FRANK MERRIWELL EARLY AND HISTORIC DIME NOVEL PREMIUM BADGE.
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Winning Bid:
$118.00
(Includes 18% Buyer's Premium)
Bidding Ended:
Thursday, July 13, 2017 9:00:00 AM (20 Minute Clock Begins At Thursday, July 13, 2017 9:00:00 AM)
Item Description
This is one of the two earliest character premium badges. It was offered January 1900 in the publication "Tip Top Weekly" founded in 1896 by the publisher Street & Smith. The title of "First" is called into question only by a pair of badges featuring the dime novel character Fred Fearnot issued in the same general time frame but those two badges cannot be documented to a precise year. One of those badges features Admiral Dewey on the reverse so the possibility exists that the badge is from 1898, the year Dewey was celebrated for his victory over the Spanish fleet in the Pacific. In any case, Frank Merriwell has stood the test of time as a fictional hero much more than Fred Fearnot. Badge is 2-3/8" tall. This badge has the correct top hanger reading "Tip-Top League." The badge was available for two coupons and 10¢ or 20¢ or the equivalent in stamps if the person ordering was a "Member" (reader) but if not, the cost was 50¢. Back of the piece carries maker mark of W&H. Reverse bar pin has generous amount of solder which may be the result of reattachment but if so done long ago and done expertly but a little heavy on the quantity. Front of the badge has five cross-like segments with center picturing our hero surrounded by text "True As Steel/Frank Merriwell." A little darkening on the top hanger may be as the result of some heat but about 90% of the piece has original Mint luster. Historic and very scarce.
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