This 2 7/16" x 3 3/8" patriotic song book contains 14 staple-bound pages of lyrics to 10 songs: "America," "The Star-Spangled Banner," "Hail, Columbia!" "The Battle Cry of Freedom," "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground," "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Red, White, and Blue," "Dixie Land," Maryland! My Maryland!" and "Flag of the Free."

This prize is dated 1918, so it was issued during World War I. Notice the uniforms of the doughboys on the cover.

At the time, the company was not yet called The Cracker Jack Company, but rather Rueckheim Bros. & Eckstein. According to the inside back cover, "Additional copies can be had by sending your name and address to: Rueckheim Bros. & Eckstein."

The back cover of the "Uncle Sam's Famous National Songs" shows the early Sailor Jack and Bingo standing atop a box of Cracker Jack. This version of Sailor Jack and Bingo is the first to have appeared on boxes of Cracker Jack, beginning in 1918. (Some sources say 1919.) Jack is said to have been modeled after R.W. Rueckheim's young grandson, Robert.

The company had problems with competitors trying to steal business by creating products with names and packages similar to Cracker Jack, designed to purposely deceive the public. In fact, the company on occasion was forced to take legal action to stop the practice. The possibility of imposters is brought to the purchaser's attention by the warning message at the bottom of the back cover:

Caution!
There is only one "Cracker Jack" and that is made by Rueckheim Bros. & Eckstein. You will find the name "Cracker Jack" printed diagonally across the face of the package. Consumers should beware of imitations that are sometimes offered by dealers. Insist on getting the genuine article.

There is another variation of the song book with larger versions of the images on the front and back covers. It does not have the copyright date on the front, and the coloration of Sailor Jack is more detailed.

Notice that the song book is free of any molasses stains that might be expected if it had come from a box of Cracker Jack. It may be one that was requested by mail, or possibly the song book was a point-of-sale premium and not a packaged prize at all.

 

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© Jim Davis 6/25/99