6 Shadows on a Cape Cod Wedding by Lea Wait

Author:Lea Wait [Wait, Lea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, murder, wedding, marriage, antique prints, antiques, Cape Cod, hurricane, disability
Published: 2013-04-07T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Raggedy Ann in Hot Water. Johnny Gruelle (1880-1938) created the Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls and wrote and illustrated the stories for his daughter Marcella (whom he made a character in the books). Marcella died when she was thirteen. When the stories became popular, others also wrote Raggedy Ann and Andy stories and made the rag dolls, so collectors need to be certain they are buying original Gruelle books or dolls. This illustration is a lithograph from the first of Gruelle’s books, Raggedy Ann Stories, 1918. Raggedy Ann has gotten herself dirty, and Dinah, the stereotypical black maid, is boiling her in a pot of water to clean her. Raggedy Ann is peering over the edge of the pot, hoping Marcella will rescue her. 4.5 x 7 inches. $60.

Maggie arranged several McLoughlin Brothers children’s books face out on a high shelf in the front room at Aunt Augusta’s Attic. “You have a great selection of illustrated children’s books. I think McLoughlin did the best chromolithographs in this country in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. You’d have to go to Edinburgh or Germany to equal them.”

“I love McLoughlin books,” agreed Gussie. “And the prices aren’t too high. Most of the illustrations wouldn’t make good stand-alone prints, so you print dealers aren’t looking to buy them and take them apart. That helps keeps the prices down.”

“Usually there are too many words on the pages, and the illustrations are too specific to the stories for prints.” agreed Maggie. “I’ve had some breakers—books in which the binding was already broken—but even then I haven’t been tempted to mat and try to sell the prints separately. They just don’t work outside the books.”

“When I first started dealing in toys, years ago, I looked for the McLoughlin name. They made the finest paper dolls, blocks, and games. I knew if I was in doubt that buying a McLoughlin item was the right choice. I still love them. Now a lot of McLoughlin toys are being reproduced. I can spot them immediately, but sometimes new collectors get fooled. Several times a month people bring me reproductions and ask me their value. Or try to sell them to me, thinking they’re authentic antiques.”

Maggie nodded. “I wish all reproductions had dates on them. Or were marked ‘Reproduction.’ But not all do. Wasn’t McLoughlin sold to one of the big toy companies?”

“Milton Bradley, in 1920. Early Milton Bradley games are also collectable, if they have all their pieces, but few do after all these years. And their boards aren’t as beautifully printed as McLoughlin ones.”

Maggie shelved the last of the picture books and started in on a box of books for older children. “Gussie, how long has Ike Irons been in charge of the police department here in Winslow?”

“Maybe fifteen years? I think he came from Mashpee. He’s not a native of Winslow. But not from far away. Mashpee has a much larger police force, so he may have gotten his training there. Why?”

“I was over at the library while you were resting.

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