New on Collectorgene.com:  Beginning today, we at the CollectorGene want to start bringing you something to smile about weekly.  In addition to our full-length articles, we will be posting themed photos with short descriptions.

“Smile” will be brought to you by Carol.  Here is the first, appropriately patriotic, entry!

This nodding candy container with the big blue eyes and infectious grin is a Palmer Cox Brownie dressed as Uncle Sam.  He is made of a composition material, was imported from Germany, and probably dates to about 1910.  Only five inches tall, he nods his head up and down very affirmatively.  While a perfect Fourth of July decoration, he may well have been intended as an Easter toy since he is sitting inside an egg!