African Americana, Shoe Shine Box with Midwestern & Western United States Trade Tokens

Lot 220

About Seller

6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States

With offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver, Cowan’s holds over 40 auctions each year, with annual sales exceeding $16M. We reach buyers around the globe, and take pride in our reputation for integrity, customer service and great results. A full-service house, Cowan’s Auctions specializes in Am...Read more

Bid Increments

Price	Bid Increment
$0	$25
$500	$50
$1,000	$100
$2,000	$250
$5,000	$500
$10,000	$1,000
$20,000	$2,500
$50,000	$5,000
$100,000	$10,000

About Auction

American History, Featuring the Property of N. Flayderman & Co. by Cowan's Auctions

Live

American History, Featuring the Property of N...

By Cowan's Auctions

Jun 9, 2017 - Jun 10, 2017

Set Reminder 2017-06-09 10:00:00 2017-06-10 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American History, Featuring the Property of N. Flayderman & Co. https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-history-featuring-the-property-of-n-flayderman-co-2392 Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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Lot Description

Wooden shoe shine box, 13.75 x 6 x 5.75 in., with over 80 trade tokens from locations throughout the midwest and western United States tacked on each side of the box. A name plate handstamped I am W.F. Taylor's Dog Nig. Whoe's dog are you? is mounted atop the box, with a symbolic chain and leather strap attached to one side. Ca late 19th century.

Although little is known about this box's original owner, it has been suggested that it may have been made and used by a former slave who journeyed west seeking promise and opportunity. The box may have served as his trade sign, and it is possible that the tokens displayed on the box were sold or traded to those that the owner met during his travels or received from the men's shoes he shined.

The box appears to include 15 "western tokens" (with one from Wisconsin). Businesses referenced on the tokens include: Western Liquor House, Pueblo, CO; K & S, Ashfork, AZ; Smith's Dope, Spokane, WA; Mills Novelty Co., San Francisco; Donaldson Pool Room, Eau Claire, WI; Grand Hotel, Billings, Mont.; Owl Saloon, Billings, Mont.; Nance Br (idge?) Mariposa St. (likely California); M.S. Freit(?), Los Almos, CA or Silver City, NV; Larkin & Fleming, Red Lodge, Montana; C. (or G.) A. Gordon, Catalpa, NM; J. Quinn's Saloon, Needles, CA; Wm. Eberlein, Marysville, CA; The Rankin, Spokane, WA; Bozeman Hotel, Bozeman, Mont.

Condition

Wear on the wood, nail holes, some chipping of the wood, and some tokens appear to be missing.
Shipping Info
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