Page 27 - 2019 August The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
P. 27
ANTIQUES PEEK by Jessica Kosinski
ANTIQUES PEEK
Penny Candy
T his issue is devoted to the Display in the old Nortons General Such jars are somewhat slanted to make the candy easy to
scoop out. They have been commonly used for candy,
general store. When I think
Store in Barry Illinois
of a general store, several
cookies and other goods in general stores and other
images come to mind right away.
Near the top of the list are the jars establishments for many years. In fact, they are still
made today by companies like Anchor Hocking.
of candy. Back in the days when That makes weeding out the older jars from the new
kids safely roamed the streets difficult. Sometimes markings on the jars can indicate
alone and simple pleasures had age or maker. It can also be difficult to find older
more value, jars of candy lined general store candy jars with their original lids.
the counters of general stores. Expect to pay more for older jars with their lids in
Commonly known as “penny excellent condition than for jars with chips,
candy,” it was a sweet treat kids cracks or missing lids. Antique 6 sided glass candy
everywhere looked forward to. Penny candy jars that are more unique tend to jar sold at auction for $345
They often used their allowances cost more and be more difficult to find. Some jars
or birthday money to purchase their favorite treats, and a dime or quarter went had elaborate shapes and even featured etched
a long way. It could fill an entire paper sack with penny candy. glass. For example, in 2011 an elaborate glass penny
candy jar made by the Crawford China Co. in 1902
Today, penny candy in its truest form is almost impossible to find.
Many of the classic candies are still available. In fact, thanks to online by special order for Aunt
ordering, they are incredibly easy to find. But finding them at penny candy Jane’s Candy Treats in
prices is nearly impossible. Even so, walking into general stores here in New Wilson, Kansas sold for
England still makes me think of penny candy and the collectibles related to it. approximately $200.
Let’s take a peek at the history behind penny candy and look at the things you Many general stores
can collect today that can take you back to the days when candy cost a penny had custom jars with words or
and life was simpler. advertisements on them. Some had special stands
or unique shapes. Those unique qualities make
The Debut of Penny Candy such jars fun to collect, but they can also be much
When I was a kid, there was a Woolworth’s in the mall not far from my harder to find, especially in great condition. That
house here in New England. I used to go there with my mom, but at that time makes them perfect if you are a collector who
I never would have guessed penny candy started out there. When they first enjoys a
opened, Woolworth’s stores were known as Woolworth’s 5¢ & 10¢. The first Mid Century Modern version of Candy Jar challenge.
display on sale at 1stdibs for $3000
penny candy, the Tootsie Roll, debuted
there in 1896. Soon after, the store
Collecting Penny Candy Advertisements
implemented an entire aisle of penny candy, There are other ways to celebrate your love of penny candy. One fun
and a trend later popularized in general
option is to collect penny candy advertisements you can display. Many
stores was born. companies produced advertising posters or other forms of penny candy adver-
The second wrapped penny candy to be tising, such as candy boxes.
introduced was Sweethearts candies, which One company known for its prolific penny candy advertisements was the
were sold by the Civil War candy company Curtiss Candy Company. It was founded near Chicago, Illinois in 1916.
Necco Wafers. Hershey’s Kisses became the Curtiss is known for producing many candies we still know and love today.
first chocolate penny candy when they
However, thanks to several sales and mergers, those candies are now sold by
entered the market in 1907. Other popular Nestlé. They include the Butterfinger and the Baby Ruth. A popular early
penny candies included bottle caps, licorice, Curtis advertisement featuring images of both candies proclaimed “Use your
candy corn, bubble gum and jaw breakers. cents. Buy Curtiss penny candies.”
The term “penny candies” refers to the fact One of the best sources for penny candy advertising of all types is obviously
that the pricing was originally a penny per the Internet. Sites like eBay frequently feature all sorts of penny candy display
piece of the candy, even though much of it boxes and advertising posters. For example, in June 2019 a tin 5 cent Curtiss
1909 industry advertisement for the was sold in bulk by the pound, rather than penny candy general store display box sold on eBay for $350. However,
Tootsie Roll with a pricing directive by the piece. when buying online you need to ask a lot of questions and make sure
product descriptions are accurate. You may also need to request
The General Store Penny Candy Experience insurance in case of damage occurring during shipping. Hunting for
Going to the general store for penny candy was a real experience such advertising products in person at local antiques shops and flea
in the early days. Some general stores had long counters of penny markets eliminates those problems. It also eliminates the need to pay
candy jars. Others had shelves with candy jars stacked up to their shipping costs or wait for
ceilings. Kids would congregate around the displays and debate your penny candy
Tin store display for Curtiss Penny Candies
which candies they wanted. Sometimes they would share their collectibles to arrive.
spoils with their siblings and friends. It was an experience later However, you have to be
immortalized in television shows and movies like The Waltons, quite a bit luckier to
but one that is almost unheard of in modern society today. If you come across penny candy
are a child of the penny candy era, you can still relive those advertisements or other
moments by collecting penny candy memorabilia. penny candy collectibles
that way.
Collecting Penny Candy Jars
When you think of penny candy jars, you may envision glass Early Original Wrigley's P.K.
containers somewhat resembling fish bowls with metal lids in the front. Chewing Gum Store Display
Jessica Kosinski has been a freelance writer specializing in writing short articles for 15 years. She is also an avid collector of both antique books and Star Wars memorabilia. Although she is not in the antiques
industry professionally, she has learned a lot about antiques over the years by periodically helping out at her mom’s antiques shop in Greenville, NH. She currently balances maintaining the antiques shop’s
Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MallofNE, and working on various freelance writing assignments. She can be reached at dementorskiss77@yahoo.com.
August 2019 25
ANTIQUES PEEK
Penny Candy
T his issue is devoted to the Display in the old Nortons General Such jars are somewhat slanted to make the candy easy to
scoop out. They have been commonly used for candy,
general store. When I think
Store in Barry Illinois
of a general store, several
cookies and other goods in general stores and other
images come to mind right away.
Near the top of the list are the jars establishments for many years. In fact, they are still
made today by companies like Anchor Hocking.
of candy. Back in the days when That makes weeding out the older jars from the new
kids safely roamed the streets difficult. Sometimes markings on the jars can indicate
alone and simple pleasures had age or maker. It can also be difficult to find older
more value, jars of candy lined general store candy jars with their original lids.
the counters of general stores. Expect to pay more for older jars with their lids in
Commonly known as “penny excellent condition than for jars with chips,
candy,” it was a sweet treat kids cracks or missing lids. Antique 6 sided glass candy
everywhere looked forward to. Penny candy jars that are more unique tend to jar sold at auction for $345
They often used their allowances cost more and be more difficult to find. Some jars
or birthday money to purchase their favorite treats, and a dime or quarter went had elaborate shapes and even featured etched
a long way. It could fill an entire paper sack with penny candy. glass. For example, in 2011 an elaborate glass penny
candy jar made by the Crawford China Co. in 1902
Today, penny candy in its truest form is almost impossible to find.
Many of the classic candies are still available. In fact, thanks to online by special order for Aunt
ordering, they are incredibly easy to find. But finding them at penny candy Jane’s Candy Treats in
prices is nearly impossible. Even so, walking into general stores here in New Wilson, Kansas sold for
England still makes me think of penny candy and the collectibles related to it. approximately $200.
Let’s take a peek at the history behind penny candy and look at the things you Many general stores
can collect today that can take you back to the days when candy cost a penny had custom jars with words or
and life was simpler. advertisements on them. Some had special stands
or unique shapes. Those unique qualities make
The Debut of Penny Candy such jars fun to collect, but they can also be much
When I was a kid, there was a Woolworth’s in the mall not far from my harder to find, especially in great condition. That
house here in New England. I used to go there with my mom, but at that time makes them perfect if you are a collector who
I never would have guessed penny candy started out there. When they first enjoys a
opened, Woolworth’s stores were known as Woolworth’s 5¢ & 10¢. The first Mid Century Modern version of Candy Jar challenge.
display on sale at 1stdibs for $3000
penny candy, the Tootsie Roll, debuted
there in 1896. Soon after, the store
Collecting Penny Candy Advertisements
implemented an entire aisle of penny candy, There are other ways to celebrate your love of penny candy. One fun
and a trend later popularized in general
option is to collect penny candy advertisements you can display. Many
stores was born. companies produced advertising posters or other forms of penny candy adver-
The second wrapped penny candy to be tising, such as candy boxes.
introduced was Sweethearts candies, which One company known for its prolific penny candy advertisements was the
were sold by the Civil War candy company Curtiss Candy Company. It was founded near Chicago, Illinois in 1916.
Necco Wafers. Hershey’s Kisses became the Curtiss is known for producing many candies we still know and love today.
first chocolate penny candy when they
However, thanks to several sales and mergers, those candies are now sold by
entered the market in 1907. Other popular Nestlé. They include the Butterfinger and the Baby Ruth. A popular early
penny candies included bottle caps, licorice, Curtis advertisement featuring images of both candies proclaimed “Use your
candy corn, bubble gum and jaw breakers. cents. Buy Curtiss penny candies.”
The term “penny candies” refers to the fact One of the best sources for penny candy advertising of all types is obviously
that the pricing was originally a penny per the Internet. Sites like eBay frequently feature all sorts of penny candy display
piece of the candy, even though much of it boxes and advertising posters. For example, in June 2019 a tin 5 cent Curtiss
1909 industry advertisement for the was sold in bulk by the pound, rather than penny candy general store display box sold on eBay for $350. However,
Tootsie Roll with a pricing directive by the piece. when buying online you need to ask a lot of questions and make sure
product descriptions are accurate. You may also need to request
The General Store Penny Candy Experience insurance in case of damage occurring during shipping. Hunting for
Going to the general store for penny candy was a real experience such advertising products in person at local antiques shops and flea
in the early days. Some general stores had long counters of penny markets eliminates those problems. It also eliminates the need to pay
candy jars. Others had shelves with candy jars stacked up to their shipping costs or wait for
ceilings. Kids would congregate around the displays and debate your penny candy
Tin store display for Curtiss Penny Candies
which candies they wanted. Sometimes they would share their collectibles to arrive.
spoils with their siblings and friends. It was an experience later However, you have to be
immortalized in television shows and movies like The Waltons, quite a bit luckier to
but one that is almost unheard of in modern society today. If you come across penny candy
are a child of the penny candy era, you can still relive those advertisements or other
moments by collecting penny candy memorabilia. penny candy collectibles
that way.
Collecting Penny Candy Jars
When you think of penny candy jars, you may envision glass Early Original Wrigley's P.K.
containers somewhat resembling fish bowls with metal lids in the front. Chewing Gum Store Display
Jessica Kosinski has been a freelance writer specializing in writing short articles for 15 years. She is also an avid collector of both antique books and Star Wars memorabilia. Although she is not in the antiques
industry professionally, she has learned a lot about antiques over the years by periodically helping out at her mom’s antiques shop in Greenville, NH. She currently balances maintaining the antiques shop’s
Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MallofNE, and working on various freelance writing assignments. She can be reached at dementorskiss77@yahoo.com.
August 2019 25
