Some Antique, Highly Decorative much loved Children's Alphabet Play Blocks of a Zoological Garden

THE STORY - How I love the wonderful craziness of the lid on this box of Children's Alphabet Blocks and then when you slide open the lid there are all the individual blocks with on one side a letter from the alphabet and on the other a picture and name of an animal corresponding to the letter. And what is so lovely is that this Box which was made in Germany would date either to the very end of the Victorian era or the Edwardian era and there is a sense of innocence in the illustrations especially on the lid where the animals seem to be having a wonderful party all together. The illustrations on the box are lithographic prints on paper which has been stuck to the wood and as I have said in the title this box of blocks has been much loved and much used with the paper many of the blocks missing in parts as well as both crayon and pencil marks. But for me this does not detract from the wonderful graphic quality of the piece with that pleasing type face on the lid. And I can only imagine the wonder on the child's face who originally owned this piece as the lid was pulled open and all the blocks with their animals displayed.

AGE - Circ 1900

CONDITION - As I have already mentioned this box of blocks is not in perfect condition it is I think the phrase used in 'Play Worn Condition' and I have taken this into account in the pricing. As already stated some parts of the Lithographic prints of the animals has been lost and I have photographed the nine where I think this is most true. On the reverse some of the alphabet blocks have crayon / pencil marks and again I have photographed the nine it is most true of. Indeed the crayon and pencil marks can also been found on the underside of the box, on the inside of the box and on the lid of the box, where the there are again some losses to the paper and indeed some crayon and pencil marks. There is also a small loss to the wood on the top edge of the box.

DIMENSIONS (Approx) - BOX - Width 11" / 28cm, Depth 7" / 18cm, Height 1&1/4" / 3cm. INDIVIDUAL BLOCK - Width 1&1/2" / 4cm, Depth 1&1/2" / 4cm, Height 1/2" / 1.25cm.

I cannot help but think that this box has brought a lot of fun in its life not just to the children who played with it throughout its many years but also to those who designed it for there is such a wonderful sense of fun on that illustration on the lid. It may carry the scars from the children who played with it but for me its wonderful decorative quality still shines through and it is pretty special of find a complete set of this age.