Marx Butter and Egg Man: circa 1940s 7 ½h”high 

There’s only a brief reference to the Marx Butter and Egg Man in the Greenberg’s guide to Marx toys volume 1. The reference is to the Joe Penner and his Duck Goo Goo which was made in 1934. The reference is to a September 1934 Butler Brothers catalog which shows the Joe Penner toy but without it’s checkered jacket, “it is possible that the Penner toy was confused with another Marx toy from the same dye call the Butter and Egg Man this figure has different lithography and it’s label on the basket reads “Fresh Country Butter”.

The toy is lithographed and has a wind-up mechanism that allows the salesman to shuffle along the table or floor. On the back of the toy the man wears a sign that says “The Butter And Egg Man” on the front of his jacket he wears a rosette that reads “The Butter And Egg Man” as well. There’s a sign on his duck that reads “Eggs Laid To Order” and then on his satchel is a sign that reads “Fresh Country Butter” a stick of butter is shown above the sign with two smiling cows. The toy is virtually identical to the Joe painter toy with the exception being different lithography to reflect the era it was produced in. The Butter And Egg Man is lacking a hat and cigar which is synonymous with the Joe Penner toy.