The discovery of “one of the great Canadian lithographs” in a Lakefield Five & Dime Store.
Featured as lot 330 in the upcoming Mantiques sale at Miller & Miller Auctions, this original Tucket T&B Tobacco “Two Boys” framed lithograph is expected to bring between $5000 - 7000.
When Cynthia McCormack first saw the lithographs hidden away in the attic of Jack Ryan’s Five & Dime in Lakefield, Ontario, she thought they were beautiful. She was right. She also thought they were worth careful, expert restoration. She was right.
She also thought they were genuine works of art – and, as early and excellent examples of chromolithography, she again was entirely right. What she never thought was, that they might be valuable. Says her son, Derek McCormack, “She simply loved them. She never thought about selling them.” But that time has come.
When Cynthia McCormack first saw the lithographs hidden away in the attic of Jack Ryan’s Five & Dime in Lakefield, Ontario, she thought they were beautiful.
Cynthia passed away last year, and six of Cynthia’s beloved lithographs, including a very rare Tucket T&B Tobacco “Two Boys” framed lithograph, will be sold as part the September 14 Miller & Miller Auctions Ltd. “Mantiques” live auction.
All six of the lithographs have been expertly restored but there is no question that the T&B lithograph is the shining star of the collection. An unexpected treasure, this is one of only two examples known of this unique work of art. Created in Canada in the 1890s – a very early point in the history of advertising in this country – it is a spectacular example of early chromolithography.
Chromolithography was a painstaking, time-consuming, and frankly dangerous art form. It required patient skill, because colours were applied in layers, as stone blocks were etched with the image to be transferred, and colours were added to the paper, one by one. And it was dangerous, because some of the dyes used to make the rich colours were poisonous, such as the arsenic in the green dye. The T&B lithograph is signed “The Duncan Lithographing Company, Hamilton, Ontario.”
Ed Locke is an expert collector and dealer in lithographs, and co-author of The Charleston Standard Catalogue of Canadian Country Store Collectibles. He’s excited about the T&B work. He says, “It’s got everything going for it as an early lithograph. The subject matter is very collectible… ‘good boy, bad boy’…. Everything comes together really, really well.” He adds, “I think it’s one of the great Canadian lithographs,” and he insists that lithographs from this period are genuine “works of art”.
All six of the lithographs have been expertly restored but there is no question that the T&B lithograph is the shining star of the collection.
Cynthia and Murray McCormack purchased Jack Ryan’s Five & Dime Store in Lakefield, Ontario, in the late 1970s. Derek McCormack says that Ryan had opened his business there in the 1930s or early 1940s. Ryan bought the store from the family who originally ran a shop there, beginning in the 1890s.
Derek remembers, “We found the lithographs in the attic.” That’s not all that was in the attic – he says it was crammed with old inventory and furnishings, including boxes of Davy Crockett hats, ray guns, and other toys. Some of these items will also be featured in the September 14 auction, including a 1940’s Mickey Mouse pull-toy still in its box.
Of all the things in the attic, says Derek, “My Mom loved the lithographs the best.” In fact, she loved them enough that she was determined that they be restored to their original condition. Derek recalls that “there were some tears, some were in pretty good shape, some needed a bit more work.” So Cynthia made a long-term arrangement with Queen’s University in Kingston – graduate students at Queen’s would complete the restoration of the lithographs, as long as Cynthia was in no hurry to have them back. The exacting restoration process took about two years for each lithograph, but when finished, Derek says, “they came back looking like brand new”. The McCormacks have provided full documentation from Queen’s, detailing the restoration project.
The Miller & Miller sale will include six lithographs from Cynthia’s collection – a Sunlight Soap lithograph, an A.H. Hider “King of the Forest” work, a D. McCall & Co. Millinery Goods lithograph, a W.D. McLaren Baking Powder lithograph, a rare, Canadian, Dingman’s Electric Soap work, and the very rare T&B Tobacco lithograph.
Estimated values of the lithographs range from $600 to $800 to $5000 to $7000 for the T&B work. Ed Locke believes that piece may be worth even more – “If I were to sell it, I would certainly want at least that kind of money… it might be on the light side.”
A selection of six lithographs from Cynthia’s collection will be featured in Miller & Miller’s upcoming Mantiques auction on September 14th.
Derek McCormack admits, with a laugh, that he was very surprised at the evaluations for the lithographs, which he terms “a great surprise.” But it’s clear that for the McCormacks, the dollar return on their Mom’s beloved lithographs is not the most important thing. Both Derek and his sister now live in downtown Toronto, and they don’t have room for the pieces.
When they knew it was time to sell, Derek did an internet search, looking for the right venue, where the lithographs would be understood and appreciated. He says that he found the Miller & Miller Auctions website, and quickly realized the Millers shared his Mom’s passion for lithographs, and his conviction that such items should stay in the hands of people who appreciate them. “I sent them pictures of the lithographs,” he says, “and their reaction was better than other auction sites.” He adds, “I like their auctions!”
So the McCormacks are hoping that the lithographs, which spent decades “living in our house, loved by our Mom,” will now go to collectors and art lovers who will also fall in love with these amazing and unique works, created so long ago by meticulous and talented artists.
Story By Paul Knowles
Item Estimate: $5000 - 7000
Lot Number: 330
Auction Details: Mantiques - September 14th, 2019. 9 am.
Live Auction Location: 59 Webster St. New Hamburg, Ontario. N3A 1W8
Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to share it using the buttons below: