CHILDREN’S
HANKIES HANKYS HANDKERCHIEFS

 In the 1960’s or so children’s hankies seem to have gone by the wayside due to the more sanitary disposable paper tissues. For over 200 years prior to that they were used by children of all ages. Early on they even played a role in the child’s education with alphabets, numbers, nursery rhymes, Sunday school lessons and life lessons printed right on them. The Victorian era brought about those like the ones pictured above. The nineteen hundreds brought in cartoon characters like Little Orphan Annie and lovable Mickey Mouse. In the 1940’s and 1950’s they were popular gifts for little girls and boys alike.

While girls might receive hankies with ballerinas, bunnies, or the artwork of Mabel Lucie Atwell, little boys would receive cowboys, Indians, or "space age" rocket ships. You would often find a little handkerchief tucked into a Christmas stocking or Easter basket. The children’s handkerchiefs have become quite collectible in their own right. If you are looking for a fun collection, these might be just the right hankies for you!