| The 1939 New York World's fair opened on April 30, | | | | the handle to flatten and imprint the penny with a |
| 1939. It closed on October 27, 1940. During that time | | | | World Fair Corporation approved design. Along with |
| it attracted over 45 million visitors from all over the | | | | the 1000's of souvenirs that covered the spectrum, |
| world and generated approximately $45 million in | | | | there were also 1000's of corporate souvenirs |
| revenue (which from a financial perspective made it a | | | | passed out at the exhibits to help brand the |
| great failure as over $160 million was invested in the | | | | corporations in the visitors minds. This included items |
| event.) | | | | such as the Heinz pickle pins, the Planters Peanut |
| Planning for the 1939 Worlds Fair began in 1935 during | | | | mascot, pens, bowls, etc. If you could think of it, it |
| the height of the Great Depression. A group of | | | | was probably there as a souvenir. |
| businessmen at this time formed the New York | | | | Even in modern times, interest in the 1939 New York |
| World's Fair corporation to make an international | | | | World's Fair is still very strong and people are still |
| event so spectacular that by its sery grace would pull | | | | collecting the souvenirs surrounding the event. In |
| the world out of the depression it was in. The | | | | fact, a search on eBay for 1939 Worlds Fair in |
| committee consisted of Grover Whalen as the | | | | December, 2006 returns over 450 items for sale. And |
| president of their committee, Winthrop Aldrich, | | | | that is just one place selling Worlds Fair memorabilia. |
| Mortimer Buckner, Floyd Carlisle, John J. Dunnigan, | | | | If you search the web, you can find hundreds of |
| Harvey Dow Gibson, Fiorello La Guardia, Percy S. | | | | other sites selling New York World's fair collectibles. |
| Straus, and many other business leaders. | | | | And the prices can be surprisingly affordable. For |
| Even though the fair was not a financial success, it | | | | instance, in the last week on eBay you could have |
| was an emotional success. Millions of people had a | | | | acquired a 1939 New York Worlds Fair Ash Tray for |
| wonderful adventure, one that they would share with | | | | $9.99, a Porcelier 1939 Worlds Fair Sugar ,Lid & |
| their children and grandchildren for generations to | | | | Creamer for $63.61 or a 1939 New York World's Fair |
| come. They shared it with films, photographs, | | | | George Washington Creamer for just $14.95. |
| brochures and collectible trinkets that they collected | | | | While there is a huge interest in the collectibles, the |
| while attending the fair. | | | | prices remain reasonable so it is a great time for you |
| In addition to all the souvenir stands where one could | | | | to build a fascinating collection of 1939 Worlds Fair |
| buy collectibles, they also had a myriad of penny | | | | memorabilia. The items are interesting and make |
| crushers where people could make their own | | | | great conversation pieces - and who knows - they |
| souvenir by putting a penny in the machine, cranking | | | | may even turn into a solid investments someday. |