estateRUTH.

Identification

Robert H. Ingersoll & Bro. "The Perfect Printer" Rubber Type Set

Photo reference

1 uploaded photo

Overview

The item is explicitly marked with the maker 'Robt. H. Ingersoll & Bro. ' and the product name 'The Perfect Printer' on its original packaging.

Story

Robert H. Ingersoll & Bro. was a prominent New York-based mail-order company in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most famous for introducing the 'Yankee' dollar watch. Their expansion into affordable, direct-to-consumer goods like 'The Perfect Printer' reflects the era's boom in small business and personal correspondence. The presence of their Cortlandt Street address firmly dates this piece to their early operations before their massive watch success.

Maker / Origin

Robert H. Ingersoll & Bro.

Condition & Value

The exterior of the cardboard box shows expected wear for a late 19th-century paper item, with some edge rubbing and minor discoloration, but the graphics remain highly legible and attractive.

Full Research

See what it's actually worth.

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

Market Analysis

The secondary market for antique office and printing equipment is niche but active, driven by collectors of typography, early advertising, and Victorian ephemera. Complete sets with original wooden or rubber type, ink pads, and tools command significant premiums over partial sets. Buyers are typically found on specialized antique platforms, Etsy, and eBay, where aesthetic appeal and completeness are the primary value drivers.

Value Drivers

▲ Strong maker attribution to Robert H. Ingersoll & Bro., a notable pioneer in American mail-order retail.

▲ Highly attractive Victorian graphic design on the box lid, featuring period typography and illustration.

▲ Original cardboard packaging has survived with legible text and minimal structural damage.

Concerns

▼ Unverified interior contents — an empty box would drop the estimate to the $10-$20 floor.

▼ Dried or unusable ink pads and hardened rubber type are common defects that discount partially complete sets.

Best Venue

Verify the contents of the box by taking clear photos of the interior. If the set is complete or mostly complete, list it on Etsy or eBay with a focus on the typography and Victorian ephemera keywords, pricing around $80-$100. If the box is empty, it can be sold as a decorative antique advertising piece for $10-$20.

Upside Potential

If the box is confirmed to contain the complete, original set of rubber type, holder, tweezers, and directions in excellent condition, the value could push toward the $120-$130 range seen for pristine antique printing outfits.

▾

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
    Baumgarten & Co. No. 309 Farm Animals Antique Rubber Picture Stamp Set
    Picture stamp set (farm animals) rather than a text/typography printing set.
    $18