I hope that this photo will be of very special interest to "Miniaturezoo954". All this stuff of "mini zoo" was sold on ebay auction in March 2007. The initail bid was only 2.0US$ and the final price reached 1200.00US$ !!!!! Unfortunately the photo is not that good but there was also very detailed description of the contents which is cited below in full extend. Important, extremely rare and beautiful set "Zoological Garden" by the famous German manufacturer Haffner, handpainted pewter figures in original box, Nuremberg c. 1875:
Wooden box covered in dark purple, gold embossed paper, sliding lid decorated with gold printed ornaments and a medal referring to the Paris world exposition in 1867. The lid also carries the words "Extra feine massive Zinn-Compositions-Figuren" (extra fine massive pewter composition figures) as well as the title of the set, "Zoological garden" in three languages and the number "No. 475 – 35 Stk.".
The box contains:
1 high cage (wire net),
1 rectangular fence (wire net),
2 cages barred for dangerous animals (supposed to be set up next to each other so that the open sides join up),
flat figures of
4 plants,
4 trees,
1 tree with monkeys (!),
6 poles with parrots/cockatoos sitting in their swings,
11 standing, walking or swimming birds,
1 leopard and
1 large solid figure of a lion family.
Box c. 27 x 19,5 cm (10,6 x 7,7 inch), 6,5 cm high (2,6 inch);
The box is not signed, but exactly resembles other signed Haffner boxes of the time (see scan from H.H. Roer, Bleisoldaten, Munich 1981, p. 81).
Indeed dear fanaloka, this is a very aged set, it is truly a great historical piece i had never seen before, thank you so much for posting, i do not think i had ever seen a set this old, in very good condition i must add.
