Saturday, May 30, 2020

Goebel DIS 084 Dinah - Color Sample (!)

It has been quite some time since I've posted here, and as the world has almost COMPLETELY changed it is not surprising.  But, during these crazy times I have still been on the lookout for new additions to the Tulgey Wood, and boy did I find a doozy.

This is the (already super rare) Goebel Dinah figure (DIS 084), but in test colors that are actually film correct!  That's right, the Goebel company actually create color samples of the Dinah figure in the correct colors, submitted them to Disney, and were rejected in favor of the incorrect black color.  One can only assume that at the time the color had not changed, or that the person in charge of approving these things did not know that the colors had changed and was relying on previously distributed color guides.  You can see my previous extensive post on the production version of this figure here.


The key to understanding this piece is the "MM" painted on Dinah's chest.  MM is the abbreviation Goebel used for "Malmuster", which translates (loosely) to Color Sample.


Note that this is a production ready piece, complete with standard Goebel markings on the underside of the figure.


It is unclear exactly how many of these kinds of color samples were made, presumably not very many.  They do turn up from time to time, but this is the first I've seen from the Alice set, and perhaps even from the Disney set as a whole - at least of the vintage 206 figures.

While it is unclear exactly what the origin of this piece is, it was included in a lot of other Goebels, some of which had the archive tag (plombe) attached, which leads me to believe this was part of the massive Goebel archive sale that took place in Germany back in early 2012 - which was the source of the Final Four of my collection.

Many thanks go to my friend Alfred Stumböck for his invaluable assistance in figuring out exactly what this figure is.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Happy 2020! And Boy Has It Been Hectic!

So I'm only 6 weeks late on my New Year's post, but I have an excuse.  Well, part of one anyway.  We had a major SNAFU here at the Wonderland blog, or more accurately in the Tulgey Wood.  That's right ladies and gentlemen, we had a pipe burst and flooded the Tulgey Wood! 

Fortunately we got off pretty easy since Wendy was home at the time and was able to get people out to start correcting things almost immediately.  Losses have been - not minor - but not tragic by any means.  It has just been a real pain and reconstruction has only just begun.  We'll see how we fare once it is all said and done.

But, to leave you on a better note, here is a lovely picture of the cover of the sticker album that goes with the wrapper that is this year's banner.  Post to follow...eventually.


Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The Collection is on Tour in NZ - And I'm on the Radio!

The ACMI exhibition continues its world tour, next stop New Zealand's Te Papa.  And yours truly was interviewed on the radio last week on Radio New Zealand's "Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan".  Take a listen!

Saturday, August 24, 2019

A Quick Interview at D23

So we’re at D23 this week helping some friends out, and I got interviewed about the Dinah Goebel figure I brought to sell. Check it out from Provost Park Pass at the 3:15 mark.


Thursday, April 18, 2019

Little Nipper Giant Storybook Record Album

The large complete storyteller record, called the Little Nipper Giant Storybook Record Album (could they not come up with a shorter name?), was issued in 78, 45 and 33 ⅓ RPM formats.  
The records were located on the inside covers in special paper sleeves that were pasted to the covers.
The 78 version almost always has significant damage to these sleeves as the records are so heavy.  
The 45 version records are much smaller and lighter, and as such these sleeves are almost always intact.  
The 33 ⅓ version has a single record that is about the same size and weight of a 78, so the single sleeve on the inside front cover is also almost always quite distressed too.  So the moral is:  If you are looking for a very nice copy, go for a 45 set.

Alice was the first (and only) Disney storyteller to use this new large book format rather than the familiar album format.  Art by the incomparable Mel Crawford.

For a complete scan of the interior of this book, go visit this amazing site:




Thursday, April 11, 2019

Wonderland Exhibit in Singapore - Opens Saturday!


Callooh callay!  The Crandall Collection is on display in the traveling ACMI exhibition "Wonderland" and next stop is Singapore!  Opening this Saturday, the exhibition runs from April 13 - September 22, 2019 at the ArtScience Museum.  Check out the link for more details.  If you are in the area between now and September, check it out, and send pictures!  I don't think I'll be able to make it for this stop.

Sunday, February 17, 2019

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Happy New Year!

So another year has come and gone, and while I have taken some major steps forward in preparation for an upcoming project, the blog has suffered.  Looking back at the history of posts over the past few years it is abundantly clear exactly when I started working for myself  - I'm sure you can guess when too!

That being said, I do have things happening on the Alice front and will continue to update the blog with content as I get the chance.  The first being - today!

This year has been a good one for art acquisitions.  I have been fortunate enough to acquire three new Mary Blair pieces, although I did have to part with another to finance them.  But so it goes, you gotta sell to buy!




I was also lucky enough to score an original page by Mel Crawford from the Little Nipper Storybook which I have not posted yet but have mentioned in several posts - mostly about Japanese books.


And the Australian exhibition closed in October, but is now traveling the world, first stop Singapore!  I will post details when I have them.  Happy New Year to all!

Monday, June 18, 2018

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Chicago Toy Show

I'm set up at the Chicago Toy Show (first time ever!) at the Kane County Fairgrounds. Come by Sunday 4/21 and buy cool stuff. This looks to be a great show!

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Original Film Poster ... From Greece!

Wow, who knew I'd come across one of these...ever. Original release movie poster from Greece. Love the art on this, very subdued, but still totally in tune with other art of the time. Now I need to find out what else there is from that release!
I do not have an official release date for Greece, but the poster still lists RKO as the distributor, so it must be prior to 1955.  My guess would be the same as the rest of Europe, late 1951 or early 1952.

Monday, March 5, 2018

First of Two Exciting News Posts!

This past week saw a shipment of fabulous stuff leave the Tulgey Wood and start winging its way to Melbourne, Australia for approximately six months.  Why you may ask?  Well, I'll tell you.  The Australian Center for the Moving Image is mounting an exhibition all about Alice in Wonderland in media, and I have lent them about 45 items.  Exhibition begins April 5th, stay tuned for pictures from the event as we will be live and in person!  See you down under!
Check out their trailer!

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Zaccagnini Cheshire Cat Redux - I Love the Internet!

Some of you may remember a few years ago I unsuccessfully attempted to purchase a Zaccagnini Cheshire Cat on eBay.  The auction gods did not smile on me that day, but lo' and behold:  this past June the internet gods (far more powerful) did smile upon me, and now this guy is safely ensconced here in the Tulgey Wood.  And there was much rejoicing.
This reduces the number of known figures not in the collection to two:  the Queen of Hearts and the Walrus.  Hint, hint.

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Happy New Year 2018!

Happy New Year!  It has been a while since I've posted, you know that pesky real life.  But I hope to have some interesting news in the next few weeks, so stay tuned!  In the mean time, enjoy this new addition to the Tulgey Wood - a very nice Mary Blair of Alice with the Cheshire Cat.

Friday, June 9, 2017

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Happy Birthday Alice Liddell

In an uncanny coincidence, today is not only Star Wars day, but Alice Pleasance Liddell's birthday!  "Who is that?" I hear you say.  Well, she was the real little girl Alice to whom the story was told by Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) way back in 1862.  Little did they know that 150 years later, cross-fandom art was a thing.  May the 4th be with you Alice.