Antique Nesting Alphabet Blocks
Updated August 30, 2026
| Lot number | 104 |
| Category | Antiques & Furniture |
| Auction | Cedars Fine Estate Part 1 |
| Date | September 23, 2026 at 8:05 PM EDT |
| Auction house | Amber Door Estate Sales Inc. |
| Location | Niagara-on-the-Lake |
This set of five antique nesting alphabet blocks is attributed to the American manufacturer McLoughlin Brothers and features illustrations by the British artist Richard André. Each block is constructed from chromolithographed paper over heavy pasteboard. The top surfaces of the blocks display capital letters from A to Z, including an ampersand. The sides are decorated with various storybook scenes and anthropomorphic characters. Narrative illustrations include Puss introduces his Master to the Ogre's Castle from Puss in Boots, Goldilocks and the Three Bears captioned Saved:, and Goody warns the Squire. Character illustrations feature a Musical Cat playing a lute, a Fiddling Bug, and a bulldog dressed in a green frock coat and striped trousers. The largest block bears the signature R André in the lower-left corner of the main illustration. Dimensions measured from a visible tape measure: Height of largest block approx. 19.7 cm. Condition: The blocks are in worn antique condition. There is significant rubbing and paper loss to the edges and corners of all blocks, with visible fraying to the cardboard substructure. The paper surfaces exhibit moderate soiling and age-related toning, though the chromolithographic colours remain generally clear and legible. No internal repairs are evident.
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