$550
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Description
15" (38 cm.) x 10" box. 4"-5" dolls. A brightly-printed colorful box with illustrations of
Thimble Theatre characters on the lid,posed as though standing on stage for a curtain
call,contains within those same figures,each of one-piece bisque posed on self base,with
name on the base. Each figure has highly-characterized features from the original
illustrations,along with hand-painted clothing. The characters are Jack Snork,Ham Gravy,The
Bandit,Mr. Kelp,Castor Oyl,Tim Eard and Olive Oyl and Popeye. The box is labeled "Thimble
Theatre Popeye","The Davidson Porcelain Co. Re. US Patent Office East Liverpool,Ohio USA,No
20A" and "King Features Syndicate,Inc". The popular Popeye comic character first appeared in
the Thimble Theatre series created by Elzie Segar from 1919 to 1938,along with the other
figures shown here. Near mint unplayed with condition,lacking only the flat bisque platform
base,box has slight wear at edges. The very rare figures were created,under license from King
Features by the Ohio Davidson Porcelain Co which actually specialized in porcelain door
knobs,circa 1920.