R. Bliss Mfg. Co. Toy Church, ca. 1890
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GUEST:
Well, this has been in the family as long as I can remember. It belonged to my father. He was born in Superior, Wisconsin, in 1919. And apparently he played with it as a child. And other than that, that's all we know.
APPRAISER:
Now, did you ever play with it?
GUEST:
You know, I set it up a few times in the house, but it kept falling over, so we sort of put it away.
APPRAISER:
So your father played with it around in the '20s. When he got it, it was already an old toy.
GUEST:
Oh really?
APPRAISER:
Yeah. It was made in the 1890s. So it came down to him. And whoever it came from, they kept it in really very good condition. It's made by a company called the Bliss Manufacturing Company, and their specialty was lithographed paper on wood. And it's a major category of toys that are very desirable today to modern collectors. This is one of two churches that were made, and it's the more elaborate of the two churches that are made. And what's wonderful about it is that it's all here. Even every single little spire is here. These are often missing. You know, lithograph paper on wood toys tend to be easily damaged.
GUEST:
And the other interesting factor about this toy, this is what we'd call a Sunday toy. Each one of these blocks illustrates a story from the Bible.
APPRAISER:
He would only play with it on Sunday?
GUEST:
That was the story. I don't know.
APPRAISER:
As you found out, it's not that easy to play with because it's hard to put together.
GUEST:
Right.
APPRAISER:
And the other interesting thing I think is fascinating is that it all comes apart, as you know, and disassembles, and then it all gets put back.
GUEST:
Right.
APPRAISER:
This is the box it comes in. And there's the name Bliss. Well, as I say, this is a better-than-average example, rare with all the original pieces. I would say on today's market at auction I would expect this toy to easily bring $2,000 to $3,000.
GUEST:
You're kidding me.
APPRAISER:
So you got a real treasure here.
GUEST:
Oh wow. Well, it belonged to my father, so it's worth a lot more than that.
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