BBC Antiques Roadshow guest will 'definitely sell' after 'lucky' toy gets huge evaluation
Oswald Rabbit was a precursor to Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse and the character appeared in 27 films in total.
Antiques Roadshow: Woman brings Oswald Rabbit toy for evaluation
An Antiques Roadshow guest vowed to sell a cuddly toy after receiving a huge valuation for the item. The woman brought Oswald the Lucky Rabbit for valuation when the BBC team visited Woodhorn Museum in Northumberland.
The rabbit was a predecessor of Mickey Mouse and was a feisty character who often relied on his trademark good fortune to get him out of a tight spot. Expert Bunny Campione explained: "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is a very important rabbit because it was designed by Disney for Universal Pictures.
"So it was a Disney famous rabbit and they made 27 films and...they are hilarious. They are brilliant!" she exclaimed before asking the woman to explain how he came into her possession.
"My mum was given him when I was a baby by a great aunt who worked in service and she was given some toys that the children are grown out of. And when my mum saw it, she thought, 'she's not having that,' and she wrapped it up in a bag, put it in a drawer and I didn't see it for about 20 years later," she told a stunned Bunny.
"This predates Mickey Mouse - Oswald is 1927 until 1938," Bunny informed the guest. "And I can't understand how Mickey Mouse came along and he's not so well known.
"But he's absolutely delightful and what's so lovely about him, he looks lucky. Disney patented this, this is by the famous Dean's Rag Book company which was started in 1903.
"They actually made this. In that condition, and he's incredibly rare, I'm going to say he's worth £2000 pounds," she told the shocked woman.
"I wasn't expecting that," she admitted. "I'm so pleased. I can't believe how much - he's a little stuffed toy. I will definitely sell," she revealed
"For me, he's been in a drawer wrapped up and he would probably stay like that. I'd love to find someone who would really appreciate him and show him off a bit," she said.
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