Early 20th Century Historical Memorabilia

PRESENTING A FABULOUS Original hand-written Letter from Theodore Dreiser dated 19 Dec 1916 to Eliza Calvert Hall. The letter is entirely hand written with pen and signed by the re...

We are delighted to offer for sale this very nice suite of antique military officer Royal Horse Artillery (1 Cannon - 1873-1901) 18mm ball button with Queen Victoria's Crown brass Mi...

Here it is, that unique gift you have been looking for for the cowboy or cowgirl in your life. A genuine vintage Texan wrought iron cattle branding iron. ...

Very large and decorative Hollywood Regency 1920s page turner or letter opener made by hand out of a curl goat Horn and brass. On the brass it reads: AER But the some letters are h...

PRESENTING A HUGELY IMPORTANT, EXCEPTIONALLY RARE and FULLY AUTHENTIC COLLECTION of 6 Items pertaining to President Theodore Roosevelt, that have never been outside family ownership, namely: (1) Original Theodore Roosevelt Letter 14th August 1918 to Eliza Calvert Hall, (2) Original Envelope – Aug 1918, with postage stamps, marks, etc. (3) Original Theodore Roosevelt Letter 8th November 1918 to Mrs Obenchain (4) Original Envelope – Nov 1918, with postage stamps, marks, etc. (5) HUGELY IMPORTANT handwritten ‘Poem’ on an Index Card by Eliza Calvert Hall which was sent by her to Theodore, after the death of Quentin in July 1918 and is referenced to by him, in the letter of August 1918, and (6) Original letter dated 12 September 2018 to Maj LC Obenchain, which completes provenance/background. (1) & (2) – PRESENTING AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE and FULLY AUTHENTIC Theodore Roosevelt Letter from August 1918 with original envelope. On ‘Sagamore Hill’ letterhead. Fully handwritten and personally signed by President...

A rare collection of four feather tree tinsel ornaments. These ornaments, were made from tinsel and wire, would be a great antique addition for your Christmas, feather tree or sittin...

Art Deco red enameled metal floor penny scale by Watling Chicago Co., mirror to front, Measures: 48.25" H x 17" W x 25" D. In good condition. Wear consis...

A carved and shaped teak seat back from the launch of minesweeper H M S Bluebell, of shaped rectangular form with a central panel with 3in brass lettering HMS Bluebell, with braced b...

Great antique sign originally from the world renown design, art school Pratt Institute in NYC. The sign is constructed of solid wood, having a black background, with gold gilt letter...

Angel trumpeter - original hand painted recovery weapon England early 20th Century Original antique English weather vane in hand painted iron depictin...

Three-sheet, narrow, vertical broadside, made to advertise Hunt Brothers Circus and Wild West Show ca 1900-1910. With the bold headlines “Buffalo Ranch”...

This large advertising panel for Codorniu cava was designed during the 1930s and it clearly symbolises Art Nouveau design. It consists of 20cm by 20c...

British Royal Family A rare and Historical Royal Coronation flag from The Coronation Of HRH King Edward VII, this flag was produced to commemorate t...

Chinese innovations in ink, block printing, and movable type fueled global advancements in printing technology, expanding the range of influence of the written word. These printing i...

Collection of Three Vintage Tractor wrenches United States Early 20th century Cast steel 7, 8.5, and 12 in. / 18, 22, 31 cm Custom display measu...

This antique wooden carriage was produced in 1900 in Belgium. A large carriage painted in black, displaying the inscription “Peintures Constant Smal” in dark red lettering. Standing firm on sturdy wheels, the wooden cart conjures the daily routine of labor, the carrying of paint cans to their destination for Constant Smal’s small company. The slightly cracked finish and distressed patina lend a picturesque touch to this gem of rustic engineering. In an ideal state for its age, this ode to craftsmanship adapts as an exceptional decoration or an audacious repurposed furniture...

Sailor with glasses - original hand painted recovery vanity - england early 20th century. Original antique English weather vane in hand painted iron depicting a sailor looking t...

Vintage telephone is an original design object realized in the 1930s/40s. A brass and wood vintage telephone. Fair conditions due to the time. ...

Antique forty six star large wool American flag by Horstmann Company, circa 1908-1912. Horstmann firm was founded by William H. Horstmann (1785-1850), who had immigrated to Philadelphia from Germany. Horstmann bought out a local swordmaker in 1828 and thereafter entered the military goods field. The firm benefitted from the Civil War, becoming the largest military goods supplier in the nation by 1864. WILLIAM H. HORSTMANN & SONS, Manufacturers of Dress Trimmings and Military Goods. 5th & Cherry Streets, Philadelphia, PA. This house was founded, in 1815, by William H. Horstmann, a native of Cassel, in Germany. He had learned the trade of silk-weaving in France, and, emigrating to the United States in the above-mentioned year, established himself in Philadelphia as a manufacturer of fringe, laces and trimmings of various kinds. He married the daughter of Frederick Hoeckly, a German settler in Philadelphia, and also a manufacturer of fringe, coach-lace and tassels. He devised several improvements in this trade, especially by introducing varieties in the styles and patterns of this class of goods, there being at that time only two patterns used in the trade, which were known as the Jefferson pattern and the Monroe pattern. In 1824, he introduced into this country from Germany the use of plaiting or braiding machines, and about the same time he was the first to introduce into this country the use of the Jacquard loom, for weaving patterns in textile fabrics. His location was in the first instance at No. 50 North Third street, but within a short time he removed to a store next to the Harp and Crown tavern, afterwards known as the City hotel, and continued his business within a short distance of this point for many years. In 1828, he commenced the manufacture of military trimmings as a special department, and this branch has grown to most important proportions, Horstmann's military goods being in demand throughout time country. The firm have also executed large Government contracts in this line for the War and Navy Departments. In 1831, he established a branch house in New York city, and about the same time erected a factory at the corner of Germantown road and Columbia avenue. The factory was continued here until time erection of the extensive building at Fifth and Cherry streets, where the works, salesrooms and offices of time firm now are. This massive structure is six stories high, and extends 140 feet on Fifth street and 200 on Cherry street, and reaches back to Race street. The separate departments into which the business is divided are thirty in number. More than 1000 distinct looms and machines are in use in the building, many of them very costly and some invented and used exclusively by this firm, the motive power being supplied by a steam engine of fifty horse power. The area covered by the works is about 11,000 square feet. Time number of hands employed is very large, about 500. When the erection of a vast factory at this point was first proposed, a strong opposition was made by time holders of the neighboring property. The ancient German Lutheran Church and burying ground, since removed, stood opposite the site, and a bill was introduced into the Legislature to forbid the use of a steam engine within 100 yards of any place of worship. The interests which such a bill would have affected injuriously, especially those of several newspapers, roused a strong opposition to it, and it failed to become a law. In 1845, William H. Horstmann, the founder of the house, retired from the business, and his two sons, William and Sigmund, assumed the management and it was under their direction that the new building, above described, was erected. The goods produced by this house are of almost endless extent and variety. They include goods woven from all the various textile fibres—cotton, wool, silk, etc.—in every style, color and pattern, and are used for an infinite number of purposes. Narrow woven goods are time staple production, made up into material for dresses for both sexes, for use in daily life, and for regalia for ""societies;"" for the costumes of the stage, the upholstering of houses and of carriages, the uniforms of soldiers, together with equipments for the same, and for funeral purposes. The raw material used in the manufacture is to a great extent very costly, and their store rooms often hold as much as $200,000 worth of goods in an unworked state. There are two rooms devoted to power looms in the factory, one for coach lace and one for other styles of weaving, in which about 250 of these machines are constantly running. The braiding machines in the coach lace room are very noteworthy. The cord to be covered with braid is drawn through an opening in time middle of a flat, circular, metallic plate, about 15 inches across. Up to a point on this cord, about a foot above the plate, the threads of the braiding material converge, like the ribs of a tent-roof, and there weave in and out and out and in, as the coating of braid grows, and time covered cord rises and is wound away above. The weaving is accomplished by the motion of the spools below that carry the different threads of the braid. These spools stand in uprights, which are carried round and amongst each other in curved slots in the above-mentioned broad metallic plate. All but two of these spools run in and out among each other, with a swift, easy and intricate motion, mind so rapid that time eye can hardly follow it, while one or two special spools run steadily round and round among time twisting spools with the most extreme swiftness. Many other machines, displaying equally ingenious mechanism, are used in the factory. The various details of equipment manufactured and supplied by this house are also important, both for their number and the superior quality of the manufacture. The one article of swords may be taken as an instance. This trade grew naturally and immediately out of the established army and navy goods department of the works, it being necessary that the sword itself should be furnished together with the sword-belt and other trappings all complete. Every part of the sword and trappings, with the exception of the blade, is made on the premises. The blades are almost all imported from the ancient German sword-blade emporium of Solingen, where, it is said, swords have been made ever since the year 1147, when Count Adolphus of Berg brought home from the East and established there the business of forging Damascus blades. There is in this department a stock of some thousands of blades, of many different patterns and sizes, ready to be set and finished. Any style or sword can be had from this warehouse, from the plainest kind up to a presentation sword...

Presented is a vintage U.S. Army recruitment poster, dating to World War I. The poster depicts an Army officer conferring with a soldier. They stand next to an artillery battery, manned by two soldiers. Their fort looks over a cliff, with water and clouds completing the background. The text "Men Wanted for the Army" is printed in bold red letters at the top of the poster. The bottom margin of the poster includes a cartouche where the name of the recruiting station can be filled in. The color lithograph was illustrated by Michael P...

This beautiful wall decoration plate is a nice addition to your Wall. It is marked at the back. A nice addition to your toleware room or Hollywood regency interior.

American Folk Art trade sign with hand-carved "Showroom" letters and an arrow. The letters and backboard are in original paint, egg-white and petroleum green. The sign has recently b...

"From Newton To Einstein: changing conceptions of the universe" By Albert Einstein Item Number: AG2337 Next » October 1920 Second Edition of "F...

Large, very fine, and unique Indian gilt-metal and silver sporting shield Indian, c.1927 Depth 13cm, diameter 68.5cm Awarded as a polo trophy to a team wh...

This beautiful wall decoration plate is a nice addition to your Wall. It is marked at the back. A nice addition to your toleware room or Hollywood regency interior.

Antique Gladstone leather Military Satchel with Quote, "Who Shall Separate Us" Badge, Circa 1900.   

Vintage David White Instrument Co surveying equipment plane utility level in oak case. Has not been tested. Item features a plane utility level, original oak case. Circa early to m...

Japanese made entirely from wood, this antique was used mainly as a juicer for fruits. L:25in(63.5cm) H:16in(40.6cm).

A rather tongue-in-cheek reverse painting and gilt doubled sided trade sign, reading "CHEAP FUNERALS" flippant to say the least. The sign shows signs...

Presenting an antique walking stick with a carved dog head and silver detailing, hailing from France around 1900. This unique walking stic...

Fantastic photo album collecting the best places of the alpine cradle in Switzerland with photographs of various sizes and wonderful panoramic photography that allows us to enjoy a j...

Vintage Telescope is a scientific object realized in the early 20th Century. A bronze telescope with glass lenses and wooden grip, close up. Don't ...

Turkey red bandanna, made for the 1912 presidential campaign of teddy Roosevelt, when he ran on the independent, progressive party (bull moose) ticket Printed cotton kerchief, made for the 1912 presidential campaign of Theodore Roosevelt when he ran on the Progressive Party ticket (a.k.a., the Bull Moose campaign). This graphic textile, in a classic, western style, typical of the iconic red bandanna, is indicative of both the Republican Party in the late 19th century, and T.R.’s love of the American West. In this example, a geometric design with diamonds, surrounded by multiple, linear borders, is accompanied by the following text along the top and bottom that reads: “The Roosevelt Bandanna” and “Progressive Party,” respectively. A maker’s mark in the lower right corner reads “Cochranes Mfg. Co.” Cochrane’s was known for their long-lasting, red dye process, called “Cochrane’s Turkey Red.”. It was really a process, as opposed to a dye itself, to which the name applied. The dye was actually a derived from a synthetic colorant called “alizarin,” imported by Alexander Cochrane’s family, who emigrated to the United States from 1847, and owned a chemical company in Massachusetts that produced the dye. The fabrics were produced by the family of John Cochrane, who emigrated from Renfrewshire, Scotland in 1844. Both families, who resided in Malden, Massachusetts initially, traced their ancestry to Barrhead, Scotland, in the heart of the textile-producing region, near Glasgow and Paisley. It was in Glascow that Turkey Red printed bandannas are said to have originated, in the shop of Henry Monteith & Company, in 1802.* TR's decision to enter the 1912 election was not exactly popular among many of his friends and former supporters. His participation manifested into a unique political incident, in which the independent, Roosevelt, beat out a major party ticket, garnering 27.4% of the vote. At the same time, however, he lost the White House, not only for himself, but for his former Republican friends as well, by dividing support between his own candidacy and that of incumbent President William Howard Taft...

A rare collection of eight feather tree tinsel ornaments. A beautiful large tinsel star tree topper (approx. 9 1/4" in diameter) and two tinsel garlands (...

Blue silk grosgrain military sash. Italian blue silk grosgrain with tassels. Italy, early 20th century. Dimensions: 38" L overa x 3.5" w l; 25" Long to knot.  

Original Singer sewing machine with all original parts. USA, circa 1920.

Extraordinary example of WWl Trench Art. Historical significance as this vase is signed by the soldier that crafted it, "Lieutenant Thorburn" including regiment "62nd Reg" and date "1918-19". Also inscribed A. E. F. The AEF helped the French Army on the Western Front during the Aisne Offensive (at the Battle of Château-Thierry and Battle of Belleau Wood...

Early 20th Century rectangular cast bronze wall plaque from Steubenville of "The Fraternal Order of Eagles". Please note, this item is located in our Scranton, PA location.

Rare English hand painted railway sign. An extremely rare example of an English hand painted on pine board railway sign. Naïve yet highly decorative in...

A very nice Hollywood movie original lithograph for the film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, directed by John Huston. Starring Humphrey Bogart, Walter H...

A rare Christmas ornament. It was made from Chenille, wire and cotton, this would be a great antique addition for your Christmas or feather tree.  

Collection of antique black and white ancestral photographs from Germany and perhaps Switzerland (Suisse/Allemagne) discovered inside an Alfonse Mucha Ar...

This is an Enterprise Manufacturing Co. Large coffee grinder from Philadelphia, Pa. It is heavy and mainly made of cast iron and wood. A metal Eag...

A set of nine curiosities made in Belgium, circa 1900. Nine metal screens tensed on wooden frames and strengthened with wooden strips, hung through small metal clasps. The dark oxidi...

Early 20th century London News advertising figure We share what we love, and we love this rare example of a first quarter English London News advertising figure in the form of a beefeater. Produced by Pytram Limited of New Malden Surrey England. This figure is made of composite form and would have sat on the shop counter. A rare example in this condition and size. unusual fully articulated Edwardian prosthetic leg...

Antique French pair of shell casings from the World War I. Trench Artillery Brass engraved representing a heron in a pond surrounded by rushes on each c...

Painted cast iron money Bank depicting an Afro-American sitting on a cotton bale. USA 1920 ca.

Entirely original, all hand-crafted antique Holy Heart sculpture of Christ on a zinc base. Over 3.5 feet tall. If finding an antique church sculpture of Ch...

Antique French pair of shell casings from the World War I vases. Trench Artillery Brass engraved representing on each casing. This pair can also also be used as vases. Good condi...

A pair of classic decorative Bust statues. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Made of a kind of metal, we think its gilded bronze. Very decorative and nice to display...

A pair of classic decorative Bust statues. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Made of a kind of metal, we think it's brass, socket nickel plated. Very decorative and ...

We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning suite of four, newly framed in Pollard Oak, Charles Dominique Fouquerary 1914 dated water colour sketches...

A rare collection of three feather tree tinsel ornaments. These ornaments, were made from tinsel and wire, would be a great antique addition for your Christmas, feather tree or sitti...

This large advertising store display 'Nipper' dog was made by the Old King Cole Company of Ohio, and dates to approximately 1920 and done in a period Art Deco style. The sculpture is done entirely of a molded paper mache which has been hand painted with a white ground, and black accents with some gold finish on the collar. This RCA advertising store display has been restored at some time, as evidenced by the re-painting of the entire sculpture. There is some overall wear as presented in the photos and consistent with age and use,. This figural advertising 'Nipper' dog is clearly signed with a red paper label for the 'Old King Cole Company' inside the hind quarter with the crown logo. These store display Nipper dogs were done for several years for RCA, and the first ones were done in paper mache, and later done in fiberglass and the last renditions done in a molded plastic. This advertising sculpture...

This is an original 46-Star American parade flag, celebrating Oklahoma statehood. Each star on the flag's canton represents a state in the Union at the time. The official flag design would update every July 4th, to include any new states added to the Union in the past year. Oklahoma, the 46th state, entered the Union on November 16, 1907. As such, this 46–star flag was the official flag of the United States from July 4, 1908, until July 4, 1912. The silk flag has a dark blue canton with 46 white printed stars. The stars are printed in an 7-8-8-8-8-7 row configuration, or “Drum design.” The flag design is completed with 13 alternating red and white stripes, each stripe representing one of the original thirteen colonies. The land that comprises Oklahoma today was added to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Throughout the 19th century, the U.S. government relocated Indian tribes from the southeastern United States to the area, and by 1900, over 30 Indian tribes had been moved to what was originally called the Indian Territories. At the same time, ranchers in Texas began to move into the area in search of new pasture lands. Although stipulations in the Indian Relocation Act agreed that the land would forever be Indian Territory, the promise of fertile farmland trumped the government’s promise of sovereignty. On April 22, 1889, they opened the land to settlement by homesteaders, creating a land run in which settlers, called “Boomers,” were allowed to cross the Texas or Arkansas border at a particular hour to claim homesteads. Settlers who illegally crossed the border earlier to stake prime land were called “sooners,” which eventually became the state’s nickname. Wagons and the Santa Fe railroad carried cartloads of men and women to blank town sites and building plots, creating ten thousand-people communities in a matter of days. The following year, the region was further divided into Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory...

Scarce, Silvertone clock radio. Made by the Colonial Radio Company in 1931 and retailed under the Silvertone name by Sears Roebuck Company. Exceptional con...

Presented is a stunning textile banner from the first World War, dating to 1918. The square tan cotton cloth is embroidered with two crossed flags, the ...

This original WWI poster was issued as part of the Second Liberty Loan run and dates to 1917. The poster depicts a young soldier holding an American flag in one hand and his uniformed hat in the other. Next to him, a sailor holds a leaflet outstretched toward the viewer. The leaflet is printed with an emblem of the Statue of Liberty and says “We Depend On You.” At the top of the poster is a quote by Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo, “Shall we be more tender with our dollars than we are with the lives of our sons?” The quote is printed in white block letters on a red field. Below, the poster encourages viewers to “Buy A United States Government Bond of the 2nd Liberty Loan of 1917” in white block letters on a blue field. The poster was printed for the U.S. Treasury by Edwards & Deutsch Litho. Co. in Chicago. The poster encourages Americans to help with the war effort by purchasing bonds to finance the war. Each of the four Liberty Loan campaigns (two in 1917, two in 1918) and the Victory Loan campaign of early 1919 aimed for rapid subscription in the loan and bond programs, to generate quick funding of the war effort. Subscribing to the bonds became a symbol of patriotic duty in the United States and introduced the idea of financial securities to many citizens for the first time. Working Americans could buy bonds...