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Identification

Vintage Crayola Gold Medal School Crayons 6-Color Box by Binney & Smith

Photo reference

2 uploaded photos

Overview

The item is clearly marked 'Binney & Smith Co. ' and 'Crayola'. The 'Gold Medal' emblem with 'MCMIV' dates the packaging design to after the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

Story

Manufactured by Binney & Smith Co., the creators of the Crayola brand. The packaging prominently features the Gold Medal emblem won at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, a key marketing tool used by the company in its early decades to establish quality and brand recognition. Vintage school supplies and early Crayola ephemera have a dedicated niche collector base, primarily driven by nostalgia and industrial design history.

Maker / Origin

Binney & Smith Co.

Condition & Value

Based on the provided description, the exterior cardboard tuck-box shows expected age-related wear. Any tears to the box flaps, foxing, or broken crayons will heavily discount the value. Very good antique condition.

Full Research

See what it's actually worth.

Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Market Analysis

Vintage school supplies and early Crayola ephemera have a dedicated niche collector base, primarily driven by nostalgia and industrial design history. Early 20th-century boxes with the 1904 St. Louis Gold Medal branding are highly sought after compared to mid-century examples. Condition is paramount; boxes with intact flaps and original, unbroken crayons command significant premiums, while empty or heavily worn boxes move slowly as filler pieces.

Value Drivers

▲ Early post-1904 'Gold Medal' branding establishes high collector desirability.

▲ Original six-count tuck-box format is a classic and recognizable piece of Americana.

▲ Presence of the original crayons (as claimed) significantly elevates value over empty boxes.

Concerns

▼ Unverified side/bottom panel text — missing patent dates could indicate a slightly later production run, softening the premium.

Best Venue

List on a broad collector marketplace like eBay with clear, well-lit photos of all six sides of the box. Crucially, carefully slide the crayons out and photograph them alongside the box to prove they are present and unbroken. Price at $65 with 'Best Offer' enabled to capture premium collector interest while allowing negotiation based on final condition.

Upside Potential

If the box is in near-mint condition with crisp, uncreased flaps and the original crayons are completely unused with pristine double-stripe wrappers, the item could exceed the high estimate and approach the $75-$100 range at auction among serious ephemera collectors.

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Also found — market-range context

Related comps outside the valuation band· 1 comp

Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.

  • eBay
    Crayola No. 8 Gold Medal 8-Color School Crayons Tin, Binney & Smith Co.
    Different packaging material (tin) and different quantity (8 colors).
    $20