So, I just coincidentally heard back from one of the sellers I asked…..here is what he said….
"…so there was an Estate sale, the lady past about 6 months ago and the Family liquidated her estate. Seems she had a gift shop on the island of Nantucket.....there was probably 10 buyers of these items. I believe she was the only one carrying these mascots, and they were in an old out building since the 50s, all new never opened so old new stock.."
…very cool!!
Dan - There were (are still some left on ebay) only about 25 different schools represented. CH/ANRI made mascots supposedly for over 100 schools. Most of the schools on ebay are NE, but a few midwest as well. Make sense since this was a MA shop and probably bought inventory for schools that people most went to from the area. This was probably overstock that never sold, because the popular Ivy League schools, that I am sure this store bought and sold, were not to be found in this estate haul. They did however have many of the mini (2") versions, including Cornell which I bought.
Maybe I am being nieve, but finding these in this condition was previously unheard of. So snatching up a few on ebay now, before they are gone, may not be a bad idea. Guessing a year from now I would regret it if I didn't. (search ANRI mascots on ebay)
Cornell - 2" mini versions.
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