Birds of Prey, Scarce and Marvelous Riedel, Nuremberg Mechanical Valentine c. 1830s hand rake 13 5/8" across at handle

13 5/8" across at handle

Recently discovered from his estate

pulled from the personal collection of an artist--and I purchased a few more

though I have no idea

Birds of Prey, Scarce and Marvelous Riedel, Nuremberg Mechanical Valentine c. 1830s hand rake 13 5/8" across at handleAmazing! I love going to Brimfield, but occasions of finding true treasures digging through boxes in far corners happens less and less and less. But then this, and a second early mechanical valentine also listed today the sort of lucky finds that keep me ever hopeful. This is quite a rare one, an early mechanical valentine, published by Riedel in Nuremberg, Germany, for English export, c. 1830s I believe. My first photo shows both "before" and "after"