Checkerboard

July 2023

• AAAA One-Day Show plus Ice Screamers and Barber Shop Events
• More Great Labels From the Grant Smith Collection
• Back to the Future
• 1988 AAAA Convention Photos
• Recent Finds
• Gunpowder Tea Package
• Wanted Items

The 2023 AAAA Convention is right around the corner at the Wyndham Garden York at 2000 Loucks Rd, York, Pennsylvania! The convention will open this coming Wednesday evening, July 19 and run until Saturday morning, July 22. It is too late to register for the entire Convention but don't forget about our one-day Show, Auction, and Sale that is free and open to the public on Friday, July 21 from 10:00 am until 10:00 pm. AAAA members unable to attend the entire Convention are encouraged to attend this fun, FREE event.

Browse through a large assemblage of unique and rare antique and vintage advertising items being offered by approximately 50 sellers, and take part in our exciting silent auction. Special items from the David Hirsch collection have been consigned to the Silent Auction by the Hirsch family.

Room sales (fondly referred to as "Room Hopping") will start at 10:00 am and continue until 10:00 pm (except for a meal break from 6:00-7:15 pm). The Silent Auction will be held from 1:00 pm-3:30 pm. Be sure to stop by if you're in the area! No registration is required.

Also taking place that day from 10:00 am-3:00 pm at the Wyndham Garden York is the annual Soda Fountain Collectibles Show and Sale. This fun event is sponsored by the Ice Screamers, a collaborating partner of AAAA. Vintage soda fountain and ice cream collectibles will be available for purchase at all price points. Admission costs $5.00 which includes a serving of delicious ice cream.

Only one mile away from our hotel is another event of interest. Our newest collaborating partner, the National Barber Shop and Shaving Collectibles Association has extended a friendly invitation to all AAAA members to pay a visit to their Room Hopping and Swap Meet at the La Quinta Inn by Wyndham, 1405 Kenneth Rd, York, PA. Room Hopping will take place on Friday July 21st from 7-10pm and the Swap Meet will occur on Saturday July 22nd from 1-3+ pm. Their dynamic President, Justin Nash, will be delivering the Saturday morning seminar at our Convention.

We are very excited about all of the collecting activity converging around our 2023 AAAA Convention! With all groups considered, we might have over 300 people involved!

The June, 2023 issue of Past Times featured an article about the beautiful art that’s featured on labels for cigar boxes and tobacco crates. These types of paper labels don’t often get as much attention as tin and wood signs, but they are stunning in their own right.

You’ll find several great examples in the Past Times article, but we wanted to share even more here. Enjoy these colorful works of art from the Grant Smith collection, and you’ll find more background and information in the Past Times June 2023 issue. 

“1999" is a strange name for a cigar brand that was manufactured one hundred years earlier—probably around 1899. The 1999 brand name is prominently displayed on the outer lid of what is obviously a vintage Victorian-era wooden cigar box that pre-dates the name.

When you raise the lid, you are treated to a beautiful lithographic image of three individuals of the female gender.

You immediately wonder, what does this have to do with "1999"? That is, until you look more closely at the small captions under each of the three figures. 

The figure on the left depicts a young, teen-aged girl bearing the caption “Nineteen” underneath. The image in the middle, shows a woman of more advanced years with the caption of “Ninety”. And the figure on the right presents a girl with the caption of “Nine”.

Nineteen--Ninety--Nine

Oh those clever Victorians!

This box was probably manufactured in 1899 or a bit earlier. It bears an 1883 tax stamp (most tax stamps were used for a number of years after the date of issue). As the year 1899 approached, marking the last year of the 19th century, some cigar producer might have wanted to have some fun naming a new brand. So, from the year 1899, he traveled “back to the future” and there you have it: “1999”.

As this year's AAAA Convention is right around the corner, pleasant recollections of past events often come back to us.

Who are those "babies" in the the photos below? Climb in your time machine and travel back to the 1998 AAAA Convention in Chicago--twenty-five years ago! My, how time flies! To view 14 additional photos, click the blue button below.

All of these touching photos were graciously shared with us by Fred Dodge. Thanks so much, Fred, for helping us take a little trip down Memory Lane!

Dave Carl

It is always a thrill to find an item that makes your collection truly distinctive. It is even more special to find two or even three such discoveries simultaneously! Dave Carl recently became one of those fortunate souls. He added three great acquisitions to his eclectic collection: a vintage barber pole, a huge mortar and pestle that would have been placed outside a pharmacy or apothecary shop, and a wooden cigar store Indian (photos below). He is deservedly very thrilled about his good fortune!

Barber Pole

Store Mortar & Pestle

Cigar Store Indian

Robert Ray

Robert Ray left the spring installment of the Indy Ad Show with some great acquisitions. Robert has a keen eye and always seems to find premium items to add to his outstanding general store collection. He will undoubtedly enjoy the special beauties pictured below.

AAAA member Richie Sternfeld is seeking help in identifying and placing a value on a very attractive lithographed tea package. The front and back are displayed below. If you are familiar with this product or its manufacturer, please click here to share your knowledge. If you would like to talk with Richie about it directly, you can call him at 585-256-2038.

In this column are those sought-after items of desire that seem to be elusive. If you know where any of these items can be acquired or if you have one available, please click the link to reply directly to the seeker. To place a listing in this column, click here. There is no fee for AAAA members. Up to three listings per member are permitted.

Pre-1885 advertising items related to barbed wire and farm fences. I am interested in primary material. Let me know if you have any items including illustrated catalogs, wire company published newspapers, illustrated postal covers and letterheads, flyers, signs, salesman samples, patent models or anything else related to my specific wants. Larry W. Love, [email protected], 214-497-6787

Continental Cubes tobacco tin 4.75” tall and the 6.0” tall size. Convention Hall coffee tin (Ridenour-Baker Kansas City) any variation. Big Horn 1 lb or 3 lb coffee tin. [email protected]

Philip Morris Tin & Porcelain Advertising Signs, thermometers, door push signs. Excellent to mint condition preferred. Daryl Crawford (804) 721-7294 or email [email protected]

Justrite Pet Foods. The Justrite Company General Office was located in Milwaukee WI. A National Account. Advertising, displays, signs, tins, boxes all with logo on it. Most would come from the 1930s through 1950s. Thanks for the help… Gordon Addington. To reply, click here.

Old Topper Brewery Calendar of the late 1940s featuring a pin up artist nude in large format wanted. Always seeking any Rochester Brewery memorabilia. John DeVolder 585-697-4047 or [email protected].

"Jenny" Genesee Brewing Company's girl of the 1950s. Seeking cardboard point of sale-and other items that feature Jenny, who had a ten-year run from 1953 to 1963. Also interested in any cardboard point of sale items from the 1930s through the 1950s from any of the Rochester Breweries. John DeVolder 585-697-4047 or [email protected].

Coca-Cola 24" button porcelain sign with bottle in center. Want several in as close to mint condition as possible. Call 336-970-9867.

Books on Oil & Gas Collectibles. Also looking for books on signs. Call 336-970-9867.

Yellow Kid wanted: 50 year collector looking for the unusual. Reply to: [email protected].

Pedal Cars: Photos, postcards, calendars, catalogs and advertising related to pedal cars. To reply, click here.

Beer cans, soda cans, beer and soda tin-over-cardboard signs, cork-backed bottle caps, key-wind coffee cans, quart oil cans. Please email Jeff Lebo at [email protected].

Pedal car related items. To reply, click here.

Matchbook holders. To know what these are, see my articles in Checkerboard

for Nov. 2020 and May 2021. I will consider all items, in any material from plastic to gold, and not necessarily with advertising. Email Andy at [email protected].

Cigarette Packs. Advanced collector looking to purchase vintage packs. Please contact Dheeraj by email: [email protected].

Donald Duck Goyer Coffee Cans; One pound can & 3 oz sample size in good condition with lids. Please send email with photos & prices to [email protected].

Morimura Brothers (Japanese import company operating in NYC from 1880-1941) advertising items wanted: trade cards, pamphlets, catalog pages, salesman sample pages, porcelain items with advertising. To reply email at [email protected].

DeLaval Items and Farm Advertising Signs. Always looking for top quality and unique items. Contact Gregg Hillyer at [email protected].

Antique Advertising pertaining to country store or drug store products or places. Especially those showing women or girls with the product or location shown. I would consider any  antique advertising (paper, cardboard & metal signs). Quality a plus! Dale Peterson at [email protected].

Unusual one pound peanut butter tins. Tin litho or paper label. To reply, click here.

Marshmallow Tins. Smaller than 5 Pound Size. To reply, click here.

American Cookie, Biscuit and Cracker Tins and Boxes. To reply, click here. 

Banjo related advertising wanted Pre-1940s. Long time collector buying banjo company signage, catalogs, billheads, periodicals, minstrel banjo items such as posters, broadsides, sheet music (pre-1870s) with illustrated banjo covers, early photographs showing banjo players (pre-1915). My main collecting interest is in 19th century material. To reply, click here.

"Antique American Medicine Bottles" by M. Knapp... soft cover book with price guide. Printed in 2012. [email protected] or 781-248-8620. Also, see my other want ad for Clarke’s ephemera and bottles.

Looking for 3 Vintage Tins. American Eagle "Oriental Mixture" tobacco (dimensions approx. 6.5" long, 2.75" wide, 1.5" tall); 1 Gal. Indian Head Hydraulic Brake Fluid; and Packham´s Caramel Toffee. Any offer is welcome and any condition considered. To reply, click here.

Morton Salt, older items, and also Pacific Coast Borax, especially a crate or box. Email [email protected] or call Peggy Dailey 612-522-9211.

Comic Book-Related Advertising Items: Must be from before 1980. To reply, click here.

Clarke’s Vegetable Sherry Wine Bitters, Sharon, MA & Rockland, ME: All sizes, variants, smooth/pontil base. Especially need labeled Clarke’s any size! Also, any Clarke’s ephemera…trade cards, almanacs, newspaper ads, etc. Charlie Martin Jr., 781-248-8620. Email: [email protected].

George Petty: Advanced collector looking for unique or rare items. Photo’s, store displays and non paper items. NO Esquire pages. Pete Perrault. To reply, click here or call (502) 290-7661.

Ice Cream Advertising: Mr. Ice Cream desires better graphic ice cream advertising including: postcards (Advertising and RPPC), trade cards, letterheads, billheads, booklets, poster stamps, blotters, magic lantern slides, pinbacks, watchfobs, and pocket mirrors. Allan Mellis, 1115 West Montana St. Chicago, Illinois 60614-2220. [email protected] To reply, click here.

Stock food, poultry food, veterinary advertising wanted. Posters, medicine packages, give-aways. Email [email protected] or call (256) 520-5211.

Singer Sewhandy Model 20. Green-regular paint, not hammertone. To reply, click here.

National Biscuit Company, Nabisco, Uneeda Biscuit, Uneeda Bakers, Muth Bakery, NBC Bread toys, signage, tins, containers, displays, historical items. Please Email [email protected] or call (937) 205-2232.

Early Cigarette Rolling Papers: Pre-1940s - American, Zig Zag, Braunstein Freres, Bambino, and Ottoman papers wanted. To reply, click here.

Antique/Collectible Banking and Financial System "Giveaway" and advertising items. Specifically from Pennsylvania. Alarm devices and such. To reply, click here.

VITAMINS advertising, displays, signs, bottles, and anything related: Hadacol is an example. Most would come from the 1930s thru the 1970s. Also anything related to cod-liver oil and WEIGHT-LOSS, REDUCING, ANTI-FAT, and OBESITY ITEMS. To reply, click here.

Early tin signs lithographed by Tuchfarber, Wells and Hope, Worcester Sign Company, Sentenne and Green, etc. I can pay more for good condition, but would be interested in any condition. Don Lurito [email protected] also in the directory. To reply, click here.

Dwinell-Wright Co. Royal Ground Spice Cardboard Spice Boxes. One side displays horizontally. Approximately 3.75" by 2.25". Any type of spice is OK. To reply, click here.

ENSIGN Perfect and ENSIGN Perfection vertical pocket tobacco tins to enhance my collection. Feel free to contact me at 614-888-4619 or [email protected] to see if you can help fill the voids.

Edmands Coffee Company, Edmands Tea Company, 1776 Coffee, American Beauty Tea, Japan Tea, Devonshire Tea, (imported by Edmands, Boston/Chicago): Any items such as tins, signs, paper, or anything else related to the Edmands family of companies in Boston is desired. To reply, click here.