How I Found My Leprechaun

by Raymond Davis (jarmanray)

There are so many places I could start this story, so I will give you a little background about my cookie jar collecting first. I started collecting jars about ten years ago. I was watching a TV program about different things people collect. They showed a man who collected (you guessed it) cookie jars. I watched in amazement at all the jars he had. I knew somewhere in one of the kitchen cabinets was a cookie jar my mother in law had given us years ago. I searched it out, placed it in the dishwasher and waited. At this time I knew nothing about cookie jars. You know like cold paint or paint under glaze. Well, when the washer was done I took it out.

It looked like it did when it when it was new. I knew at that time I was hooked. I had to have more but where do you find them? My wife suggested yard sales. She had been to a few and remembered seeing cookie jars. I couldn't wait for Saturday to get here so the great cookie jar hunt could begin. The first house we went to had no cookie jars out so I asked the lady if she had a jar for sale. Her reply was no, but she had one and wanted to know if I wanted to see it. It was a McCoy Apple and nothing I said convinced her to sell it to me. A week later at a local flea market I bought my first jar, a McCoy apple.

Many yard sales and flea markets later I had 25 jars in my collection. By this time I had realized that brown just wasn't my color. I began to sell all my jars that looked like brown canisters. I wanted my collection to have a lot of color, so I began to only buy jars that had a lot of color. This is about the time my sister-in-law came for a visit. I showed her my collection of cookie jars and was told she had one that looked like a school house. She said it was just taking up space on top of her refrigerator and that she would bring it to me the next time she came up. It wasn't long after this I recieved a call from her. She had found two more jars at a flea market and would bring them too. When she brought me the jars she told me what fun she had looking for these jars. She also informed me that she was going to start a collection of her own. At first I though oh no, I won't be getting any more jars. Then it dawned on me that I would have some one who liked cookie jars to talk to. There wasn't a week that went by that I wouldn't call her or she would call me. We would talk about what jars we had found or ones we would like to have. In April of 1997 my sister in law called and invited my wife Glenda and I to her home for the first week end in May. She informed me about an antique flea market that is held in a town near where she lives the first week end of May. She also told me about the many cookie jars that she had seen there in years past.

Early on the morning of May 2nd I was parking my car under a large pecan tree. We had driven through the small town of Cameron, NC, where the vendors had their tables full of items for sale. It is hard to explain how excited I was, you know, like when you were a child on Christmas morning and coudln't wait to open your presents. As we walked through the big parking lot my sister-in-law suggested the best way to go. WE crossed the street and started down the hill. The first vendor was set up under some tress. HE had several long tables full of nice things and among them were some cookie jars. I picked up a Mario Brothers still in the box and aske dhow much. The reply was $25.00. "Would you take $20?" I said. The man shook his head yes. "Do you have a bag?" I asked handing him the money. This was going to be a great day. My sister-in-law bought a clown head jar made in Japan from the same man. We all had a wonderful day. My sister-in-law bought several more jars and my wife picked up a Glind of OZ book (she collects OZ). I bought a Metlox Rabbit on Cabbage, a Red Corvette made by Expressive Designs, and a unmarked Pixie head. This was one of the best cookie jar hunting days I have ever had. How could it get any better?

The next morning after breakfast my sister in law wanted us to go to a small flea market before we left for home. It was in the parking lot of a closed Kmart store. As I go tout of the car I thought after yesterday why even bother to look? We made our way through the small row to the front of the old store. Several vendors were set up there under the awning I was walking about ten feet in front of my wife and sister in law. At the next to last table I saw a cookie jar. It looked like a little boy in a blue jump suit with a blue hat on. As I got closer I coudl see it was a little man instead of a little boy and he looked like a Elf or Pixie. I asked the lady how much as I removed the lid. I kew I was going to buy it no matter how much she said. I have always been one to ask for the best price but this time was different. The lady said $20.00, but "I will take $15.00". I tried to act normal as I said "wrap it up, I will take it". I somehow knew this was a great jar. AT this time I had several price guides and had looked at the pictures a lot. There is no way a person can remember all the jars but yet I had this feeling, an excitement, I had never felt this before about a jar. The lady wrapped it up in newspaper and placed it in a brown paper bag.

The drive home seemed like it would last forever. At the first rest are we stopped. I told my wife I had to look at my jar. She said, "why did you buy that thing?" "I somehow know this is the best jar I will ever find," I said. I removed the jar from the bag and began to look it over. No marks anywhere, some paint missing, no chips or cracks. He was dirty and oily (like he had been sitting on a kitchen shelf for a long time).

Once home I got out all of my books and began looking for my jar. There he was under McCoy, listed as a Leprechaun or was he? The ones int he book are red and green. Mine is blue. Teh book also says some are different colors so he may be th real thing.

The next day after work I began trying to call Joyce Roerig. She would be able to help me find out about my jar. There was no answer. Now what? I wanted to know more. I placed several more calls to her but no one was home. I tried calling on Tuesday. No answer. Where coudl she be? On Wednesday when I called she was there. She had been to the cookie jar show in Nashville, Tenn., and had just gotten home. I know whe must have thought I was some kind of nut. All my works were running together and made no sense at all. I had waited so long to talk to someone about my jar. I regained my composure and told her about my find. She was very kind and listened to every thing I had to say. She informed me that she did not have a McCoy Leprechaun and woudl not be able to give me the measurements. She told me to call Chiquita Prestwood, a McCoy collector. Joyce was sure she would be able to help me. I wasn't sure if I really wanted to call her or not. What if my jar is a reproduction?

I placed the call. Chiquita answered and I began by telling her about my call to Joyce Roerig and that was how I got her phone number. Chiquita was very interested in my jar and said she would be glad to give me the measurements. I got out my tape measure and began measuring my jar. Chiquita said, "Are you ready?" I told her the measurements of my jar. There was silence on the other end. She said "Are you sitting down? It's the real McCoy." Was her reply. I knew it! "I knew it!" I said, "It just had to be." I was so excited that it took a few seconds before I realized that Chiquita was saying something. She wanted to know how much I had paid for him. When I told her she said, "Do you want your money back?" We talked for a while about jars and McCoy pottery. Before we hung up she said, "If you ever want to sell your jar, just let me know." I thanked her for all of her help.

There is nothign like finding a great cooke jar to get your adrenalin flowing. I had to tell some one. Someone who woudl know about cooke jars. I called Joyce back. "I hope you don't mind my call," I said. I just got off the phone talking to Chiquita and my Leprechaun is the real thing. Joyce realized how excited I Was and said why don't you tell me about it. She also told me about her new book that would be coming out soon. She asked if I would send her a picture of my jar so she coudl include it in her book.

Finding a great cookie jar is a reward in itself but to have your jar in a price guide is truly a thrill. If you will look inthe Collector's Encyclopedia of Cookie Jars book 3 page 182 you will see my Blue McCoy Leprechaun.

Finding my McCoy Leprechaun seems so long ago now. Everytime I go to a flea market or yard sale I hope to find a jar that will bring me as much pleaure as finding my Leprechaun did. When I first started collecting every time I would go to the flea market I would find at least two or more jars. Most of the time I would only have to pay $5.00 or less. Now I feel lucky to just see one and if I do find one they want top dollar for it. I miss the days gone by. Buying new jars in the stores is just not the same as finding a good jar at a yard sale or flea market. I am so glad I started collecting when I did.

Here are a few pictures of my collection.