WWI Rare Tin Litho Jointed "Sammy" Soldier with Sword mesopotamian earthy palette

earthy palette

and there is a tear to the bottom right corner

so I am confident 1882 is the date of its making

are also found carved of wood

and artist statements

WWI Rare Tin Litho Jointed "Sammy" Soldier with Sword mesopotamian earthy paletteI have only found one other of these out there anywhere, which its citation referred to as an "Active Sammy" "the first action figure!" produced by UToys (Patent Pending). That one was attached to a base advertising the Thomas S. Childs Inc. shoe company of Holyoke, Massachusetts, so I think perhaps these were produced during WWI as promotional give aways, fitting into bases customized for various companies. This one no longer has a base, but a pretty