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Running out of room for your collections? How about one that takes little room, is very affordable, has lots of history behind them and best of all, they're fun and fascinating. What am I talking about? Red Rose Tea Premiums!
Canada's Red Rose Tea started distributing tiny Wade pieces, known as Whimsies, in 1967 as a way of helping their declining sales. One piece was put into each box of Red Rose Tea Bags. The first set of twelve animals proved to be extremely popular. So, just a few months later, the set was increased to thirty-two animals. According to "Wade Whimsical Collectables" the majority of this animal set was later released as English Whimsies and several of the pieces were used in promotions for other companies.
The second issue of miniatures was done in the seventies and known as the Miniature Nurseries. This is my favorite series. Twenty-four nursery rhymes were depicted. The Gingerbread Man and one version of the Queen of Hearts appear to be the most valuable pieces, selling in the $40. range on the secondary market. Most of the other pieces range from $7. - $20.
Several other sets have been done since then, most were different animals. Some of these sets were available only as mail-in premiums and the first set of animals was later reissued with slight variations in the colors.
The U.S. Red Rose Company started offering the Whimsies as in the box premiums in the 1980s with Miniature Animals sets in four different issues. These included fifteen animals for the first and second set, six animals were in the third set and twenty animals in the fourth set. Not all of the sets were box premiums, there was also a combination of free in-box and mail-in only premiums for the U.S. collectors. It depended on the type of tea and in some cases, what state you were in.
One of the most "fun" sets was the Circus Animals starting in 1993. Bears, elephants, seals, tigers, a poodle in a skirt and chimpanzees were first distributed, with circus folks showing up within a few years. Clowns, the human cannonball, the ringmaster and strongman helped complete the set.
Endangered Animals series started in 1998 and went until 2002 with a set of ten animals offered, all depicting a specific endangered animal.
Not quite a complete set Noah's Ark animals
And starting in 2002 one of the best sets yet -- Noah's Ark. A terrific go-with was available through a mail-in promotion, a Wade porcelain Ark to display with these pieces. The one thing that does make me chuckle is the how the size of the pieces are not in scale to each other. It just adds to the charm to have the rooster and elephant both from the Noah's Ark set to be about the same size.
Noah's Animals on Parade consists of the following porcelain miniatures:
- Two Elephants, male and female of course
- Two Rhinos
- Ram and Ewe
- Lion and Lioness
- Goose and Gander
- Rooster and Hen
- Male and female Zebra
- And last, but not least, Noah and wife as one piece.
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Interested in starting or filling out a set?
- The Pet Shop Friends Series is currently available (started in 2006) in larger boxes of tea.
- Check the Red Rose Tea web site for discontinued items and go-withs, sometimes at sale prices.
- Flea markets are a great source for the little whimsies, many times pieces can be found for a dollar or two, especially when the dealer doesn't know what they are.
- And with all secondary market items, check eBay!
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