All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #1195081 (stock #B124)
Originally published in 1914 by Rand McNally & Company, this edition of this very delightful little story book was published in 1937 and features the tale of Watermelon Pete and his adventures along with five other little stories...
All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #1224370 (stock #BA884)
This fabulous 1930's American Beach cast iron sign reading "AMERICAN BEACH FLA Negro Ocean Playground" is in very fine condition with remnants of original paint and vintage patina. This is NOT a reproduction! This sign was originally sold to be used as a license plate topper by African American folks frequenting this beach. It measures 11 inches in length x 4.50 inches high at its tallest point...
All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #404268 (stock #BA512)
Measuring 9 inches high, this delightful example of Folk Art styling, is one of a series of Black cloth character dolls made in Alabama in the 1930’s by unknown craftsmen/women. It has been speculated that their creation was encouraged through FDR’s Depression era program, the Work Projects Administration (WPA), in existence from 1936-1940.

This doll depicts the black washerwoman. She holds an authentic-looking wood and tin washboard in her left arm...

All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #678694 (stock #BA410)
In wonderful condition, this hard-bound, 2nd printing of Elvira Garner's "EZEKIAL" retains its original dust jacket.

Printed in 1937, this delightful story of little Ezekial and his Florida family was both written and illustrated by Ms. Garner.

The book is tightly bound with some foxing at the front and back cover interior seams. The colors are much brighter and more vivid than they appear in my photos. No rips, tears, or repairs...

All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #487110 (stock #BA568)
An utterly fabulous piece of 1930’s Black Americana, this mint condition, hand-painted, Black Sambo Alligator ashtray measures approximately 5 inches wide by 4.5 inches high...
All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #421506 (stock #BA61)
Measuring 4 3/4 inches high, this pre-World War II, Austrian-made, metal ashtray features a very intriguing, slouching, black nodder figure smoking a cigar!

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

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

An interesting character!

All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #1472553 (stock #BA981)
Measuring approximately 7.25 inches high, this difficult to find, Black Americana Vargas wax figure is mounted on its original wooden platform and is one of a series of fascinating "street character wax dolls" conceived of and crafted by Mrs. Concepcion Vargas Alfonso, daughter of the world-renowned, turn-of-the-20th century, New Orleans, Spanish sculptor, Francisco Vargas.

From approximately 1910 through the 1930's, Mrs...

All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #798740 (stock #BA712)
Measuring 6 3/4 inches tall x 3 3/4 inches wide and deep, offered is this rarely found, all-original and vintage, French, BANANIA brand, Chocolate Banana breakfast food tin.

The now empty tin features the Banania brand trademark graphic of a smiling Blackamoor.

Condition is all-original with some wear to tin from use as seen in photos...

All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #589288 (stock #BA635)
Measuring 13 inches long x 6 inches wide, this untouched, all-original, double-sided heavy metal sign is an extraordinarily RARE piece of Black American history-- an artifact of the "Jim Crow" era when segregation of the African American race was unfortunately, most commonplace.

This sign was once bolted onto the inside of a railroad car, designating the line behind which African Americans must remain-- in the back of the car.

The sign is painted on both sides as follows: the back of the s...

All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #364612 (stock #BA439)
Measuring 3 1/4 inches high, this Japan-made, quite nicely detailed and hand-painted, pot metal figure depicts the traditional RED CAP Railroad Porter with his arms quite full of luggage along with a set of golf clubs slung over his shoulder!

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

Once commonly found, the ...

All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #1452879 (stock #B305)
Published in 1939 by the Whitman Publishing Company of Racine, Wisconsin, this very rarely-found, large folio, fine heavy stock, softcover book measuring 12.5 x 9.75 inches, offers a very unique continuation of the original Little Black Sambo story!

Entitled A New Story of Little Black Sambo, this tale picks up the story of the original Little Black Sambo tale with Little Sambo's mother, Black Mumbo, exclaiming that Sambo, after almost losing his best Sunday clothes to the tigers, would- f...

All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #476203 (stock #CONBRF01)
Offered is a fabulous, one-of-a-kind group of 15, hand-carved and hand-painted, circa 1920-1930's, wooden miniatures of Black Folk as they would have appeared during the Harlem Renaissance!

Hand-executed by Robert A. Myers of 73 E. Hazeltine Avenue, Kenmore, New York, the figures vary in height from 2.25 to 2.75 inches. The colors are absolutely brilliant and the detailing exquisite with the tiniest of details painted with superb precision, control and great artistry.

"HAND MADE, R. A...

All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #1418325 (stock #B289)
Offered is this 1931 copyright, LITTLE BLACK SAMBO Book with text and illustrations by the original author of this tale, Helen Bannerman. A David McKay Company publication of Phildelphia and Washington Square, copyright by Howard E. Altemus, with an introduction by George C. Harvey...
All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #284830 (stock #BA404)
This sweet, 1930's, wooden pull toy made by the Hustler Toy Corporation of Sterling, Illinois, features a darling little black character pulling the reins of his white mustang horse! The toy measures 12 inches long x 5.5 inches high.

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

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

All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #1273760 (stock #BA920BA921)
Measuring 9 inches high, these delightful examples of Folk Art styling, are two of a series of Black cloth character dolls made in Alabama in the 1930’s by unknown craftsmen/women.

It has been noted that their creation was encouraged through President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Depression era program, the Work Projects Administration (WPA), in existence from 1935-1943. The WPA was designed to provide jobs across the country during the Great Depression...

All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #520409 (stock #BA591)
Measuring just 3 6/8 inches long x 2 ¾ inches wide x 2 inches high, this sweet little 1930’s Germany tin at one tin held coffee!

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

All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #390543 (stock #B223)
This fourth edition, miniature, hard cover book , "The Story of Little Black Sambo and the Twins" was written and illustrated by Helen Bannerman, an Englishwoman living in India at the turn of the 20th century who wrote this and a series of six other SAMBO stories to amuse her two little daughters. These subsequent stories are much more rarely found as fewer were published, because at that time, none ever reached the popularity of the original “Little Black Sambo”. "The Story of Little Blac...
All Items : Archives : Collectibles : Memorabilia : Pre 1940 item #404260 (stock #BA511)
Measuring 9 inches high, this delightful example of Folk Art styling, is one of a series of Black cloth character dolls made in Alabama in the 1930’s by unknown craftsmen/women. It has been speculated that their creation was encouraged through FDR’s Depression era program, the Work Projects Administration (WPA), in existence from 1936-1940.

This doll depicts the black fisherman. He holds a bait pail and bunch of sticks tied together with string that has been flung under his right shoulde...