Gaspee Days CommitteeHistory Files
Gaspee Centennial Teacup & Saucer Sets, etc.


An 1876 centennial teacup & saucer celebrating the 1772 Burning of the H.M.S. Gaspee by colonial patriots, was made in England as a comemorative set of bone-china demi-tasse cups. These sets were undoubtedly sold as souvenirs at the 1875 Centennial Gaspee Day celebration.  Cup has line drawing of the Gaspee and reads: First Blow For Freedom/Gaspee/June 10th 1772.  Saucer has the Rhode Island seal and reads: First National Centennial Anniversary-1876.  There are no visible markings on the bottom of either the cup or saucer.  There are at least three variants of the print color; black, blue, and brown.  The RI Historical Society has a set of two of these cups and saucers on display in the butler's pantry in the John Brown Mansion, and several more are privately held.
The motto of the modern Gaspee Days Committee is derived from the language used on these teacups...America's
"First Blow for Freedom".
GDStein Gaspee Beer Stein

For lack of a better place to put it, here's also a pewter Gaspee Days beer stein sold by the Gaspee Days Committee during the Gaspee bicentennial c1972.  Don't bother with eBay, it's likely available for a penny at many Warwick area garage sales.
Fire King Mug
 Gaspee Days Logo Mug

Discovered on eBay 10/2010

Bottom says Anchor Hocking/Made in U.S.A./Fire King/Oven Proof.

First time we've seen this item, which may have been a one-off demo promotional piece.
Gobson's-Gaspee-Chocolates
 Gibson's Chocolates
Gaspee Package
c1930s

From the collection of Henry A. L. Brown, rediscovered by Rory Raven in his 2012 book, Burning the Gaspee.

Image modified from McKevin & Rogers
Back to Top    |    Back to Gaspee Days Committee History files at GASPEE.COM
Rev. 03/2019    CentennialTeacup.htm