PO Box 1076 1515 18th Terrace
Nantucket MA Key West FL
508.228.5977 305.293.1871
email: foragerhouse@verizon.net
The Tony Sarg Collection
Anthony Frederick Sarg was born in Guatemala in 1880. Known as
Tony, the family moved to Germany in 1887. He met Bertha McGowan, an
American tourist, and in 1909 they were married in her home town of
Cincinnati, Ohio. Two years later they moved to England and had a
daughter, Mary. In England he created broadsides for the London
Underground, books, illustrations and post cardsWith the advent of World War I, Tony moved his family to New York, where he did illustrations for The Saturday Evening Post, Parents Magazine, Boy’s Life, Good Housekeeping , Vanity Fair and others which bolstered his reputation in the New York art community. He had a studio in Times Square and his reputation soon soared.
While Tony Sarg was well known as a children’s book illustrator, he was the man who revived the marionette theater in America. Sarg specialized in devising animal characters to educate as well as to entertain young readers. Some of his story books were created with moveable parts, others explored history with a comic twist, giving illustrations for making toys or how to save money.
Sarg’s creative output was limitless. Sometimes compared to the artist Red Grooms, nothing was out of the question when it came to creativity., He designed jigsaw puzzles, musical blocks, and designed boxes in the style of pantry boxes.
In 1935 Tony Sarg designed the mechanically animated window displays for Macy’s Department Store. Until his death in 1942 he created new designs for Macy’s holiday windows. This was not Tony’s only connection with Macy’s, (which started on Nantucket where Murray’s Toggery is now located) he orchestrated the first Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as the hot air balloons of fictional characters now a staple for the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Sarg's oeuvre of animated movies was before Disney got involved, producing over 20 animated classics. He had marionette theatres at the Chicago and New York World Fairs in the 1930’s and his troupe performed all over the United States and was a major inspiration for Bill Baird and other 20th century American puppet masters.
Forager House has traced this unique man from his many activities in New York, his shop in New Hope, Pa and his activities in Nantucket where he and his family spent many happy summers
Tony Sarg at one time was estimated to be worth well over a million dollars, but died bankrupt in 1942 of appendicitis.
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| "Tony Sarg - The Forager House Collection" 80 page catalogue 2012, 10 x 8" $75 available through Forager House |
Holiday Magazine page 37 Holiday on Nantucket October 1930, 12 x 9" $350 |
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| Bridge Coasters Paper each 3" diameter
Set of 4 - $300 |
NY World's Fair 1939 Pictorial Map 16 pages each 11x11" $75 |
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| Chicago World's Fair 1933 A&P Pavilion where Tony Sarg Marionettes performed 3.5 x 5.5" $65 |
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 1939 5.5 x 3.5", postmarked $85 |
Don't Miss Your Last Train printed in Great Britain around 1908 5.5 x 3.5" $65 |
Bathing Time Postcards Set of 3 printed in Great Britain circa 1900 Each 5.5 x 3.5" Each has handwritten verse and postmarked $125 the set |
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| Oh! I Say!! Criterion Theatre Printed in London early 1900's 3.5 x 5.5" $65 |
Valentine's Series Too Busy to Write Printed in Great Britain c 1900 5.5 x 3.5" $65 |
Valentine's Series In the Fields at Alford Printed in Great Britain c 1900 5.5 x 3.5" $65 |
Valentine's Series In the Fields at Barney Printed in Great Britain circa 1900 5.5 x 3.5" $65 |
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| Front Cover (left) Back Cover (right) PLAYTIME BOOK 20 pages plus covers 1939, 11.5 x 8.5" $195 |
Trade Card Taking a Trip for American Bank Cheques Travel Money 5.5 x 3.5" $45 |
This Way Madam! stage play at Queen's Theatre Printed in London circa 1907 5.5 x 3.5" $65 |
Punch and Judy Forward by Tony Sarg 1929, 8.5 x 5.5" $250 |
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| Animal Circus Cards Produced by National Biscuit Associates as inserts in Shredded Wheat Boxes Each Card 4 x 7 3/8", 1940 Complete set of 36 cards Cover Card - shown Top Card # 35 - shown Bottom $500 |
Junior League Jubilee Program - April 17, 1936 36 pages, 11 x 8.5" $75 |
"Where's Your Number?" Life Magazine Cover January 03, 1918 Magazine size 11 x 9" $95 |
Trade Card Long Chew Gum 4.5 x 8" copyright 1928 $275 |
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| The Adventures of Christopher Columbus Product Announcement at left postmarked 1926 2 cards 3.25 x 5.5 Front of Order form at left $65 the set |
Broadside Authors League of America 11 x 8.25" $95 |
Writing Paper for Children Sheets and envelopes in original box $195 |
Wrapping Paper Waxed Sheet 13 x 11" $35 |
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| Nantucket Cocktail Napkins Silkscreen on cotton 5 x 7" each napkin Set of 8, each a different Nantucket scene $1,200 |
Nantucket Cocktail Napkins |
Nantucket Cocktail Napkins |
"How to Make and Operate a Marionette Theatre" Ladies Home Journal article Dec, 1927 6 pages, 14 x 10.25" $95 |
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| Untitled Fish Pencil on Paper sketch is 5 x 5" on 9 x 6.5" paper signed Tony Sarg, Nantucket, Mass $500 |
Tony Sarg's Marionettes Program, March 6, 1929 Cheyenne Mountain School 9 x 4.5" $75 |
Book The Cock, The Mouse, and the Little Red Hen First edition, 1907 $125 |
"What animals do cats like to catch?" Parents Magazine; January 1941; page 60; original india ink on paper; 11.5 x 18" $1,900 |
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| "Ena, Mena, Mina, Mo, Catch a Gander by the Toe, If he hollars, let him, go, Ena, Mena, Mina, Mo" |
The Illustrated London News January 7, 1911; 4 pages 16 x 11.5" |
$call for price |
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| "Our Country Fair - or Unfair" 2 pages Tiime Magazine; Sarg's view of the 1938 Presidential Campaign 10 x 16" $call for price |
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Boxes, Tea Towels, Trays
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| Pantry Box 19 x 11 x 8" $975 |
Worlds Fair Box 1939 4 x 3.25 x 2" $400 |
Nantucket Round Box 5.5" diameter x 5" tall $550 |
Pantry Box labelled Tony Sarg Shop, Nantucket MA & New Hope, PA 5.5" diameter 2.25" high $375 |
Pantry Box labelled Tony Sarg Shop on bottom 7.75" diameter 3.5" high $475 |
Brass Box w Five Golfers etched on top 3.5 x 3.5 x 2" dated 1927 $1,500 |
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| Towel Tray yellow 10 x 14" $275 |
Tea Towel Get Up When You Want 19 x 14" $75 |
Tea Towel Man Reading Paper 30 x 15" $75 |
Towel Tray Frigate Cumberland 9 x 11" $150 |
Decoupage Box w Sir Isaac Coffin & other Nantucket scenes 3" high $250 |
