The Superior Toy Co? - Childrens Tea Set Query

by karen
(australia)

The Superior Toy Co? - Children's Tea Set Query:- I have a very old cup with the backstamp Superior Made in Japan . I'm told it maybe was a child's tea set in the 1950's? I can't find any information on the makers or anything that has the picture of a Tea Party with Animals (fox, rabbit, pig, aviator and a bear. It has a gold trim around the top and on the handle.

Any information would be great.

Karen

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Reply by Peter (admin)

to:- The Superior Toy Co? - Children's Tea Set Query

Dear Karen

Interesting query and detailed description all the way from Oz. Thanks for the photo too.

We are getting into the realms of toy collectibles here, which isn't my bag. However, I did a quick bit of digging and there seems to have been a 1950's importer of mass produced toys (now very collectible, by the way) called "The Superior Toy Co". I saw quite a bit of this importers items for sale for quite high prices, but no tea-sets. Mostly the listings were from the US. I can't get a fix on where they were based there, but it could have been Chicago or Kansas, or maybe both.

In fact, whilst rummaging, I recognized a beautiful tin car which I had as a child, only to swap it for a bath toy boat one day at school. I remember my parents being annoyed. This means the same goods must have come into the UK too, and also, presumably, OZ. It would mean that the Superior Toy Co might have been exporters from Japan with offices in various countries, rather than being? Who knows?

You'd need an expert in the field to sort this one out, and see if my hunch is right about your set being from The Superior Toy Co.

I hope this may have given you some pointers

Peter (admin)

p.s. The following page is a 'must see' if you are researching fine china - for value and identification:-

Researching the identity and value of antique and vintage fine china.