1934 Allen's Film Favourites Chewing Gum Near Complete Box (Australian Issue)

Sold For:

$510

Year:

1934

Auction:

2019 Summer

Lot #:

2710

Category:

Non-Sports Cards/Sheets/Card Artwork

Near-complete box of 1934 Allen's Film Favourites Chewing Gum featuring 62 unopened packs. This an Australian issue and while we have seen a few card examples over the years, the original retail box is exceedingly rare, especially one filled with unopened packs. As noted on a side flap, a complete box consists of 72 packs. This box, along with other vintage gum boxes and gum-related material, were just recently discovered in a Midwest warehouse. Incredibly, our consignor, who was involved in the purchase of the building, rescued all of the material from a large trash bin. (The balance of that material, which we are calling "The Midwest Warehouse Find," is featured in 17 separate lots in this auction.) Each pack of gum, which is wrapped in clear wax paper, includes a card featuring an actor or actress. While most of the cards picture British or Australian celebrities, a number of well-known Hollywood stars are featured here, including Gary Cooper, Jeanette MacDonald, Claudette Colbert, Mary Pickford, Wallace Beery, Joan Blondell, Douglas Fairbanks, Jackie Cooper, Ronald Coleman, Helen Hayes, and Gloria Swanson. In addition to the 62 unopened packs, the box also includes three loose cards (George Arliss, Edna Best, and Marion Nixon). The cards, which are numbered, display a brief biography of the respective performer on the reverse, along with an advertisement for "Allen's Cure-'Em Quick." The cardboard marquee reads "Allen's Film Favourites Chewing Gum" and pictures Geo. Wallace and Sydney Fox. The box (4.5 x 8.5 x 1.5 inches) is heavily worn, with both side flaps missing from the lid. The interior of lid features advertising for "Clark's 'Packet' Brand Irish Moss Gums." Both an inventory number ("D-82-G") and date ("5-8-34") are written on the underside of the box. Please Note: the box is extremely brittle. REA will do our best to store and pack the box as safely as possible, but the buyer assumes the risk of further deterioration during shipping. Reserve $200. Estimate (open).