The picture shows a view of the (12) Old Paper Nut Shells With Novelty Lead Toy Prizes in this lot. These are not dated but they are from the 1910s or 1920s. We have seen them advertised in old novelty catalogs such as the Johnson & Smith Company catalog. There are (12) paper walnut shells (actually only 11-1/2. 1/2 of one shell is missing). These are halves that were attached at one time but they have separated from age. They can easily be glued back together if desired. In each of the nut shells were one of the lead toy prizes or favors pictured. The lead prizes were made by the Tootsietoy Company of Chicago, Illinois and are the same exact prizes that were also used in Cracker Jack boxes in the late 1910s and early 1920s. Included are the following (12) prizes: Liberty Bell Charm Young Girl or Doll Stud Lapel Button Owl Stud Lapel Button Ice Skate Charm Mason Trowel Tool Charm Miniature Clothing Iron Miniature Toy Military Airplane Miniature Smoking Pipe With Horse Miniature Toy Revolver Gun Shoe Charm Maple Leaf Charm Flower Stud Lapel Button Some of the nut shells are marked ''JAPAN''. To judge the sizes the paper walnut shell halves each measure about 1-1/2'' x 1''. The paper nut shells appear to be in excellent condition and all the toy prizes are in near mint to mint condition as pictured. As stated above, one of the shell halves is missing. |