Series of Pins
I have found many series of pins:
- Fables Pictures Studio by Paul Terry
- Walt Disney's Christmas Advent Calendar Pin Series
- ArtSquatch Heron and Snail
- ArtSquatch Fox and Grapes
- Ballard La Fontaine Lapel Pins
- Fêtes de Jean de La Fontaine 1992
- Multicolored Metal Pins of Krylov's Fables
- Lightweight Pins of Krylov's Fables: Brown, Red, Green
- 2004 Olympic Games Fable Pins
Paul Terry Aesop's Fables Pins
I have found several pins from the Fables Pictures Studio headed by Paul Terry. Though I have guessed at a date of 1930 for each, they may have come from slightly earlier.
1930? One pinback 15/16" in diameter, labelled "Aesop's Fables - Mike - 18." $2 from Connie Amos, Flushing, OH, through Ebay, March, '00.
Against a white background we find "Aesop's Fables" at the top, "Mike" at the bottom, and "18" on the right side. In the center is a dancing mouse. Printed around the rim of the back: "Western Theater Premium Co., 1956 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, Cal." I presume these pinbacks were theater give-aways. Again, I got lucky on the price!
1930? A pinback 15/16" in diameter, labelled "Aesop's Fables - Don - 19." $5 from Mark's Gallery, Savanna, IL, through Ebay, August, '99.
Against a white background we find "Aesop's Fables" at the top, "Don" at the bottom, and "19" on the right side. In the center is figured a walking male. This is no doubt Don the Dog from the Aesop's Fables movie cartoons that were popular at the time. This button helps me to make sense of the "Countess" button found earlier.
1930? One pinback 15/16" in diameter, labelled "Aesop's Fables - Waffles - 22." $2 from Connie Amos, Flushing, OH, through Ebay, March, '00.
Against a white background we find "Aesop's Fables" at the top," Waffles" at the bottom, and "22" on the right side. In the center is a dancing animal. Printed around the rim of the back: "Western Theater Premium Co., 1956 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, Cal." I presume these pinbacks were theater give-aways. Again, I got lucky on the price!
1930? A pinback 15/16" in diameter, labelled "Aesop's Fables - Countess - 23." $1 from James Lennon, Naples, NY, through Ebay, June, '99.
Against a white background we find "Aesop's Fables" at the top, "Countess at the bottom, and "23" on the right side. In the cneter is figured a dancing female mouse. I suspect the pin has something to do with the Aesop's Fables movie cartoons that were popular at the time. My, what one does not find! In this case, the price was certainly right!
Walt Disney Advent Calendar Pin Series
2000? “Merry Christmas from Mickey Mouse: Advent Calendar Pin Series, Days 17 through 20.” Limited edition of 1500. Max Hare, Toby Tortoise, Orphan, and Horace Horsecollar. Overland Park, KS: Disney Direct, $14.99 from DrMallon26, Cressona, PA, through Ebay, March, ’04.
I cannot believe that I am cataloguing these pins over seventeen years after getting them! The two fable pins are particularly well done. Heavy jewelry! Did Disney actually market sets of pins for every four days in December?
ArtSquatch Heron and Snail
2020 Heron and Snail Hard Enamel Pins. By Artsquach. Heron about 2½” x 2 ½”. $14 from ArtSquatch through Etsy, Dec., ’20. Smaller snail purchased from Artsquatch through Etsy for $8, July, ’21.
This is the most glorious fable heron I think I have seen! The heron is a very heavy pin! When I first ordered, I did not realize that the snail was a separate pin. Now, as I was cataloguing, I noticed and circled back. Lovely work! I know the heron fable well from La Fontaine. Was there really an Aesopic version?
ArtSquatch Fox and Grapes
2020 Fox and Grapes Hard Enamel Pin. By Artsquach. About 2½” x 2 ½”. $14 from ArtSquatch through Etsy, July, ’21.
This is a beautiful pin that I missed when I first ordered a heron from ArtSquatch. This fox, like Caxton’s, just looks at the out-of-reach grapes. Lovely work!
Ballard La Fontaine Lapel Pins
2000? Set of 7 Ballard lapel pins. "Doré Fin d'Or." €19.90 from Mabillon75 through Ebay, May, '22.
It took me a while to figure out OR. Ballard seems to have been known -- or to be known now -- for its lapel pins. Here are seven of La Fontaine's most beloved fables rendered in pins.
La Fontaine #33 at Chateau-Thierry
1992 Four pins commemorating the thirty-third "Fêtes de Jean de La Fontaine" at Chateau-Thierry, June, 1992. €25 from Collectiomania-France through Ebay, Oct., '23.
In a fashion that I believe is typical for this festival, the four pins bring together the poet, his home, his fables, and their characters. Small but lovely!
Multicolored metal pins of Krylov's fables
2000? Multicolored metal pins of Krylov's fables with character labels. 1¼" high. Varying widths. Safety-pin, logo, and trademark sign on the back. $37.50 for eight pins from vintagejewelryAlvina through Etsy, April, '23. Seventeen earlier from unknown sources.
Are there twelve in this set? I keep finding more! Three are circular in shape: Quartet; "Elephant and Pug"; "Two Dogs and a Bone". Two are not circular but are broader than the others: "Sow and Oak" and CJ. Lovely work! I note the quantity we have of each pin below its image.
Lightweight Pins of Krylov's Fables: Brown, Red, Green
2000? Lightweight Pins of Krylov's Fables: Brown, Red, Green. Three for $18 apiece from Vintage Jewelry Alvina through Etsy, April, '23. "Fox and Ass" for $6 from Little Link Shop through Etsy, April, '23.
Each pin, about 1 1/4" wide, has "Krylov's Fables" across its top, with an oval presentation of a fable's scene in brown with a green background. "The Swan, Pike, and Crayfish" seems temporarily lost.
2004 Olympic Games Fable Pins
2004 Olympic Games Fable Pins. Athens, 2004. Set of 6 pins. $99.99 from pantelis9 through Ebay, Oct., '22.
High quality enamel finish on pins illustrating FC; "Zeus and the Serpent"; "The Stag and the Vine"; TH; FG; and WS. The pins were apparently marketed as a puzzle that spreads out like a fan through about 90 degrees of a circle. I am surprised to learn of these only eighteen years later!
