MEMO
To
 
     This is a folder issued about 1930 when the collection had reached the number of 50 banks.
     At this time, $20.00 or $25.00 was regarded as a top price for any bank.
     Once upon a time I turned down a chance to buy a good "Girl Skipping Rope" as I thought the price too high. That bank sells today for $250.00 or $300.00.
     Most all of us have experiences our weak moments.
     (The price asked was $35.00)
 
FROM THE DESK OF
                                         Andrew Emerine

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Brief facts concerning
          OLD PENNY BANKS
 
Group from the Collection of
ANDREW EMERINE
Collector of Antique Banks
FOSTORIA, OHIO
 
     EARLY Mechanical Banks appeared about 1865 and attained the peak of popularity about 1880 when there existed some 200 different varieties of penny banks with moving parts, and a like number of dumb or still banks.
     Old catalogs picturing many of the present day antique mechanical banks list them to have sold to the general store keeper at $6.00 to $12.00 a dozen, $1.00 each being the highest price listed, and they were in turn retailed at $1.00 to $2.00 each, $2.50 being the highest price charged for any bank.
     There prevails a mistaken idea as to values of banks among many who collect them, as banks are very similar to coins or stamps so far as values are concerned, the actual value being based on the number existing or to be made available for sale.
     The first lot of common banks, such as Creedmore, Eagle, Tammany, William Tell, Speaking Dog, Hall's Excelsior, 'Spise a Mule, Jolly Nigger and twenty-five others of the plentiful variety are worth from $3.50 to $10.00 and these figures are on a gradual increase as you get into the middle class, and then a sharp upturn as the rare and extremely rare banks are reached.
     Of course the fact remains that any antique article is worth whatever one may get for it, and often times a mediocre bank will sell for much more than it is actually worth by reason of a collector wanting to fill in his collection.
     There are a few old banks being reproduced, such as Paddy and His Pig, The Trick Dog, the Monkey Bank, and the Elephant throwing the coin into its back, these reproductions selling at $1.00 and $2.00 and shunned by collectors who know their banks.
 
RARE BANKS WANTED
     There are a number of rare banks wanted to complete my collection, and for any one of which will be paid a very good price.
     If you do not have this list of "banks wanted" one will be mailed you upon receipt of postcard request.
     Any one having a bank included in this list will do themselves a good turn by writing, stating condition of bank and naming the price wanted.
        ANDREW EMERINE
        Collector of Antique Banks
        FOSTORIA, OHIO
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