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What You're Getting
A large commemorative ashtray marked for the 50th anniversary of Manhattan Beach, California — a genuine piece of South Bay local history rather than a generic seaside souvenir.
The gold sunburst at the upper left reads MANHATTAN BEACH · 50TH · ANNIVERSARY around a gilded disc. Beside it, in deep cobalt line work, is a pen-drawing of the pier running out to the roundhouse, the hills behind it, gulls and cloud — the view anyone who knows the town recognises immediately.
The form is mid-century and handsome: a squared dish with softly rounded corners, a satin cobalt-blue rim shading to a white well, and four gilded cigarette rests, one at each corner.
For the record: Manhattan Beach was incorporated in 1912, which places a 50th anniversary piece around 1962. The ashtray itself carries no date, so take that as context rather than a guarantee.
Condition & Details
Good honest display condition for a souvenir piece of this age. Across three photographs including a base shot I found no chips, no cracks and no repairs.
Measurements, tape in photo 2: about 7 1/2 in across and 1 1/4 in deep.
The cobalt rim is even and unworn, and the gold sunburst is complete and readable.
The flaws, all of them:
- Gilt wear to the cigarette rests, with thinning on one and light rubbing on the others.
- Some rubbing to the gold over the pier drawing, where one gilded detail has worn thin.
- Light staining
Why You Might Want It
- Town history in a single object — and Manhattan Beach collectors are a real, local, motivated audience who buy on sight.
- The pier and roundhouse are the town’s emblem; this is that image, in cobalt, from the era when it was drawn rather than photographed.
- Nobody has to smoke. It works as a catch-all for keys, rings and coins, or propped on a shelf as a graphic blue-and-gold object.
- Anniversary commemoratives are made once and never again — the run was small and sixty years ago.
- Sound, with no chips or cracks, so what you see is age patina rather than damage.
Shipping & Returns
Free shipping, USPS with tracking, dispatched within one business day of cleared payment. It ships wrapped and cornered in a rigid box with fill on every side. Buying more than one item? Ask and I will combine.
30-day returns accepted. Buyer pays return postage and the item must come back as it was sent. Every flaw I could find is photographed and written up above — please read it, and ask me anything before you buy.
