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Up for sale is a remarkably preserved, highly unique piece of 1930s roadside Americana and advertising ephemera.This lot features a miniature wooden souvenir tomahawk axe paired directly with its original promotional shipping components from the Prentiss-Wabers Products Company (later known as Preway) of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.This kit was mailed together as a novelty item and remains intact, offering a fascinating combination of early 20th-century postal history and regional Illinois tourism.
Item Specifics & Details: The Souvenir Axe: A miniature wooden toy tomahawk featuring original blue and orange painted accents on the blade. It features its original red string loop and a tiny decorative feather/bead charm at the neck.
The Novelty Mailing Tag: Attached to the axe is a yellow cardstock mailing tag featuring a pre-printed 1930s pun greeting (\"Hello: I knew you\'d be Mahomet IL on the warpath with me if I didn\'t drop a line...\"). The reverse side features handwritten cursive correspondence.
Regional Markings: Stamped in ink on the tag are specific regional designations for \"MAHOMET, IL\" and \"LAKE OF THE WOODS\" (a historic local outdoor recreation basin in Champaign County, Illinois).
The Prentiss-Wabers Pouch: A small, original cloth/fabric mailing pouch featuring bold black text reading: \"From Prentiss-Wabers Products Company, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
\"Postal History & Postmark: The reverse side of the bag features a crisp, highly legible circular ink postmark directly dated JULY 25, 1935. It retains its rare original 1½¢ U.S. Postage Meter stamp layout and is classified as \"Merchandise - Fourth Class\".
Condition Notes: This set is in excellent vintage condition given its age and the fact that it traveled through the postal system. The fabric bag shows minor, authentic light surface soiling and age-related toning consistent with a 90+ year-old textile item. The text and postal markings remain bold, distinct, and completely legible.The wooden axe is structurally sound with minor paint chipping. The yellow tag has no major tears.
Please review all included high-resolution photos carefully to inspect the exact condition of this historical lot.
Shipping & Handling:Items will be securely packed in a rigid box with protective padding to ensure safe transit.Shipped via standard trackable mail with tracking provided immediately upon shipment.
