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Buster Brown character created in early-1900s

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You would not think that there would be collectibles related to shoe companies but there are. Right on the top of that list is the Buster Brown Shoe Co. of St. Louis.

Buster Brown and his dog, Tige, were the characters of the Brown Shoe Co.

The well-known slogan was: “I’m Buster Brown. I live in a shoe. That’s my dog Tige. Look for him there, too.” Actually, you may be too young to remember that slogan, but starting in the early 20th century it was quite popular.

The Buster Brown character was the creation of Richard Fenton Outcault, a famous cartoonist of the early 1900s.

Buster was a wealthy boy who had short pants, a little jacket and Victorian shoes. He wore a wide, saucer-rimmed hat on top of his pageboy haircut. Outcault offered the characters of Buster, his sister, Mary Jane, and dog, Tige, to any company that would pay the price.

The Brown Shoe Co. bit on the idea. Buster Brown is likely the most famous shoe name. Shoes were named after characters, such as the one-strap Mary Jane’s, named after Buster’s sister. There were also the adult shoes Barbara Brown and Burton Brown.

Ironically, the Brown Shoe Co. was named for George Warren Brown, not for Buster Brown.

Besides the shoes, other clothing was named for Buster. The Buster Brown suit was common for boys under age 12. There was also Buster Brown hosiery, as well as coveralls.

Buster Brown paper items were very popular. There were paper dolls, playing cards, fans, postcards and trade cards. Buster Brown books were printed, describing pranks that Buster would play. At the end of each bit of mischief, he would resolve to be a good boy “from now on.”

Collectors are very interested in Buster Brown figures and dolls. They are much more rare than the paper items. Store display items are very valuable. Cigar tins and cigar boxes are quite rare. The rare tins depict a man in a chair smoking a cigar and blowing the smoke around his ears, with Buster and Tige standing near the chair.

Other Buster items included games, toothbrushes, soap, wallets, cameras, perfume, pocket books, knives, banks, ceramics and even whiskey. That’s right, Buster Brown whiskey.

Examples of the prices of some Buster Brown collectibles include: An art wall clock, $27; a Buster Brown and Tige puzzle, $22; a spice can, $50; a pinback button, $15; and a wooden store display stand, $230. However, some items sell for thousands of dollars.

Congratulations to anybody who had the foresight to keep some of the Buster Brown items. They were worth keeping.

Contact Figler at collectingwithjeff@sbcglobal.net.

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