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The tiny Town G.P.O. - The Little Folk's Post Office

Not in Whitehall, "American Boxed Games and Their Makers"

London, England: J.W. Spears & Sons, c.1900. Exceedingly endearing: "The Little Folk's Post Office" is a play set that allows children to pretend to send and receive miniature mail from the "Tiny Town" post office. Designed in England, produced in Bavaria, and sold to children in the United States, by J.W. Spears & Sons. The directions are printed on the reverse of the box lid. Includes a charming warning to children: "These letters must not be thrown in real letter boxes as they would not be delivered, because after all our stamps are not real and we must not forget that we are only 'playing' at Post Office" (upper box cover). Of particular note are the itty-bitty pretend stamps, which depict the character "Punch" from "Punch and Judy".

Box measures approx. 14" by 9" by 1". Used, but largely intact, this set consists of:

One embossed chromolithographed face mask of a mail worker. Measures approx. 8" by 6.75". Red string fastened to back for wear.

One folding "post office" front desk divided into three stations ("Telegrams", "Registered Letters", and "Parcels" and with three slots ("Late Fee", "Letters and Postcards", and "Newspapers"). When folded at the creases, it can stand on its own. Measures 8.5" by 13.5.

One "Tiny Town" Ink Stamp Pad. Measures approx. 1" in diameter.

One ink stamp with small wooden handle. Measures approx. 1.5" in length.

One eraser measuring approx. 1.75" by .25".

Fourteen (14) blank pieces of stationary with decorative stamps for writing tiny letters, each is a bifolum measuring 3.75" by 2.5".

Eight (8) card printed with the numbers of P.O. boxes. Each measures 1.5" by 3".

One (1) card printed with Christmas greetings and inscribed in ink to "Uncle Albert Stoddard". Measures 2" by 3.25".

Five (5) uncut sheets of approx. ninety (90) small stamps measuring .5" by .5" each.

One (1) printed "Tiny Town" Postal Order form measuring 2.25" by 2.75".

One (1) folded leaf of pink blotting(?) paper Measuring

Fifteen (15) square paper envelopes measuring 2.25" by 2.5".

Eight (8) rectangular paper envelopes measuring 2.5" by 3.75".

Seven (7) photo postcards depicting sight including the Capitol, an Atlantic Liner, and Ridley Hall in the University of Cambridge.

Nine (9) printed bank order forms measuring 1.75" by 3.75".

One (1) printed transatlantic cable telegram measuring 3.5" by 4.25".

Three (3) printed Western Union telegrams measuring 2.75" by 4.25" Good to very good. Toning. Box lacking one apron, wear to extremities. Paper repair to verso of post office.

Price: $425.00

Item #210007439