Thursday, April 9, 2009

Lollipop Cards - E Rosen Company


I'm signalling you to stop To look and listen too, So that when you get this pop You'll know that I love you.

5" x 6"
made by E. Rosen Co of Providence, RI.


Click on the thumbnail to see a super-size image.



Please take my heart that goes ker-flop With this delicious Candy Pop

5" x 6"
1930s
Baby with Rosy Cheeks sits in a Wagon
by E Rosen Co of Providence Rhode Island


Click on the thumbnail to see a super-size image.




Ay Tank Ay Go Home! by Jiminy if you won't Be My Walentine!


5" x 6"
dated 1936
Caricature of Swedish Farmer
by E Rosen Co of Providence Rhode Island


Click on the thumbnail to see a super-size image.



E Rosen Company (who also uses the name School House Candy) created a wide variety of pictorial backers for their suckers. There are really fabulous Halloween ones to look for as well as those for Valentine's Day.



Valentine Day is coming soon, I'll be waiting by the Moon, Let me be your big dandy. I'll bring little sticks of candy Be Mine!

3 3/4" x 4 7/8"
circa 1940s/1950s
ROSEN LOLLIPOP HOLDER

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

You're the SUPERMAN - DC Comics hero




You're the SUPERMAN I'm wild about, - no VALENTINE can CUT you out.

Superman Valentine
5 5/8" x 5 1/4"
1940
made in USA




What SUPERMAN does I don't want to do - He travels alone - I want to travel with YOU!

Superman Valentine
6 5/8" x 4 5/8"
1940
made in USA



This rare series of valentines appeared just over a year after the introduction of the Man of Steel in Action Comics #1 (April 1938 with a cover date of June 1938). Jerry Siegal and Joe Shuster's superhero got his own book in 1939. He was immediately very popular. These cards were among the earliest licensed items to feature the new character. There are at least 3 different designs in this series. We currently have just 2 to display here.


Superman was originally conceived as a bald villain. After appearing in a short story in Science Fiction #3 (1933), where he was out to dominate the world, he was re-imagined as one of the good guys. His look was changed and his stance was made to resemble the popular actor Douglas Fairbanks Sr when he donned the cape and tights. His appearance as Clark Kent was a nod to Harold Lloyd, the silent movie comedian.


The valentine series is copyright dated 1940 Superman, Inc (which was DC Comics' licensing division back then). They fold to stand, making for a fabulous superhero display. In the 1970s, a series of tall single-fold birthday cards were released that feature different characters from the DC Universe, including Superman (along with Wonder Woman and others). There is also a series of valentines from 1966 to collect. All of these can be somewhat difficult, though not impossible, to find.


We'd really love to know which artist drew this set. As far as we could tell, artists drawing Superman for DC at the time included Shuster, Cassidy, Neville, Nowak and Sikela. So...Anyone know?



Look up in the sky -
It's a bird...
It's a plane...

It's SUPERMAN!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Charles Twelvetrees - Man of Mystery!



Everything will be quite DUCKY, And I'll consider myself so LUCKY If you will be - My Valentine!

7 3/4" x 4 3/4"
CT mark indicating
artist is Charles Twelvetrees
with paper puff/honeycomb
Made in USA





no text

8" x 4 1/4"
CT mark indicating
artist is Charles Twelvetrees


vintage valentine twelvetrees basket of pups

This set of quinPUPlets
On your doorstep I'm parking
Better tell them you're mine
Or you'll hear plenty BARKING!
Be my Valentine

Signed CT
Child and Basket of Puppies
8" x 4 3/4"
circa 1940s
made in USA


vintage valentine lov-o-gram



To my Valentine
Tell me that you love me true `
And I'll turn somersaults for you.

5 1/4" x 4" (closed)
dated 1940
made in USA
no artist mark
attributed to C Twelvetrees
Lov-O-Gram series


Charles Twelvetrees is a somewhat elusive character. There is a Charles R. (b. 1888) and a Charles H. who were father and son. They may have worked together or may not. There are cards signed with a CT mark, others that say C Twelvetrees, CH Twelvetrees, or just C. There are also many to be found that are unsigned. Earlier images (like the postcards) could be the work of the elder with the magazine illustrations and later cards being the work of Charles R.


Whoever the man behind the name may be, Twelvetrees excelled in images of chubby cheeked children. You'll also notice his distinctive little bulldogs as a repeated theme. He did many animal images in addition to the dogs, with them appearing sometimes in wonderfully detailed spats. There are many apparent series to look for, making for some fun hunting for collectors!


In April of 1948, Twelvetrees died of natural causes in his bathtub in a New York City hotel where he appears to have resided. The New York Times carried an obituary that listed no survivors, so despite his success with images of children, he may not have had any of his own.


Companies Twelvetrees is known to have worked for:

  • S. Bergman
  • Ullman Mnaufacturing Co
  • National Art Co
  • Edward Gross Co
  • The Home Magazine/Tower Publications
  • Pictorial Review
  • New York Herald
  • Alpha Publications
  • Reinthal & Newman
  • F. A. Stokes
  • Raphael Tuck
For more information see: The Antique Shoppe Newspaper, Feb 22 2008 article by Roy Nuhn; Valentines by Katherine Krieder; 100 Years of Valentines by Kathrine Krieder; Valentine Treasury by Robert Brenner.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Archers Aim Straight for the Heart!



I'm All A-QUIVER Over You! I Shoot my Heart in Your Direction - In Hopes 'Twill win Your Fond Affection!
4 1/2" x 6 1/4"
Mechanical
made by A-Meri-Card
circa 1940s, 1950s



I Aim to be your Valentine.
3 5/8" x 5 7/8"
Red Fuzzy or Flocked Detailing
circa 1960s

Dancers Love you BALLET much!


You keep me on my TOES, Valentine!
3 1/8" x 6 1/8"
circa 1950s, 1960s
Pop-Up


I like you BALLET much, Valentine!

2 3/8" x 3 5/8"
circa 1950s, 1960s
made in USA
Lithograph