Old South Church Bank - Rare Large Version

Old South Church Bank - Rare Large Version
Rare Large Version - 13" Tall. Unknown American Maker. New England - Circa 1880. From the Haradin Collection. For advanced collectors of building banks, the large version of the Old South Church is perhaps the most prized Holy Grail to acquire. However, there are only a handful of known examples, making it difficult to accomplish this task. To date, no definite manufacturer has been attributed to the Old South Church banks, large or small. If we made an informed guess, we would suggest Smith & Egge, a local Boston toy maker, as the producer of these banks. They are known to have made and sold the Boston State House banks in virtually the same time period. And, If you examine these four banks as a group, you will find a nearly identical approach to design and detail, particularly in the window work. Further investigation may one day support this hypothesis. As to condition, this represents a stellar example of the large version of the Old South Church still bank. The paint has been applied very thickly, giving this specimen a rich and robust look.