A Rare Dean's Rag Book Turned & Painted Wooden Mickey Mouse c.1930

Object Description

The scarce child’s articulated Mickey Mouse, formed from turned and painted wood, having yellow felt hands and black felt ears and surviving from the 1930s at the height of Mickey’s popularity.

Object History

Unknown.

Object Literature

The character’s public debut was in Steamboat Willie, which appeared in 1928 and was one of the first cartoons with synchronised sound. By the mid-30s, largely because of The Mickey Mouse Club, Mickey had developed into a role model for children. Dean’s Rag Book Company was founded in 1903 by Henry Samuel Dean to produce rag books for children and then in 1915 Dean’s first began producing teddy bears. The wooden examples, such as this, are much tougher to find than the plush varieties which were made in eight sizes.

A hard-to-find collectible with masses of charm.

Object Condition

The piece is in charming play worn condition though he is missing his tail and the label from the left foot. The felt is in remarkably good order, with some of the facial features worn. The same version sold at Christie’s 3rd December, 2001. He free-stands with some encouragement as photographed.

Object Details