GOLD DUST Trolley Signs are a very rare find in today’s market as they were made of cardboard, a material much less likely to withstand the test of time as opposed to tin advertising signs which were much sturdier!

This Gold Dust trolley sign features the Gold Dust Twins dressed in ruffled, red skirts emblazoned with the words “GOLD DUST”, busily scrubbing the front porch and the kitchen in a vigorous attempt at “Spring Cleaning”. The colors featured in this trolley sign are just stunning—greens, pale peachy-colored orange, pale blue, and yellows with white apple blossoms and red tulips flowering in profusion!! To the left of the Gold Dust Twin scrubbing the front porch, sits a large box of Gold Dust Washing Powder. The advertisement proclaims in black-outlined, peachy-orange lettering: “For Spring House Cleaning”.

The condition of this trolley sign is truly quite fine. Colors are very strong and consistent throughout; please ignore the various glass reflections seen in some of the photos- they were unavoidable and do appear to make the colors appear a bit faded—which is inaccurate! The sign is free of rips or tears although it does have two, early, fold-creases – one running from top to bottom of the sign along the left side of the pail and between the “O” and “L” in “GOLD” and the other vertical crease on the very right edge of the sign, running through the stove in the kitchen to the “T” in “DUST”. The creases are very unobtrusive and do not detract from the wonderful, colorful imagery this sign conveys.

This children’s text is 318 pages in length, is further enhanced with numerous black and white photographs, is in never-used, near mint condition, and comes complete with the original, fine-condition, exterior paper wrapper.

Sample topics covered are: How the Wasp Taught us to make Paper, Of What are Pastes and Glues Made, The Mystery of Melted Sand, Wall Paper Designs, From Banana to Cactus Plants to Rope, Harnessing the Sparks of Heaven, The Cloth that Will Not Burn, The Mechanical Eye that Excels our Own, How Mother Nature uses her Paint Pot Underground, Pins and Pin Money, Tears of the Helliades, etc, etc.

Offered is a rarely-found, COMPLETE set of the out-of-print, Austin, Texas, Black History, Let's Pretend series, Mae Dee and Her Family. All six books are First Editions and were published as part of the National History Series: USA, Delta Black Heritage Program, with all photographs courtesy of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Austin, Texas, Alumnae Chapter.

The titles, in their order of publication, are as follows;

1977, "Mae Dee and Her Family Go To Town"

1977, "Mae Dee and Her Family On A Weekend in May"

1978, "Mae Dee and Her Family join the Juneteenth Celebration"

1978, "Mae Dee and Her Family In the Merry, Merry Season"

1979, "Mae Dee and Her Family And the First Wedding of the Year"

1980, "Mae Dee and Her Family Ten Years Later".

As stated in the books' prefaces, "The six stories are based on historical and biographical facts about the lifestyle of an Austin, Texas, black family in the early 1900s. Mae Dee and her family existed although these stories about them are fictionalized. The organizations and institutions mentioned did exist and activities discussed did occur."

These rich and delightfully entertaining yet educational books are a fascinating look back in history to the African-American experience in turn-of-the-century Austin, Texas.

The books are profusely illustrated with numerous period photographs as well as fabulous black line ink drawings rendered by Sarochin Shannon.

Published by The Stevenson Press, Austin, Texas, 1977-1980. Excellent, unused condition; hard cover book only has some very light soiling to front and back covers which likely can be cleaned off. No dust jackets. Bindings: five books are soft cover; one is hard cover. 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Books range from 63 to 166 pages in length.

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

Offered is a fabulous and seldom found World War I poster that honors the service of the African-American male Army Calvary soldier.

Tastefully rendered, this 17" x 20" paper lithographed poster on cardboard depicts a World War I African-American Calvary soldier bidding farewell to his proud girlfriend/wife as his regiment marches forward off to war in the background.

This rarely found poster is entitled, "COLORED MAN IS NO SLACKER". It was published in 1918 by S.G. Renesch of Chicago (thus printed in lower left hand corner).

The poster remains in its original, black-painted, wooden frame with glass, with original nails holding the poster in place in the back.

The poster remains in very fine condition for its 90 years of age, showing some subtle wrinkling of paper to the lower 1/5th of the poster, likely the result of subjection to dampness, although, please note, that NO water staining is present.

This poster is a credit to the service of the many African-American men who so faithfully served and died to protect the liberty of the United States of America.

Mammy's paper memo pad is original to the piece; however, she is missing her original pencil which would slip into the hole in her right hand and down into the broom top to form the broom handle! A present day pencil may be used as a replacement.

A stunning and very visually striking piece, it is labeled on back, "Fredericksburg Art Pottery USA", a pottery once located in Fredericksburg, Ohio, manufacturing between 1939-49. The back has 2 original hanging holes for placement on a wall.

Truly in wonderful, vintage condition with no cracks, chips, repairs or repaint! A fabulous addition to one's Black Americana collection!

The CZAR Baking Powder card was printed by the Empire Lithography Company, Pearl Street, New York, and is so marked at the bottom of the front side. This card is brilliantly colored with a phenomenal graphic of a Mammy and her son admiring an utterly huge loaf of bread which presumably owes its immense size to CZAR Baking Powder. The reverse side carries a testimony by a Yale College professor attesting to the wonder of the CZAR product which is manufactured by Steele and Emery Company of New Haven, Connecticut. The card measures 3 inches x 4.75 inches.

The MISFIT Clothing Company card is copyrighted 1898 by J.H. Bufford Company in the lower right front corner. In the upper left corner, the card is entitled "In the Land of Cotton" and features a wonderfully detailed scene of African-American families working the cotton fields with a large cotton gin looming in the background. The card measures 2.75 inches x 4.50 inches. The reverse side is an advertisement for Misfit Clothing sold by the J. Bamott & Company of Washington Street, Boston.

The Welcome Soap advertising card also measures 2.75 inches x 4.50 inches and is entitled "Photography Under a Cloud". It features a fabulous litho of 5 African-American boys with exaggerated facial features who are attempting to take a photograph using an early camera. The litho is marked in the lower right corner "Bufford, Boston". The reverse side further advertises WELCOME SOAP and features two shaking hands.

All three trade cards are in very fine condition with nice color and some very subtle evidence of age staining as seen in photos. The cards have no rips, bends, or fading. The back sides of the Czar card and the MISFIT CLOTHING card have glue stains.

These rare trade cards would be stunning matted and framed as a group!

The folder is undated and was never mailed. Some edge wear evident at corners and some slight separation at the seams of individual cards. While some photos may appear a bit blurry, this is a function of photography and not condition. All postcards are crisp and clear!