Description
Here is an original Wizard Waddle character from The Wizard of Oz Waddle Book published by Blue Ribbon books in 1934. The book was issued with 6 Waddle characters that when assembled with the clips, waddled down the Yellow Brick Road. Here is one of them, The Wizard, with an original brass-colored metal clip to hold his legs on. The waddles were reproduced by Applewood Books in 1993, and I have carefully compared the cardstock and details of this waddle to those, and am sure this is the older, original one. Specific differences include that the original waddles had a matte finish while the reproductions were glossy, the original metal clips were brass colored and they are black plastic in the reproductions, and there are also small differences in the slots and printing of lines and dots. I’ve also handled original waddles before and made this Youtube video comparing that set to the reproductions.
I don’t usually use the overused word “rare”, but this item truly is. He has some wear and creasing to parts as shown, is a little dusty and his legs are very wobbly. He does stand if you help him a little with a snowplow position. Will be shipped carefully in a box. A fun piece for the serious collector of unusual Oziana. I’m also listing the Scarecrow waddle separately.
