| Barnum’s Animal Cracker Plates |
Thu, Jan 7, 2021 Hi Karen, Thanks for your question. You have reached the right person. I am President of the “Inner-Seal Collectors Club”. I am a historian of the history of National Biscuit Company. Barnum’s Animal Biscuits. were released in 1902 at Christmas time. YES, when they first appeared they were called Biscuits. The President of National Biscuit Company at that time was Adolphus Williamson Green. He came up with the name after attending the Barnum & Bailey circus. He marveled at the way the animals were shown & the way they wee transported around the country, by wagons. Thus the box looking like a circus wagon, with the many animals pictured inside. When released by National Biscuit Company, they were released at Christmas time, providing the children at that time with both a toy & also a Christmas ornament to hang on their Christmas trees when empty. This promotion was only supposed to be seasonal, but they sold so well, originally 5cents, they were kept to sell all year. WE have some of the original boxes. Now, your plates can be dated by the seal on the plate, more than likely your plate will say NABISCO. If you can get back with me on how the “COLOPHON” the little oval & cross in the corner of the plate looks, is it shaped like a football or more rounded , I can date your plate. The string on the box was removed in the early 2000’s. Good Collecting Charlie Brown.
Inner-Seal Collector's Club 