Meek Stock: No. 61 "Reading the News"

General
No. 61 returns to the old trope of an older couple, presumably back in the “old country” reading a newspaper, first introduced in No. 44 (although that design typically has them drinking coffee there are versions where they are looking at a newspaper). This couple appears older and less well off; aside from the man’s pipe, there are no other signs of food or beverages and the table in the foreground is simpler. There is no artist signature, however the design on the tray appears to reproduce a painting by Danish painter Olaf Simony Jensen (1864-1923) titled “Mand og kvinde som læser et brev” or “Man and woman reading a letter.”

Despite being a somewhat prolific painter (over 100 of his works are known) there is remarkably little biographical information available on him. He seems to have mostly painted groups of people engaged in activities of daily life. Favorite subject involved middle class leisure activities, poor people engaged in simple activities, and monks—usually eating, drinking or preparing to eat or drink. Three of his monk paintings will be familiar to tray collectors as stock images produced by Chas W. Shonk: "Moines dans une taverne" (Monks in a Tavern), "Muntre munke omkring et bord" (Cheerful Monks around a table), and the Monks and a Smoking Dog.

This design does not show up frequently, and even though we’ve seen examples from several different issuers, aside from unmarked stock samples we’ve never seen more than a single example from an issuer.

Shape & Rim & Ad Text
Known tray examples are all oval with the low pie shaped rim and rolled edge. All sport a red drape rim design. Advertising text (and sometime symbols or logos) appear both on the rim and on the face of the tray in either gold or black; the Providence example has ad text on the newspaper they are holding. We have never noted any variation in the design, nor have we encountered any examples in sign form. This design carries the title “Reading the News” in the thin band around the image while the stock number and Meek symbol appear close to the very edge of the tray (at 6 o’clock). Right above that in the red rim area in very thin text it says “copyright 1905.”

Hager & Price
This design is included in Hager’s catalog, but is not discussed in his article. Every example we’ve seen with advertising is connected with brewing or distilling (to include bottlers) with the exception of “Archers” from Yankton, SD whose business type we were unable to ascertain. Prices are surprisingly modest for all examples we’ve encountered, although few have been better than very good condition and most have been in lesser condition.