Plastic ALPHABET ANIMALS Stand-ups

Different Varieties

Identifying Different Varieties

When I assembled and completed my first set of ALPHABET ANIMALS, little attention was paid to whether duplicates matched, or what shape the animals were.  As with most collectors of Cracker Jack prizes, my main concern was finding one prize for each letter of the alphabet.  Having done this, I decided that I would pick up different examples of colors as I found them, and my main interest was to do a study of the various colors that could be collected.  However, somewhere along the line, I found that one and then another of my prizes had different shaped bases.  Even now, the base of a prize is one of the first things I look at to identify the "type" of the prize.  I noticed that the ones with the pointed bases were lacking the "NOSCO" mark, and then I started noticing other variations in shape.  

At some point, I became more involved in the study of the variations of shape, and my study of colors has become less of the focus of my studies of ALPHABET ANIMALS.  The shape of a prize may not be a significant factor for some collectors, but I think it is important to identify as many different variations as possible.  Four significant varieties are fairly easily identified once the characteristics are known.  Many times, while putting together the large group of ALPHABET ANIMALS I have collected to study, I have ended up with some prizes that I thought were duplicates, only to learn that I was looking at significant differences once I had identified them.  For a visual representation of all the prizes known, you can go to the Variations Page, but the key characteristics listed below for each "type" will better prepare you to identify what things are generally same in all the prizes in any set.

The Four Varieties of ALPHABET ANIMALS

As previously stated, the base of the prize is a key in identifying the different varieties.  As seen in the photo above, the bases of NOSCO prizes have rounded ends, while the not-marked prizes have pointed ends.  Since it is believed that only NOSCO sold ALPHABET ANIMALS to Cracker Jack, I will assert that it can also be said that all Cracker Jack ALPHABET ANIMALS have rounded bases, and that the pointed base prizes were not used in Cracker Jack. However, it cannot be said that all prizes which have bases with rounded ends were found in Cracker Jack packages, because it is well known that NOSCO ALPHABET ANIMALS were also sold to retailers who sold them through magazine ads and mail-order catalogs.

Once I recognized the fact that the differences in the bases would be a significant identifying factor, I became aware of even more differences.  There was the obvious difference between the soft and hard plastics of the not-marked prizes.  Then there were the different shapes -- such as the variation COW and DEER, and the BEAR and ELEPHANT -- that made it even more difficult to determine the number of different sets there are. Only a large accumulation of examples, a great deal of patience, and a bit of luck would ensure that I could come to a conclusion. But it was ultimately the comparison of numerous collections -- and many endless conversations with other collectors -- that helped me to put together the theory of four "types" of ALPHABET ANIMALS.

Below are listed the key characteristics of each of the four types.  I have tried to put only the characteristics which are universal within the type, and not characteristics of only a handful of prizes within the type.  For information on the comparisons and contrasts of individual prizes, see the Variations Page.

The two major categories: "NOSCO" and "not-marked"

The first major division in ALPHABET ANIMALS is the division between NOSCO prizes and not-marked prizes.  The main things to look for are the bases.  The important thing to remember is that all NOSCO prizes have bases with rounded ends AND all not-marked prizes have bases with pointed ends.  There are certainly other clues as to whether a prize is NOSCO or not, but those are not as significant at this point when it is so easy to identify them by their bases.

The NOSCO prizes

The first clue that there are two sets of NOSCO ALPHABET ANIMALS was what has previously been  known among collectors as the "variation COW," and now referred to as the Type I COW.  However, one prize was not enough to formulate an answer as to why the "variation COW" exists.   It was the second "variation" that I found that actually got me started thinking along the lines of a second set.  It was a VULTURE that came with the purchase of my first Type I COW.  For some reason, it just didn't seem right, so I compared it to other VULTUREs in my collection.   I observed that not only was it different from other VULTUREs in my collection, but that I also already had another one of the variation VULTUREs, later designated as Type I, that I had never before noticed.  By comparing these different prizes together, I was able to determine that the bases were the significant thing that separated the Type I animals from the Type II.  The base of the Type I set of ALPHABET ANIMALS was slightly thicker than the base of the Type II prizes. I went through all of my ALPHABET ANIMALS to see if I could find more -- and I did!

I decided in late 1997 that the Type I (wider based) ALPHABET ANIMALS might be able to be collected.  After all, if they could be identified well enough to be assembleed separately from the more commonly found Type II prizes, then they certainly must be a legitimate separate set all their own. I then set out to collect a set of only Type I prizes.  By December 1998 I was able to find examples of all but one of the Type I shapes.  In July 1999, the missing WOLF I needed to complete the set arrived in the mail from an online auction purchase.  Amazingly enough, the following month I was also able to buy from a fellow collector a near complete set of Type I ALPHABET ANIMALS that came from the factory.  I have also found numerous duplicates in different colors of the Type I prizes, so I am convinced that the shapes are consistant within the type.  For example, I have six Type I COWS now, and they are all wide based, as are all the examples I have seen in other collections.

Type I -- NOSCO ALPHABET ANIMALS

Key Characteristics:
Mark: "NOSCO C"     Used in Cracker Jack?: yes
Plastic Type: polystyrene (hard)     Base: rounded ends

This is the set that has what was formerly called the "variation COW." These were first used in Cracker Jack in 1953.  Click HERE for more information on NOSCO ALPHABET ANIMALS.

Type II -- NOSCO ALPHABET ANIMALS

Key Characteristics:
Mark: "NOSCO C"     Used in Cracker Jack?: yes
Plastic Type: polystyrene (hard)     Base: rounded ends

All of the animals pictured on the previous ALPHABET ANIMALS page are from this series.  Prizes in this set are the most common found in Cracker Jack prize collections.   These were first used in Cracker Jack, and then became available through other retail sources.  Click HERE for more information on NOSCO ALPHABET ANIMALS.

The not-marked prizes

The base is a good way to tell the difference between the Cracker Jack prizes and the non-CJ, but the best way to tell the difference between the not-marked prize sets is the material from which they are made.  The Type III prizes are made from the hard, brittle plastic called polystyrene (similar to the plastic used in the Type I and II prizes), while the Type IV prizes are made from the soft, pliable plastic called polyethylene.  I suppose the most interesting question is why did I settle on only two types of not-marked ALPHABET ANIMALS.  

With all the animals found in the not-marked sets of ALPHABET ANIMALS that are different from the NOSCO sets, it is a wonder that  I didn't have more sets in my theory of not-marked prizes. The fact of the matter is that at one time I did, but now I am firm in settling on these sets as outlined below.  For further discussion of the not-marked series of ALPHABET ANIMALS and my justification for placing all the hard plastic, not-marked prizes in one set, go to my page of Not-Marked ALPHABET ANIMALS.

Type III -- Not Marked, Hard Plastic ALPHABET ANIMALS

Key Characteristics:
Mark: none     Used in Cracker Jack?: no
Plastic Type: polystyrene (hard)     Base: pointed ends

This is the series of non-Cracker Jack ALPHABET ANIMALS of which I have the most examples.  It is the set that has the BEAR and the ELEPHANT in addition to the DEER that uses the NILGAI shape of the NOSCO set.  The obvious difference between these and the NOSCO ALPHABET ANIMALS is the base, which has pointed ends, but some other things can be noted.  These prizes are smaller and thinner in size than the previous set, and many of their features are less detailed.     

Type IV -- Not Marked, Soft Plastic ALPHABET ANIMALS

Key Characteristics:
Mark: none     Used in Cracker Jack?: no
Plastic Type: polyethylene (soft, pliable)     Base: pointed ends

This is the only series of ALPHABET ANIMALS made from soft plastic.  This is possibly the hardest series to collect.  One interesting thing to note about this set is the type of plastic, which is soft and pliable.  In addition, the colors I have are only five: red, yellow, blue, green, and white -- pretty basic.  Does anyone else have others?

 Click HERE for visual comparisons of each of the prizes from all four sets.