Pins

1890? Circular pin with an unusual view of FS. 1” in diameter. Safety clasp on the verso. Verso reads “Nur Schein Invite. 67.” Unknown source. This pin reproduces an image found on one of two German verse coins in the collection. Together they offer a “before” and “after” in the FS story. The verse there urges not to make fun of a competitor. Here the German seems to say perhaps “Appearance only invites” or, more literally, “Only appearance invites.” One web reference suggests that there is a second pin with an image like that on the second coin.

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.

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!

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?

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?

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!

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 - 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 - 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!

2007 TH: Walt Disney Award Winning Performances. 3 of 12. Limited edition of 3000. Made in China. Unknown source. Here is a rather strange conglomeration of elements in another Disney sales campaign. The traditional figures of Toby and Max are as we have come to know them in Disney productions. Here they stand in front of a photo of Walt and have a title suspended beneath them. Mickey stands in front of the title standing on a platform marked "1935." Trees flank and surround the multi-layered composite. Celebrate self-congratulation with a special sale!

2000? Pin. Fox Serves Stork Food. U13K. 1" x 1.4". USSR. Unknown source. Some research online strong suggests that this is one of a set of fairy tale pins and that no other fables belong to the set. FS in Russia became a highly developed folktale. I am curious about what sort of food the fox here is bringing the stork.

1990? Enamel Pin of La Fontaine's "Deux Coqs." 1" x .7". €6.90 from lolospin through Ebay, Oct., '23. This looks to me like one pin that belongs to a larger set. There's the challenge for the collector!