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THE 1920s
Milne’s original version of Edward Bear’s collection of stories and verses has been the love of America’s literati ever since Milne’s pen brought forth a little poem called “Vespers,” which he gave, with love, to his wife Daphne, and which Daphne presented to the editors of Vanity Fair Magazine in 1923.
That was when New Yorkers first read of “Christopher Robin Saying His Prayers.”
In the 1920s, Charles Scribner, The New York Evening Post and St. Nicholas Magazine, among others, published Milne’s enchanting stories with illustrations by several of the more famous American artists of that decade.
Rare and collectable copies of these journals have sold on ebay from time to time and are usually snapped up by ebay collectors at challenging prices. --Especially Pooh illustrations by J.H. Dowd and Reginald Birch.
The work of these and other early Pooh illustrators is known only to the cognoscenti, for Milne’s original version is better known in the company of decorations by Ernest Shepard –the man who hated Pooh, according to Tim Benson of BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4772370.stm
Shepard decorated the books published by Methuen (England), McClelland & Stewart (Canada) and E.P. Dutton (USA) but the enormously talented Mr. Shepard preferred to be known as a political cartoonist for London’s Punch Magazine.
Milne was also a veteran of The Punch Table who dreamed of being remembered as a famous playwright, as opposed to the author of “four trifles for the young.”
But the magic both men left to the world, during their brief time with Pooh, inspired others to do more with the bear of little brain, and to the credit of Methuen and Dutton Publishers, the legacy of Milne’s original books is secure.
Their brilliant works, aside from Pooh can also be found on ebay, whilst first editions of the four Pooh Books, the song books and other 1920s printings can climb into many thousands of dollars. First editions containing autographs and personalized notes from Milne, can climb into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, even more.
THE 1930s AND 1940s
In 1930, American Pooh popped out of Milne’s black and white books, put on a bright red shirt, became a star in children’s theatre, on radio and TV, in story-telling records with Jimmy Stuart and Gene Kelly, in song recordings, in early animated paper films and in the promotion of goods and the advertising of services--thanks to the creative talent of illustrator/producer Stephen Slesinger and his company Stephen Slesinger, Inc.
Slesinger was the largest developer of Character rights in the 1930s and 1940s for most of the famous comic and children’s book characters of those days. He brought Pooh up to be the best loved bear in history by giving Pooh characters a distinctive richness and dimension outside of the books. For 35 years before Disney became Slesinger’s exclusive licensee and through a pioneering merchandising campaign with exclusive patents and trademarks, Slesinger gave Pooh a colorful life of his own with a wonderful array items that are now highly desirable and sought after by ebay collectors.
Extremely rare Slesinger Pooh items, (next to Slesinger’s Tarzan merchandise) are the Pooh Wollinough stuffed toys, which are priced in the thousands of dollars and are equally rare to find. These are on par with Slesinger’s Winnie the Pooh Bread wrappers on which a colorful parade of Pooh Characters were printed. (Who on earth kept a 1930s bread wrapper?)
The 1930s Nursery prints and the patchwork quilt pattern fabrics with little sayings from Milne’s verses like “All the best and all the worst come from which of them is first” are not only charming and mindful of the depth of Milne’s words; they are prizes for both ebay purveyors and ebay collectors.
Community Plate bowls, mugs and silver jewelry are also rare treasures from Slesinger’s early Pooh. Especially when they come in their original boxes with pastel watercolor paintings of Slesinger’s classic Pooh characters in tact.
The silver and silver plated Pooh items have seen a great appreciation in value, possibly due to a reaction on the increased price of silver. The early Macy’s and other in-store promotional items such as puppets, which were given, away as gifts and the party napkins, placemats, wrapping paper and early Pooh lamps with fabric shades are few and far between.
Yet it is still possible to find a remarkably good deal by searching on ebay, for sometimes, although not often, one of these precious items comes up for sale while no one appears to be looking.
Pooh’s patented china imported from Germany, Magmar and Milton Bradley puzzles, Parker Brother's games, Movie Jecktor Films and the original table mat Pooh game by Kirk Guild, where Pooh first wore his red shirt, are also very desirable along with the Agnes Brush handmade felt and cotton stuffed toys that were a mainstay at all the best children’s departments from the 1940s through early 1960s. As with all collectables, the condition of the item is directly related to the price. If one does not mind a few tattered edges or tears, a cherished and valuable collection can be assembled at an affordable price.
For ebay collectors who enjoy collecting paper and ephemera, look for Slesinger’s early patents for Piglet and Heffalump sometimes offered on ebay along with The Pooh radio Show ads and the Sue Hastings Marionette and Children’s theatre programs. Rarest of these are the Isadora Duncan dancers’ programs performing “Winnie the Pooh, How He Got His Name.”
It’s a little known fact how Pooh got his name, especially since Milne does not tell us in Pooh’s books. Pooh collectors can find out though because the secret is in some of the mini-booklets Slesinger published in conjunction with his department store promotions.
Another rarity to be on the look out for, are Pooh's calling cards, printer's wood blocks and style sheets that were distributed to Slesinger’s licensed manufacturers and advertising agencies. Style sheets with artwork of Pooh characters in different poses are special line art graphics which were created to be reproduced in print and on manufactured items. The most indearing advertisements featuring Daphne Milne with her son Christopher sending best wishes to the children of America from England are another favorite among those who know.
For Sound-o-files, Gene Kelly’s and Jimmy Stuart’s record albums produced by Slesinger’s art department and the rare Pooh picture records can be found on ebay along with many other fine Pooh albums on Decca, RCA and several more unusual lables. Many of the old 78s have a very rich sound quality when played on the good old Victrolas that can also be found on ebay along with the needles, that must be changed frequently, to preserve the analog sound of these precious old recordings.
There are a number of great ebay sellers of vintage Pooh books too. Notably "Vintage Kidzboox" seems to constantly come up with the rare and most unusual.
THE 1950s AND 1960s
In 1958, when Stephen’s widow, Shirley, took over Slesinger’s Pooh business, she created a fresh look for her kids in Hundred Aker Wood. Her new artwork and ideas came from the perspective of a mom and she developed the products she wanted herself. She searched for the best manufacturers and insisted on the finest quality Pooh Character items for her buyers at Bergdorf’s, Saks, Neiman Marcus, Filenes, Marshall Fields and Bullocks Wilshire, who all had Pooh Corner displays in their children’s departments.
Ebay sellers who come across some of these old store displays and promotional items, from the nooks and crannies of the earth, are lucky indeed.
Other Slesinger rarities to look for on ebay from the 1950s to mid 1960s are Pooh Puffs, Pooh character stained glass ornaments, mobiles, wall hangings, Giant Coloring Books, and the imaginative, bold colors of the Pooh Postal Pack, co published with Dutton and Determined Productions.
For ebay collectors who enjoy advertising art, watch for the late 1950s to mid 1960s promotional photos and printers proofs of Pooh ad campaigns, which literally appeared in Newspapers across the country. Especially the ads inviting customers to fashion shows and Christopher Robin tea parties to see the latest Pooh character fashions, gifts, accessories, Dutton Books and toys and to meet a life-size-costume-character Pooh ---Yes all before Disney.
When one looks at mid 1960s Pooh, it’s truly apparent that Disney stepped into Slesinger’s shoes to further develop what the New York Times described (in 1963) as “ . . . not only a toy bear, but an industry . . .”
Even The Kennedy children owned finely embroidered Pooh clothing, imported from Switzerland and licensed exclusively by Stephen Slesinger, Inc., N.Y. John John’s baby suit sold a few years ago at auction for $650. Today it might bring over $1000.
Mrs. Slesinger’s creative campaigns for Pooh were always successful. While she was working on developing Slesinger’s television rights to Pooh, she agreed, with enthusiasm, when Walt Disney wanted to do it. Before Disney, Pooh was in three short Telepictures films produced by Stephen Slesinger, and through a license to N.B.C. Pooh appeared on TV with Shirley Temple. The Shirley Temple Pooh has been released on DVD, but the Telepictures Pooh films are still in the vault.
The first of two agreements between Slesinger and Disney was signed in 1961 in which Slesinger licensed to Disney certain of Slesinger's rights for U.S. and Canadian television, merchandising, radio. In a related agreement, Daphne also signed a 1961 contract with Disney granting theatrical film and certain rights outside of the U.S. and Canada.
At that time Walt Disney asked Mrs. Slesinger to continue to direct Pooh’s Character rights which she did, for another five years, until Disney released its first Pooh film in 1966. Disney's original lobby cards and film posters along with, of course, some of the original animation cels are highly prized. In the mid 1960s, British Pooh appeared, for one last time, in a royal blue shirt, which Daphne had requested, when Mrs. Slesinger licensed Knickerbocker the rights to do a special edition of the characters.
As Disney began to exercise its license in the mid 1960s, it was a bit of a rough transition for Pooh because he went from exclusive appeal to mass market in a very short time.
Pooh loyalists hated the raspy American voice Disney attached to Edward Bear. Slesinger’s voice of Pooh was much sweeter and innocent. Ernest Shepard called Disney’s film a travesty and Slesinger had a few things to say about the quality control until Disney corrected it. A very few homely Poohs and ugly Eeyores produced when Disney started its license are themselves a rarity, such as the first Gund collection with stuck on eyebrows. Very soon Disney negotiated the then biggest licensing deal in history when it sub-licensed Slesinger’s merchandising rights to Sears.
THE 1970s TO 2000s
Children of the 1970s and 1980s, throughout North America, could not miss Sears Pooh, which dominated the main floor Sears children’s departments across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Although not as refined as Slesinger’s presentations, Sears Pooh provided every requisite from infant necessities through size 6x at a great prices which more young families could afford.
The 1960 and 1970s Disneyland Records with printed inserts have some very amusing and some very collectable early Disney adaptations. In particular the Heffalumps and Woozles dream sequence insert is as close as Pooh has ever been to the psychedelic sixties with vibrant colors.
Along with Sears merchandise, the American Children’s book giant Western Publishing, through their Little Golden Books division, produced some fine artwork and story material for a broad range of illustrated story and activity books for Pooh, which were exported and translated into different languages around the world. These are now little golden memories for certain Pooh collectors and accordingly are somewhat scarce.
Outside of the United States, Pooh’s sub-licensees created beautiful merchandise, especially in Europe and Japan. Most of these items never came to the United States.
By the mid 1980s some very interesting business expansion took place at Disney beginning with the launch of the Disney Channel and Disney’s Home Video tapes. Pooh was a cornerstone of both. Then Disney Stores began to grow and Disney’s new publishing divisions were created.
By the 1990s, the classic watercolor artwork that first appeared on Slesinger’s package designs in the 1930s, had returned with Disney’s Classic Version of Pooh. It was a blend of Slesinger’s artwork, with Shepard’s 1970s colored drawings and the great imagination of Disney sublicensee Michel & Co., among others. Ebay sellers present a wonderful selection of Classic Pooh merchandise at very reasonable prices.
Disney Stores and Disney publishing grew by leaps and bounds in the 1990s, and Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore who had always been Disney's number-one characters, grew even bigger. Season after season, the most remarkable range of Pooh character merchandise, for all age groups, was created by Disney with the help of thousands of talented people across the globe.
The Disney Store became Pooh’s General Store where one could shop for the whole family. Some of the toys, costumes, clothes, accessories and gifts, seasonal collectables and even the McDonald’s toy premiums produced by Disney and sublicensees during this period are the very best and most imaginative ever to be produced. While some of Disney’s Pooh items from the 1990s through early 2000 already command very high prices, generally they are still reasonable and certain to become highly collectable and in great demand in the future. For the most avid of Pooh collectors, it's fun to search on eBay’s sites outside of the U.S. At ebay Hong Kong, in particular, there's a whole new Pooh market to explore.
Mrs. Slesinger is now in her 80s. Her home and her office are crowded with momentos of her Pooh family. Her collection keeps growing with new ebay finds while her Pooh business is secured by a second and third generation of Slesingers.
For Mrs. Slesinger the greatest part of Pooh’s American story is in the hearts of children who grow up with Pooh and become parents who love childhood. For them, she hopes, Pooh will always be there.
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