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ANTIQUES PEEK by Jessica Kosinski
ANTIQUES PEEK

Collectibles Bustin’ Out All Over

ave you ever heard of Buster Brown? If to use Buster and his friends for various Early cardboard litho
so, you are not the only one. For well purposes starting in 1904 at the St. Louis product box for
Hover a century, Buster Brown has been World’s Fair. The sheer volume of companies Ansco Company’s
part of the American culture. His significance involved led to a boom in all sorts of Buster Buster Brown brand
and the uses of his likeness in marketing and in Brown products. In fact, companies continued camera, featuring
developing a line of collectible items have using Buster Brown’s likeness straight to the different multi-color
graphics of Buster
changed over time. Who exactly is he, and why modern day. However, mostly the older Buster Brown all around.
are Buster Brown collectibles still popular Brown products that collectors prize today. Sold at Wm.
today? Let’s take a peek at the evolution of Morford Antiques for
Buster Brown to find out. $517.50 in 2014.

Who is Buster Brown? More Types of Buster Brown Collectibles
Buster Brown is a popular comic strip Paper products are far from the only Buster
character first developed in 1902. Cartoonist Brown collectibles available. Today, you can
Richard F. Outcault created him and other find children’s dinnerware sets, drinking glasses,
characters in his comic strip based on real traits and other household items featuring Buster
of people he knew. Buster Brown soon became Brown, Tige, or Mary Jane. Bathroom supplies
beloved and popular, perhaps due to the many Original 1907 oversized color comics book featuring like soap and toothbrushes are also available.
nuances of the character. He had wealthy Mary Jane. Book contains 31 pages with full-color strips But you never know where you might see
parents and an impeccable appearance, yet printed on the front sides of pages that were originally Buster Brown and his friends. They have also
he was always pulling pranks and getting into printed in the New York Herald. been featured on all sorts of unusual products
mischief. He also often had his dog, Tige, by Buster Brown Paper Collectibles over the years. Among them are wallets,
his side, as well as his sister, Mary Jane. cameras, banks, watches, and board games.
If you want to begin collecting Buster
Buster Brown Gets a New Job Brown items, a good place to start is with Buster Brown’s
Buster Brown is a name ingrained in paper collectibles for two reasons. First, there Most Quirky and
American culture now, but that might were so many of them made. Obviously, Coveted Collectibles
never have been the case, were it not for the there were comic strips produced. There Some Buster Brown
events that took place in 1904. At that time, were also various cards made ranging from collectibles are more
representatives for the Brown Shoe Company playing and trading cards to postcards quirky or rarer than
based in St. Louis, Missouri purchased the featuring Buster and his friends. Additionally, others. Dolls and
rights to use Buster Brown as a mascot for there were many paper products made figurines are uncom-
the company. In particular, Buster and Tige that you might not think of immediately, mon. Thus, they often A very desirable Buster
were used to help advertise the company’s but they can make fun collectibles. They have higher price tags. Brown cigar tin that sold
children’s shoe lines. Over the years, Mary included paper fans, paper dolls, and, of As for quirky col- at icollector.com for
Jane lines were also created, leading to the course, several books. lectibles, whiskey bot- $3,000 in 2015
generic term “Mary Jane” being used to The second benefit of considering paper tles and cigar tins are among the most odd,
describe shoes for girls or women items as your first Buster Brown collectibles since Buster Brown has historically been most
with certain characteristics, like is many of them are still affordable today for associated with children. As a result, they are
low heels and straps. Soon, the the average collector. The volume produced often coveted by collectors. The cigar tins are
company also began producing means they are fairly easy to find, which historically sought after frequently simply
other clothing marketed under makes many of them suitable for most because they are so rare, especially in
names from the comic strip, budgets. However, paper products are prone excellent condition.
such as Buster Brown suits for to damage from water, heat, sunlight, etc.
boys. Final Considerations For
Therefore, finding them in mint condition Collecting Buster Brown
Buster Brown & Tige cast can sometimes be difficult. Like any comic strip
iron still bank c. 1915
made by A.C. Williams in figure that has stood the test
Ravenna, Ohio of time, such as Snoopy or
Garfield, Buster Brown is
Buster Brown’s everywhere. This can work in
Collectible Charm your favor, but you also need
Buster Brown and his friends were such to know the market. Since
charming characters that the Brown Shoe Buster Brown has been around
Company saw an even greater opportunity. It for over a century, many
soon revived a version of the Buster Brown items are not antique, and
comic strip and made it into a true household might be clearly modern. A porcelain bisque
name, which it stayed through the 1920s. They might be reproduc- 6” figure of Buster
However, the Brown Shoe Company was not Circa 1902-1914 Buster tions passed off as antiques. Brown made in
the only company with rights to use the Brown “School’s Out” It is always best to learn as the early 1900s in
Buster Brown characters; it was just one of the dartboard target game, much as you can about Germany for use
in shoe sales.
24” wide x 10” high.
top companies increasing Buster’s popularity. Buster Brown or anything
The truth of the matter is Richard F. else you wish to collect before making
Outcault allowed approximately 200 companies any purchases.
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