Unique African- American Artist's Sketch Pad in Hancock & Briner Dry Goods Complimentary Notebook

Danville, Illinois: Freese, Boener & Co. Printers No Date, circa 1910-1920. A blank complimentary notebook rendered unique and charming by a series of anonymous Folk Art pencil drawings, 14 in all, of primarily African-American figures. Some drawings are captioned, and seem to be telling a story- -Where Is the Boy ?, Here I Am, Testing a Melon, The Suspected Man, The Weather Prophet, Brother Gardener Declines, Elder Toots Denies, Hank Was Watching, and Going Over to Sims", the latter 2 featuring men with guns. The notebook reads "Complimenst of Hancock & Briner, dealers in Dry Goods, Gents' Pants, Hats, Caps, Boots, Shoes and General Merchandise. Veedersburg, Ind. Freese, Boener & Co. Printers, Danville, Ill." front cover, and "We present you with this book, and making 'Fair Dealing and Low Prices' our motto, we earnestly solicit a share of your patronage. Call and see us. Hancock & Briner, Veedersburg, Ind.". 3 pages have numbers and figures, one page with the names "Miss Susie, Miss Kim, Miss Claypool". Very Good, light soiling. As another dealer has put it "vintage children's art esp(ecially) of an African American child are more than scarce".. Pamphlet. Very Good. 4 7/8" x 2 1/4" .