Brownie Crayons

Q: I just discovered a black box of Brownie Crayons. There is a small picture of an elf on the front. I have joined a new group of adults who meet once a week to crayon or paint in elaborate adult coloring books now best sellers at book stores. I was going to use the crayons, but an antique collecting member of the group said the elf is a “Brownie” and the box may be collectible.

A: Yes, you do have a Brownie. Palmer Cox (1840-1824) wrote and illustrated a series of children’s stories about the Brownies, part of Scottish folklore. The books had pictures with dozens of small Brownies. They have large round eyes, downturned mouths and skinny legs and like to play harmless tricks. They are dressed for work as firemen, policemen, postmen, children, and other characters in the stories. Brownies were so popular they became an identifiable trade mark. The Kodak Brownie camera is probably the best known today. They also inspired the name Brownie for young Girl Scouts, and many games, dolls, dishes and other collectibles. Your crayons were made by the American Crayon Co. of Sandusky, Ohio, about 1900, before Crayola brand was introduced. If the box and the crayons you own are in very good condition, they are worth about $50 to a collector.