American, circa 1870; This is a quintessential dolls' house and certainly the most celebrated in this collection. In Antique Dolls' Houses, Flora Gill Jacobs, © 2005 the author reminisces ÒIn 1945, I began to write A History of Dolls' Houses and almost immediately began to collect. She then describes how the house was acquired from an antique dealer in Malaga, New Jersey, thus the name 'The South Jersey House". Later it became a centerpiece of her Washington Dolls' House and Toy museum, then central to her childrens book - The Doll House Mystery, Flora Gill Jacobs, Coward-McCann, 1958. A small bisque doll and composition cat (representing Pricilla & Annie) can still be seen in the dormer windows. When the museum closed in 2004 and contents sold, this was one of the few pieces she choose to keep in her home collection as it was her first house. This house has been pictured and discussed in nearly all her books including her last - Antique Dolls' Houses © 2005 on pages 34-37. The house, as Mrs. Jacobs readily admits, was a wreck when she found it. This fine example of post civil war sandstone architecture was enhanced by her careful restoration. The three sides of this stately house are graced with several different styles of windows and and the whole is crowned with the painted checker decorated convex mansard roof. The house is accessed thru 3 paneled doors with glazed windows in the rear. They remain but are not attached as they have been replaced with Plexiglas panels for viewing. The interior is comprised of 4 deep rooms separated by a hall on the first and second floors. A removable wall panel on the second floor offers access to the upper hall. The staircase with landing and two fireplace mantels are original features of the house. The ceilings in the four main rooms have elaborate medallions with hooks for the chandeliers. The windows, dressed in period lace, are framed by prominent curved edge casings as are the doorways. The house is offered with the painted cast iron fencing, circular wood base and 2 urns as it was displayed by Mrs. Jacobs for so many years. This offering presents a rare opportunity for a the collector to acquire a significant and truly unique house rich in architectural detailing and with such important provenance. The furnishings as compiled and displayed by Mrs. Jacobs will be offered in the next 42 lots.
44"" t. x 41"" w. x 25"" d ( measures are house only)"

very good to excellent and as noted