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ANTIQUE ALPHABET BLOCKS

10/24/2013

1 Comment

 
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I collect exclusively German toys (as really the Germans did them best), but I found this complete set of blocks -- made in the USA -- and couldn't resist.   They come in their original wooden box, with sliding lid, which is your first clue as to age.

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These blocks were made as an educational toy to help children learn their alphabet and learn to read.  One side of each block has a black and white paper lithograph attached showing a word and picture describing the word using common items from the time in which they lived . . . ferry boat, stable, ice cart, page, omnibus, cooper, log cabin, etc.  What would we put on blocks today . . . yacht, garage, ice machine?   These pictures are a wonderful clue to determine age of the set of blocks. 

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The other sides of the blocks are painted in white or red background with either numbers, Roman numerals or letters of the alphabet under which is written a simple word beginning with the corresponding letter . . . such as S is for "sin."   Today it could be S is for "shutdown" or S is for "sequester"! 

The blocks were made ca. 1850s by Hill's who were the first American manufacturer to produce blocks in mass quantity. 


1 Comment
Tom Tall Clover Farm link
10/24/2013 08:43:24 pm

I love the time when there was art in the everyday, when a child's toy or learning tool was worthy of a gallery spot.

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