We have been receiving many comments and requests from our blog readers lately requesting information about Aunt Jemima. Yes, Aunt Jemima and Black Americana have recently become a very “hot” collectible and prices are certainly on the rise. We hope you find some of this information about Aunt Jemima and which Aunt Jemima collectibles to collect helpful.
A bit of background information – Aunt Jemima was the commercial Mammy image we are familiar with today and dates to 1889 by a man named Chris L. Rutt; a business man from Missouri selling self-rising pancake mix and when he heard a song about “Aunt Jemima” from a vaudeville group of Baker and Farrell the idea of commercializing Aunt Jemima was born. 40+ women portrayed Aunt Jemima over the decades on the pancake mix. Nancy Green was one of these women and she traveled with the R.L. Davis Company who bought the original Aunt Jemima pancake mix business form Chris L. Rutt until her death in 1923. Nancy was hired to serve pancakes at shows and exhibits promoting the pancake mix and it is said that in 1893 at an exhibit in Chicago over 1 million pancakes were served! In the early 1920s Quaker Oats purchased the company and brand from R. L. Davis along with the Aunt Jemima name and image and has been selling the pancake mix ever since. Quaker also trademarked “Aunt Jemima” in 1937. Edith Wilson was another long-time Aunt Jemima that was hired during the 1950s and portrayed the image for some 20 years.
Many products were created in the Aunt Jemima image such as salt and pepper shakers, sugar and creamer sets and six-piece spice jars with rack to name a few and many of these were give-aways or freebies if you bought the pancake mix. Today, these items are extremely sought after and the prices are increasing everyday so keep yours eyes on the look out for:
F&F Mold and Die Works, Dayton, Ohio - Aunt Jemima Shelf & Spice set. The set includes Allspice, Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Paprika, and Cloves. Shelf has a boat and the Mississippi River under the boat. $1,500+
F&F Mold and Die Works, Dayton, Ohio – Aunt Jemima & Uncle Mose cream & covered sugar set premium offered by Quaker Oats in the late 1940′s and early 1950′s. $300+
F&F Mold and Die Works, Dayton, Ohio – Black Americana Aunt Jemima & Uncle Mose salt & pepper shakers measure 5″ inches in height. Many sets are 3” or 3 ½” inches but the most desired and rare set is the 5” inch set. $125+
