the top margin. Corners lightly rounded, with light wear most noticeable at the upper left. The back is evenly toned, with a few short creases at one long edge (left side as shown). No writing. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The advertising on the back is printed in a single black ink.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards for grocery products, thread and other household goods are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The stamp. Perf 10 came in with the watermarked Scott #424 in 1914; from September 1916 the same stamp was printed on unwatermarked paper as #462. Examined under a strong back-light with a loupe, this one shows no watermark letters, which points toward #462, though a faint watermark can't be ruled out while it is on the card.

Condition

Very good. Clean, bright front with crisp embossing; light corner wear. Back clean with light toning; pencil "15."

About The Printing

This card is printed in halftone. Under magnification the colors resolve into a regular, even grid of dots rather than the irregular hand-drawn stipple of a chromolithograph. The wreath and turkey are embossed and show in relief on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A Peoria storefront. Peoria sits on the Illinois River, a trading town for the farms around it, and "Special Attention given to the out of town Trade" shows this store courting customers from the surrounding countryside. A china store sold the dinnerware, glass and lamps that furnished a Victorian home.

Stock cards, made to order. Lithographers printed picture cards like this by the thousand, with a design number in the margin, and left space for a local merchant's name to be added in black. The "1314" at lower left is that number.

The trade card craze. In the 1880s cheap color printing put picture cards on every store counter, and families pasted them into scrapbooks by the hundred.

Condition

Very good front. Bright colors. Corners lightly worn; a small nick at the top edge near the center. A small grey smudge in the blue area at right of center. The blank reverse is toned and mottled, with spots of old album residue and paper scuffing at the right side and lower left and a small ink mark at center left. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The store imprint was added in black over the printed picture, and the reverse is blank.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards for Illinois merchants and china, glass and household goods are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Across the state line. Written in Coatsville, Missouri, two days after Thanksgiving 1913 to a friend in Pulaski, Iowa, with plans for a December visit, weather permitting.

Condition

Very good. Bright gold frame, gold feathers and greeting, sharp corners and light wear. Back toned with foxing; stamp missing as described; pencil "75c."

About The Printing

This card is printed in halftone. Under magnification the colors resolve into a regular, even grid of dots rather than the irregular hand-drawn stipple of a chromolithograph. The gold frame and turkey are embossed and show in relief on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A Chicago piano maker. Newman Bros. began in Chicago in 1880 building parlor and chapel organs and added high-grade pianos in 1895. The firm built a six-story factory in 1900 and closed in the Great Depression.

The parlor piano. Around 1900 an upright piano was the pride of the middle-class parlor, and makers courted buyers by mail. "Write for Catalogue and Prices" was an invitation to order from the factory.

Mother and child. The tender oval portrait and embossed violets show how far advertising cards had moved toward the sentimental keepsake by the turn of the century.

Condition

Good, with honest wear. Corners softly rounded. A short crease at the top edge near the center and a light crease at the upper right corner of the front. The reverse shows several light creases, most at the upper left and lower right, and light even toning. Embossing intact and colors bright. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The violets are embossed, and the reverse is printed in a single blue ink.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More antique advertising trade cards for musical instruments and Chicago firms are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

One cent to the islands. The stamp box lists the places a one-cent postcard could reach at the domestic rate, from Cuba and Mexico to Hawaii, the Philippines and "Porto Rico," spelled as printed.

The Golden Age of Postcards. The divided-back years, 1907 to 1915, are known as the Golden Age of Postcards, and German printers dominated the trade.

Condition

Very good. Bright color, crisp gold and deep embossing; light corner wear. Back clean with light toning; faint pencil writing as described.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph: each color was drawn by hand onto its own stone and printed in its own pass. Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, with no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. The gold leaf and border are embossed, and the relief shows on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Good advice, then and now. Aunt Loo's warning to Ruth is the oldest Thanksgiving joke there is.

Condition

Very good. Bright color, clean surface, light corner wear. Back clean with even toning and a faint pencil message.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The green ground is laid with an even pattern of fine red dots over green, a tint effect under the hand-drawn stipple of the turkey and pumpkins.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A survivor. This card is printed on paper as thin as onion skin, and it is remarkable that it has lasted well over a century. Farm-implement advertising on paper this fragile seldom survives.

Haying by horse power. The mower's cutter bar sizes, from 4 ft. 3 in. to 6 ft., were the selling points for farmers choosing a machine.

Superstitions for the farmhouse. The back gave the farm family something to keep: a page of folk sayings about luck, love and the weather.

Condition

Fragile and sold as is. Thin onion-skin paper with staining, edge tears and small chips on both sides, and soft creases. Text and illustration remain legible. It will ship in a rigid holder between stiff boards. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This card is printed in a single black ink by letterpress from a line cut, on very thin, translucent paper. Under magnification the illustration resolves into engraved lines and hatching, not a dot screen.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Hideyo Noguchi (1876-1928) was a Japanese bacteriologist who worked at the Rockefeller Institute in New York and died in Africa while researching yellow fever. In July 2024 Japan began issuing a new 1000 yen note, so the Noguchi design is now the previous series.

Condition

[Est. VF] Light circulation with folds. Grade estimated; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

Still legal tender in Japan: Bank of Japan notes issued since the series began remain valid, including this Noguchi 1000 yen (Bank of Japan list of valid notes). It is sold as a collectible.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Two cancels. The card took a Blue Island postmark and then a Chicago flag cancel on its way to Warren County.

Windmill and flag. An unusual pairing for a Thanksgiving card: a stars-and-stripes shield beside a windmill landscape.

Condition

Good. Colors and gold bright; creases at the lower left corner and along the left edge, faint cancel ink transferred to the upper left of the front, and corner wear. Back with a crease along the right side; message and cancels clear.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph: each color was drawn by hand onto its own stone and printed in its own pass. Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, with no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. The shield, wheat and grapes are embossed and gilded, and the relief shows on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The Eisenhower dollar was struck from 1971 to 1978. 1971 was the first year of the Eisenhower dollar, two years after Apollo 11. The eagle-on-the-Moon reverse is adapted from the Apollo 11 mission insignia. Mintage at Philadelphia: 47,799,000.

Buying Power

In 1971 this dollar had the buying power of about $8.25 today.

Condition

[Est. XF45] Circulated, original and never cleaned. Full rims; LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, the date and ONE DOLLAR are sharp. Light wear on the cheekbone and the hair above the ear; light wear on the eagle's head and breast feathers. Contact marks and light scratches typical of a large dollar coin that circulated (see the close-ups). Checked for listed varieties: none seen. Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but worth more to collectors than face value.

Also In Our Store

More coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber designed the dime, quarter and half dollar introduced in 1892; his dime was struck until 1916. Philadelphia struck 19,958,406 Barber dimes in 1906. That December Theodore Roosevelt became the first American to win a Nobel Prize, for the Peace Prize; he was also pushing the Mint for new coin designs, the start of a movement that replaced Barber's dime with the Mercury dime in 1916.

Buying Power

In 1906 this dime had the buying power of about $3.70 today.

Condition

[Est. G-4] Circulated, with gray toning. Full obverse rims; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the date and ONE DIME are clear. LIBERTY on the headband is worn away, as is usual at this grade, and the wreath is worn flat. Many fine scratches across Liberty's head and the fields, and green spots along the right edge of both sides (see the close-ups). Grade estimated; not professionally graded. Currently still legal tender, but its silver content and collector value are far higher than face value.

Also In Our Store

More coins: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=coin

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Almost every trade card of this period is bright. Children, flowers, sunshine, pastel skies — the whole genre is relentlessly cheerful, because color was the novelty and printers used all of it they could.

This one goes the other way and prints a night sky. Against a wall of daylight cards it is the one that stops you, which is presumably the entire idea. The talking parrot is doing the selling, but the darkness is doing the work.

Condition

Toning and age typical of the period, mainly to the margins. Light surface soiling; minor edge and corner wear. The dark ground remains deep and even and the design is clean and bright. Blank reverse with toning. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph. Each color was drawn onto its own separate stone by hand and printed as its own pass through the press, every pass registering exactly against the last. This card uses the flat-color mode of the process — broad areas of solid, opaque ink with crisp boundaries rather than blended tone. It is the same technique that produced the great poster designs of the period.

Under magnification the colors resolve as solid fields with clean edges and no dot structure at all. There is no halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; here each color is its own ink, laid down whole.

Provenance

This item comes from the personal collections of my family estate, accumulated over more than 200 years — including items that came west by wagon train to Colorado and later to Oklahoma. Now that my parents have passed we cannot keep all of these cherished items. They were well-educated antiques collectors/traders and continued to build their collections over more than 60 years. The vast majority of the pieces are from the Victorian Era, however there are plenty of older and newer items. Everything has been stored in a climate-controlled environment over time.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

A piano was the most expensive thing most families would ever buy apart from the house, and the card sells it like one. Seven lines, each starting A PIANO, then the only number that mattered to a nervous buyer: twenty thousand already made and sold.

The transposing keyboard and the mandolin attachment are the period's gadgets. A transposing keyboard let the player shift the key without learning the music again; a mandolin attachment changed the tone. Both were ways of saying this piano could do more than the one down the street.

Condition

Toning and age typical of the period. Mottled blistering and spotting across the blue ground in the upper part of the front; a faded, illegible violet stamp at the upper left; minor edge and corner wear; toning to the reverse. The kittens and the gold frame remain bright and the reverse text fully legible. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

Provenance

This item comes from the personal collections of my family estate, accumulated over more than 200 years — including items that came west by wagon train to Colorado and later to Oklahoma. Now that my parents have passed we cannot keep all of these cherished items. They were well-educated antiques collectors/traders and continued to build their collections over more than 60 years. The vast majority of the pieces are from the Victorian Era, however there are plenty of older and newer items. Everything has been stored in a climate-controlled environment over time.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Named for the newest wonder. In the 1880s electric light was the marvel of the age, and advertisers borrowed the word "electric" to sell soap, among much else. Dobbins' Electric Soap of Philadelphia was another.

An Indianapolis soap maker. This card comes from a smaller Midwestern maker, the Electric Soap M'f'g Co. of Indianapolis, and its promise, "No rubbing required," spoke straight to the hours of scrubbing on washday.

Victorian girlhood. Little girls with cakes and flowers were a favorite subject on cards that were handed to mothers at the store counter.

Condition

Very good. Bright colors; corners lightly worn. Faint pale lines run vertically and horizontally through the right half of the front, from a light crease or old mounting. A small dark spot above the lettering and a tiny ink fleck near the top. The blank reverse is clean apart from a faint mirror-image offset of printing at the left, scattered tiny red flecks and a small scuff at the lower right corner. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The soap maker's imprint is printed in black, and the reverse is blank.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Electric-Light Soap cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=electric+soap

More Victorian advertising trade cards for soap, laundry and household products are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Half again as much. Baking powder makers fought hard on price, and Shaw's pitch is more powder for the money.

An open scroll. The blank banner on the front was meant for a local grocer's name, never added on this card.

Condition

Front: good color. Back: staining; text legible. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Hideyo Noguchi (1876-1928) was a Japanese bacteriologist who worked at the Rockefeller Institute in New York and died in Africa while researching yellow fever. In July 2024 Japan began issuing a new 1000 yen note, so the Noguchi design is now the previous series.

Condition

[Est. VF] Light circulation; center fold (was folded in half, now lies flat); small dark spot at the right edge of the reverse. Grade estimated; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

Still legal tender in Japan: Bank of Japan notes issued since the series began remain valid, including this Noguchi 1000 yen (Bank of Japan list of valid notes). It is sold as a collectible.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Hideyo Noguchi (1876-1928) was a Japanese bacteriologist who worked at the Rockefeller Institute in New York and died in Africa while researching yellow fever. In July 2024 Japan began issuing a new 1000 yen note, so the Noguchi design is now the previous series.

Condition

[Est. VF] Light circulation with folds. Grade estimated; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

Still legal tender in Japan: Bank of Japan notes issued since the series began remain valid, including this Noguchi 1000 yen (Bank of Japan list of valid notes). It is sold as a collectible.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The coffee that came with a picture. Lion Coffee began in Toledo, Ohio, in 1864 and became part of the Woolson Spice Company in 1882. Alvin Woolson built the brand by putting picture cards in every package, and the back of this card says so.

Condition

Front: small chips in the border at the top. Back: edge staining at the top. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Lion Coffee cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=lion+coffee

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Our New Thread. O.N.T. stood for "Our New Thread." George A. Clark, of the Paisley, Scotland, thread family, came to the United States in 1856, and the Clarks opened a factory in Newark, New Jersey, in 1864. Clark's O.N.T. spool cotton soon became a recognized American brand.

Thread wars. Clark and its Paisley rival J. & P. Coats competed fiercely for American customers, and both flooded stores with picture cards. In the United States the two finally merged as Coats & Clark in 1952.

Monday's child. The card borrows the old fortune-telling rhyme that begins "Monday's child is fair of face, Tuesday's child is full of grace," a natural for a thread maker selling to mothers who sewed their children's clothes.

Condition

Excellent. Clean, bright front with sharp corners and crisp embossing; the bronze ink is bright. The reverse is clean with light even toning; the embossing shows through as relief, as made. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph. Each color was drawn onto its own separate stone by hand and printed as its own pass through the press, every pass registering exactly against the last. This card uses the flat-color mode of the process — broad areas of solid, opaque ink with crisp boundaries rather than blended tone. It is the same technique that produced the great poster designs of the period.

Under magnification the colors resolve as solid fields with clean edges and no dot structure at all. There is no halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; here each color is its own ink, laid down whole.

The outlines and lettering are printed in metallic bronze ink, the design is embossed, and the reverse is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Clark's O.N.T. cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=clark

More Victorian advertising trade cards for thread, children and nursery-rhyme subjects are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The coffee that came with a picture. Lion Coffee began in Toledo, Ohio, in 1864 and became part of the Woolson Spice Company in 1882. Alvin Woolson built the brand by putting picture cards in every package, and the back of this card says so.

Condition

Front: pink ink dashes and small black dots at upper left; even toning. Back: even toning. Please judge from the photos. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Lion Coffee cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=lion+coffee

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Silver certificates promised the bearer one dollar in silver on demand. That promise ended in June 1968, when the Treasury stopped redeeming them for silver; the notes remain legal tender at face value.

Condition

[Est. VF] Few folds; bright paper; strong color; tight bottom margin. Off-center: narrowest margin at the bottom, 1.2 mm. Grade estimated from the scans; not professionally graded. No errors found.

Legal Tender

Yes. United States currency issued since 1861 remains legal tender at face value; this $1 Silver Certificate is still worth one dollar, though it can no longer be exchanged for silver (that ended in June 1968).

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The Campbell Kids. Illustrator Grace Drayton drew the round, rosy Campbell Kids in 1904, and they have appeared in Campbell's advertising ever since.

Ivory. Procter & Gamble first sold Ivory in 1879; "It Floats" arrived in 1891, and "99 44/100% Pure" was in use by 1895.

Dating the page. One of the magazine covers on the Ivory side is dated "Feb 1948," so the page can't be earlier than that; the autumn verse on the Campbell's side suggests a fall issue.

Buying Power

In 1948, the average factory worker earned about $1.43 an hour, so a dollar bought about 42 minutes of factory work, or about $21 at today's factory wage.

In 1948, a 10.5 oz can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup cost about 10 to 11 cents. Today, Walmart lists a single 10.75 oz can for around $1.53.

Condition

Original page removed from the magazine ready for custom framing or scrapbook collectors: the binding edge (left on the front) is torn where the page came out, without reaching either image. No folds or creases found. Light, even toning. Colors are bright on both sides. Please study the images and video; they are part of the description.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Patent medicine and the circus were selling the same thing: a promise that outran the evidence. Putting them on one card was not an accident of printing — both were buying the same attention, and both knew the customer wanted to be amazed before being convinced.

The joke on the front is the more interesting half. The old man is not being told the product works. He is being told he is too shrewd to be fooled, which is a harder sell and a better one. Flattering the buyer's judgment was a new idea in 1886 and it has never gone out of use.

Condition

Toning and age typical of the period. Losses and tearing along one long edge with a chipped area toward the corner; light surface soiling; minor edge and corner wear; scattered foxing, more apparent on the reverse. The chromolithographed image on the front remains bright. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

Provenance

This item comes from the personal collections of my family estate, accumulated over more than 200 years — including items that came west by wagon train to Colorado and later to Oklahoma. Now that my parents have passed we cannot keep all of these cherished items. They were well-educated antiques collectors/traders and continued to build their collections over more than 60 years. The vast majority of the pieces are from the Victorian Era, however there are plenty of older and newer items. Everything has been stored in a climate-controlled environment over time.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

The design draws on Costa Rica's indigenous heritage. More than 300 stone spheres like the one on the back are known, mostly from the Diquis Delta in southern Costa Rica, and the chiefdom settlements where they stand became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014.

Condition

[Est. F-VF] Circulated, with a horizontal center fold, at least two vertical folds and scattered creases, light overall soiling and rounded corners. A diagonal crease crosses the front top-right corner. No tears, holes, tape or writing. Grade estimated from the scans; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

No longer legal tender: withdrawn on 31 December 2012; it can still be exchanged or deposited at Costa Rican financial institutions with no time limit (BCCR).

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A neighborhood shoe store. Rosenberg sold wholesale and retail from a double storefront on South Fourth Street, took in custom work and repairs, and advertised an agency for German felt shoes and slippers.

Stock card, local imprint. Designs like this were printed in quantity with open space for a merchant's name; Rosenberg's advertising fills the sky. The number 1009 at lower left is a stock design number.

Children at play. Sweet scenes of children, here a tumble with a hoop on the way home from school, were among the most popular trade card subjects of the 1880s.

Condition

As-is, with honest wear. Front: a diagonal crease across the lower right corner, running into the picture, with a small chip at the corner tip; a short crease at the left edge about halfway down; wear at the upper corners; overall toning to the margins. Back: blank and toned, with a darker vertical band near the left edge; long diagonal creases at the upper left and lower left corners, a small corner chip at lower left, and short edge creases at the right side and bottom. Colors remain strong. No writing. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The Rosenberg advertising is printed in black type in the sky of the design.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards for local merchants, with children and other popular subjects, are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The day before. Mollie dated her card on Monday, and it was postmarked Wednesday, November 29, 1916, the day before Thanksgiving.

The stamp. From September 1916 the perf 10 Washington was printed on unwatermarked paper as Scott #462, which philatelic author Max Johl called "one of the most desirable stamps of the 20th century." This one may be either #462 or the watermarked #424.

Condition

Good. Front bright with crisp gold; light corner and edge wear. On the back, three paper album corners remain glued at the corners, with dark glue stains, covering the start of several message lines. The stamp has surface loss across the portrait. Small pencil "28" on the back.

About The Printing

This card is printed in halftone. Under magnification the colors resolve into a regular, even grid of dots rather than the irregular hand-drawn stipple of a chromolithograph. The gold panel is embossed with a hammered texture, and the girl and turkey show in relief on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Early greetings. Mailed in October 1912, about a month before Thanksgiving fell on November 28, with both the stamp and the message upside down.

Condition

Good to very good. Bright gold and color; corner wear and light soiling. Back with wear and a small stain at the lower right corner; the purple pencil address and message are clear.

About The Printing

Under magnification the fine color dots could not be read reliably as either hand-drawn chromolithograph stipple or halftone, so no printing method is claimed. The pumpkins, corn and grapes are embossed and gilded, and the turkey stands up in relief on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Silver certificates promised the bearer one dollar in silver on demand. That promise ended in June 1968, when the Treasury stopped redeeming them for silver; the notes remain legal tender at face value.

Condition

[Est. VF] Best of batch: few light folds, bright paper, strong color. Off-center: narrowest margin at the bottom, 2.0 mm. Grade estimated from the scans; not professionally graded. No errors found.

Legal Tender

Yes. United States currency issued since 1861 remains legal tender at face value; this $1 Silver Certificate is still worth one dollar, though it can no longer be exchanged for silver (that ended in June 1968).

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Made in U.S.A. Stecher printed its holiday cards in Rochester, N.Y., in years when German printers dominated the postcard trade. The company grew from a printer of posters, labels and trade cards into a major maker of artist-drawn holiday postcards.

Condition

Very good to excellent. Bright, clean colors and gold, crisp embossing, very light corner wear. Back clean, with two short surface scratches near the top and a faint pencil "50."

About The Printing

This card is printed in halftone. Under magnification the colors resolve into a regular, even grid of dots rather than the irregular hand-drawn stipple of a chromolithograph. The turkeys and corn shocks are embossed and stand up in relief on the back.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Thanksgiving postcards from this group are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Mikado mania. Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado" opened at the Savoy Theatre in London on March 14, 1885, and ran for 672 performances. Katisha is the elderly lady in love with Nanki-Poo. The opera set off a fashion for all things Japanese, and advertisers issued Mikado trade cards to sell all kinds of goods.

Thread wars. J. & P. Coats takes its name from the brothers James and Peter Coats of Paisley, Scotland, who took over their father's thread business in 1830. In 1869 the firm took control of a thread mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and its spools fought for American sewing baskets against Clark's O.N.T. The two rivals merged in the United States as Coats & Clark in 1952.

The trade card craze. In the 1880s cheap color printing put picture cards on every store counter, and families pasted them into scrapbooks by the hundred.

Condition

Heavily handled, sold as is. The lower left corner of the front is missing, taking the first letters of the last line ("[WH]EN"); the same loss shows at the upper right of the reverse. The top edge is trimmed close, clipping the top of the "KATISHA" caption. Light surface soiling and a few small scuffs on the front; colors remain strong. The reverse is toned, with scattered brown stains and spotting, most at the left side. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The reverse is printed in a single blue ink.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More J. & P. Coats cards in our store: https://www.ebay.com/str/tfauctionsintl?_nkw=coats

More Victorian advertising trade cards for thread, soap and theater subjects are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Issued at the height of Bolivia's mid-1980s hyperinflation, when the peso fell to about 2.2 million per US dollar. The back honors the Agrarian Reform decree of 2 August 1953, which abolished forced peasant labor and redistributed estates. In the 1987 reform, notes of this type were overprinted as 10 centavos of the new boliviano.

Condition

[Est. XF] No hard folds, with light rippling and a faint crease in the top margin on the back. The front is bright; the back is lightly toned with a little soil at the top edge. Corners are sharp and the edges clean. No tears, holes or writing. Grade estimated from the scans; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

No longer legal tender: demonetized on 31 December 1987.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Tomas Soley Guell, a postmaster and congressional deputy, promoted the state insurance monopoly and created the National Insurance Bank, today the Instituto Nacional de Seguros. In 1998 some notes of this series were overprinted '50 Aniversario BCCR' for the Central Bank's 50th anniversary, a separate catalog type.

Condition

[Est. F-VF] Several soft folds, including a vertical center fold and a horizontal fold, with many light creases, heaviest on the left half of the back. Light overall soiling and softly rounded corners. No tears, holes or writing. The paper still has some body. Grade estimated from the scans; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

No longer legal tender: withdrawn on 1 September 2011; it can still be exchanged or deposited at Costa Rican financial institutions with no time limit (BCCR).

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Alfredo Gonzalez Flores (1877-1962) was president from 1914 to 1917. He created the International Bank of Costa Rica, today the Banco Nacional, and introduced direct taxation before his war minister, Federico Tinoco, overthrew him on 27 January 1917. The design entered circulation on 27 August 2012.

Condition

[Est. VF] Several folds, including a strong horizontal fold across the portrait and a vertical fold, with light soiling and lightly rounded corners. A tiny blue dot sits on the building on the front. No tears, holes, tape or writing. Grade estimated from the scans; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

No longer legal tender: withdrawn on 1 March 2022; it can still be exchanged or deposited at Costa Rican financial institutions with no time limit (BCCR).

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

The note marks the centennial of the Banco de Costa Rica. Gaspar Ortuno y Ors was a Spanish consul and administrator who was a founding partner of the Banco de la Union and the Banco de Costa Rica. The 50 colones later became a coin, first issued in 1997.

Condition

[Est. VG] Several folds and creases, including a horizontal crease across the portrait, with overall soiling and soft edges. A tear of about 14 mm from the top edge at the upper right is held with old yellowed tape that covers the start of the serial. Small brown staining around the tear on the back. Grade estimated from the scans; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

No longer legal tender: catalogs list it as demonetized (date not found), and the 50 colones is now a coin.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Home, sweet home on wash day. The caption borrows the opening line of "Home! Sweet Home!", John Howard Payne's song from his 1823 opera Clari, or the Maid of Milan, with music by Henry Bishop, and turns it into a laundry slogan.

Beware of imitations. Pearline was a washing compound, and the poem on the back is an attack on cheaper rivals sold door to door, comparing a peddler's patter to the wind, however sweet his voice, even one like Jenny Lind's.

Children and animals. A girl, a kitten and a lamb in a rose garden: exactly the sentimental subject Victorian collectors pasted into their albums, and still a favorite with collectors of children and farm animal cards.

Condition

Sold as-is for its image and text. Front: an area of surface paper loss about 0.5 in. across at lower center, over the girl's legs and the grass, exposing white card; small nick at the upper left edge; corners lightly worn; colors bright elsewhere. Back: matching surface loss in the second stanza that removes several words, plus a few small scuffed patches and light marks at the lower right; overall light toning. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The poem on the back is printed in black letterpress.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards for soap and laundry, thread and coffee are in our store.

Disclaimer

Specifications and detailed item descriptions are provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. Please do your own research. There are generally no receipts available for any items from original purchases. Any dimensions and/or weights are approximate. The absence of a more detailed condition report does not imply there are no condition issues with the item(s). Please inspect images carefully as they are part of the official item description and best representation of the actual condition. Additional images may be available upon request depending on time and availability. Not responsible for internet mis-translations or mis-identification of maker's marks if found or assumptions of makers or materials — item descriptions will indicate if it is assumed. If you see a problem, please message us immediately and we will do our best to sort out a solution and confirm the information. With the exception of eBay rules, no returns are accepted.

Historical Context

Wake no Kiyomaro (733-799) was a court official remembered for his loyalty to the throne.

Condition

[Est. VF] Light circulation, with a diagonal crease at the top-left corner (no tear or chips); see the photos. Grade estimated; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

No longer legal tender: not on the Bank of Japan list of notes still valid. Sold as a collectible.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

A convertible silver note, once exchangeable for 1 yen in silver. Takenouchi no Sukune is a legendary statesman of the early Japanese chronicles.

Condition

[Est. VF] Light circulation with folds; see the photos. Grade estimated; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

Still legal tender in Japan at face value (on the Bank of Japan list of valid notes), but worth more to collectors.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Issued from November 1, 1944, in the last year of World War II. Kusunoki Masashige was a 14th-century samurai remembered in Japan for his loyalty to the emperor; his statue stands outside the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Condition

[Est. UNC] Uncirculated (checked in hand). Wartime paper with its natural cream-to-tan tone; see the photos. Grade estimated; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

No longer legal tender: amounts under 1 yen were voided at the end of 1953 (Bank of Japan). Sold as a collectible.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Coffee by the package. In the 1880s branded, packaged coffee was pushing out loose beans sold from the grocer's bin, and roasters handed out picture cards to win loyal customers. Dilworth's answer to why its coffee was best: "because" it is unequalled.

Donkey rides on the sand. A sailor-suited boy and a bonneted girl on a pair of shaggy donkeys capture a favorite Victorian seaside pleasure, for collectors of children, beach and donkey subjects.

Condition

Front: very good, with bright color, light toning, light edge wear and lightly rounded corners. Back: water staining with tide lines across the top band and below the printing, several round stain spots near the bottom, a scuffed patch of surface at the upper right corner, a few small specks, and overall toning. Please see the photos, which are part of the description.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

The back is printed in black type, separate from the color work on the front.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards for coffee, spices and baking soda are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Wake no Kiyomaro (733-799) was a court official remembered for his loyalty to the throne.

Condition

[Est. VF] Light circulation. "33" written in ink on the back (permanent), and a faint, mostly erased pencil "33"; see the photos. Grade estimated; not professionally graded.

Legal Tender

No longer legal tender: not on the Bank of Japan list of notes still valid. Sold as a collectible.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

This is the travel series, the same one as the Dublin card: fifty stops on an armchair tour of the world, one to a package of coffee. For a family in Kansas in 1891, the tower at Belem and the grape arbors of Portugal were exactly as far away as the moon, and a card like this was how they arrived.

The grapevine running through the design is the clue to what Portugal meant to an American of the period — wine and port, the country's best-known export.

Condition

Toning and age typical of the period. Light surface soiling; minor edge and corner wear; toning to the reverse. The chromolithographed image remains bright and the reverse text fully legible. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Details

Issuer: Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore

Denomination: 1 Dollar

Series: Orchid Series (first Singapore series, 1967-1972)

Serial: B/71 591695 (best reading)

Signature: Hon Sui Sen (best reading)

Size: approx. 121 x 64 mm

Condition

Crisp, with a faint vertical center fold visible on the back. Please see the photos for condition; the grade has not been certified.

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.

Historical Context

Oregon's picture is its industry: salmon, caught in the rivers and canned for shipment east. The cans in the corner are the whole story of the Columbia River in the 1880s — a fish that had fed the region for thousands of years, turning into a product sold in grocery stores across the country.

Watch the northern border. The card labels Washington T., for Territory. Washington became a state in November 1889, so this map was drawn just before it happened.

Condition

Toning and age typical of the period. Light surface soiling; minor edge and corner wear; toning to the reverse. The chromolithographed image remains bright and the reverse text fully legible. Please view the images carefully.

About The Printing

This is an original chromolithograph, and it was slow, exacting work. Each color had to be drawn onto its own separate stone by hand — in monochrome, the artist judging how much stipple each area needed so the colors would combine correctly only once every stone had been printed. The sheet then went through the press once for every color it carries, often a dozen or more, and every pass had to register exactly against the last. A pass out of register showed.

Under magnification the image resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, each ink carrying its own dot pattern, the colors mixing in the eye rather than on the paper. There is no regular halftone screen and no four-color rosette, which is what a modern reproduction would show. Modern process printing simulates every color from four inks; chromolithography laid each color down as its own.

Provenance

From my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders. Stored in a climate-controlled environment.

Also In Our Store

More Victorian advertising trade cards are in our store.

Disclaimer

The images and any video show the actual item and are part of the official listing description, so please review them closely. Measurements and weights are approximate, and any maker or material we haven't confirmed is described as assumed. Questions? Message us; we answer quickly.