George Brown painted and stenciled tin Excelsior Riverboat pull toy with colorful decal decorations on wheel housings outfitted with cast iron wheels, 20" l. According to Edith Barenholtz in her introduction to The George Brown Sketchbook, ca. 1870's, this document was reprinted by Pyne Press in 1971. This was one of several toys dropped from their line due to excessive cost of production. This is thought to be the second known example to have survived, the other is in the collection of the New York Historical Society & Library. It is consigned to auction by the great granddaughter of the original owner who received it for Christmas in the 1870's. He was a young child of a well-to-do family that resided in Providence, Rhode Island, which coincidently is about 90 miles from the Brown Factory in Forestville, Connecticut.