Freshly Picked

Sometimes Brownie characters were used in advertising that weren't drawn by Palmer Cox. Cox was one of the first to license his work for advertisers but there are quite a few items that were produced that didn't use his drawings. One of the more famous is the Brownie Camara by Kodak. It shows a Brownie on the box and is named for one but there is no known licensing contract between Kodak and Cox. Of course, Cox had no claims on the folk legend of Brownies so that anyone was free to use the idea. It is fun to try and look for all the different kinds of Brownies out there.

Brownie information found here!

HERE is a really good website for pictures and information about Palmer Cox stuff. It is part of a site showcasing the authors Brownie Camara collection. I referenced it in the post below but this deserves a post all by itself.

Brownies in advertising

Back a few years ago I found this reproduction on tin of an advertising sign for Lion Coffee. The ad shows Brownies tumbling all over a lion. Paper doll Brownies were included when you purchased the coffee. Each of the paperdolls was a Brownie in which the head could be switched around with other Brownie bodies. I wish coffee and other products would have these gimics today. Wouldn't that be fun. :-) Look at pictures of these paperdolls at this website.

It all started with Palmer Cox

Canadian born Palmer Cox, lived in California and New York back in the last part of the 19th century turning out books of little comic characters named Brownies. He based them on folk legend and they took on quite a life of their own with him. Here he is in the above picture at his desk. You can see on the wall, behind Mr. Cox, a large picture of the front cover of his first Brownie book. I have a reprint of this book that was put out by Dover in the 1960's.
I was introduced to the Brownie characters as a kid by my mom who in turn read them at her grandmas in old magazines. That would be the magazine for kids called St Nicholas. Most people have never heard of the Brownies today but they are irresistable with their round pauncy bodies, long spindly limbs and mischievious expressions.