Rare Cloth Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion from Wizard of Oz by Joy Toys of Australia

Live Auction

14" (36 cm.) lion, 19" scarecrow including hat. Firmly stuffed cloth scarecrow with brown flannel face, painted features, black shoe-button eyes, twill four-finger hands, brown stitched-on pants, black belt boots, green cotton serge with patch pockets, twine belt, black woolen hat; and standing lion with pressed flannel face having painted features, black shoe-button eyes, long brown silky plush mane and knees, shaved golden plush coat, jointed arms, elongated tail. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Joy Toys of Australia, c. 1939, the firm was licensed to create memorabilia inspired by Wizard of Oz film; four characters from the film, Dorothy, Lion, Scarecrow and Woodsman, were mentioned by the firm in their 1939-40 catalog, but their demand was extremely low, and other examples are not presently known to exist. The pair was shown by Lila Rait in her book, Through the Nursery Window, page 213, who had acquired them from the family of the original boy who owned them. Value Points: very rare characters in wonderful state of preservation.