description Pelham Puppet Rupert Bear Overview
The Pelham Puppet Rupert Bear is a string-controlled toy marionette based on Rupert Bear, the British children’s character created by Mary Tourtel for the Daily Express in 1920. Pelham Puppets adapted popular fictional characters into articulated puppets for home play and collecting. This version is therefore relevant both to the history of Rupert Bear merchandising and to the mid-century British tradition of commercially produced wooden marionettes.
help Pelham Puppet Rupert Bear FAQ
Who created Rupert Bear before Pelham made the puppet?
Rupert Bear was created by British artist Mary Tourtel for the Daily Express, with the first Rupert story appearing in 1920. Pelham later turned the character into a string-operated wooden toy.
When did Pelham Puppets begin making character marionettes?
Bob Pelham founded Pelham Puppets in Marlborough, Wiltshire, in 1947. The company expanded into licensed and television-related characters during the 1950s, when Rupert was already an established British character.
Is a Pelham Puppet Rupert Bear the same character as Rupert in the television series?
Both represent Mary Tourtel's Rupert Bear, but a Pelham toy is a physical marionette rather than a television prop or animation model. The best-known live-action puppet adaptation, The Adventures of Rupert Bear, was produced for British television in the 1970s.
What makes a Rupert Bear Pelham Puppet collectible?
Its interest comes from the combination of a 1920 literary character and Pelham's post-1947 British toy-making history. Condition of the wooden body, original strings and controller, clothing, labels, and provenance can all affect collector interest.
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