Vintage Felix and Golliwog Xmas Sign

[Travis Trewin]

Hi, I was looking through an antique store today and came across a quirky metal sign that had Felix the Cat and a Golliwog on it. It read "Do your Xmas shopping early" it had trains down the bottom and appeared to have the London skyline behind them. I can't find any information on the history of this sign or where it was used. I believe it is possibly 1930's vintage. It had rust marks around the outside in places - any idea on value? Thanks.

[Travis Trewin]

Found a picture
http://www.leski.com.au/catalogues/a248/popup.htm?1528.jpg

[mart]

neat sign, but whats a golliwog ?? looks like a doll of some sort !!

[ACStanley]

Between the font, colors, style and the fact that Felix was introduced in 28' I would agree with 30s prob mid 30s...

[bigwull]

In the Western World, the definition of a Golliwog..is "its an Ethnic doll"...the term Golliwog has been deemed as racist...in certain parts of the world...see link


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1136016/How-golliwog-went-innocent-childrens-hero-symbol-bitter-controversy.html

[ghopper1924]

"Golly gee, golly gosh, don't call me your golliwog"

-Hugh Cornwell

[mart]

sounds like some sort of fish to me !!  never heard that term !!

[bigwull]

You have indeed led a sheltered life Mart...if you,ve never heard of a Golliwog...when i was young we were able to collect little golliwog stickers that were on a Robertsons jamjar,then once you,d collected 12 you sent them to the makers and got a "gold"and enamelled badge in return....these badges were once much sought after....

[mart]

perhaps !!  or just different cultures !!  we collected cereal box tops for stuff like that !!

[greenacres]

Or jelly glasses with characters or prints. I have several.

[bigwull]

Yeah,cereal tops etc.. were similar....but here in the UK....what we took for granted with some advertising logo,s...stopped with the mass influx of different cultures....who then deemed our little golly badges..to be racist....and the same thing happened with a certain brand of coffee.......see link,

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-404516/Camp-coffee-forced-change-label-PC-brigade.html

[mart]

Or jelly glasses with characters or prints. I have several.

wish i still had a set of the small ones !! used to never have to buy glasses,, just buy more jelly !!

[greenacres]

I use them for orange juice. Perfect size.

[Travis Trewin]

After some research it appears that the sign is Australian (country in which I live and found the sign). Felix the Cat first appeared in 1919, and as this is clearly an early version of Felix, it is most likely that the sign is early 1920's. Because trains are depicted on the bottom of the sign it is likely it was displayed in train stations. As to WHY shoppers were encouraged to shop early for Christmas I do not know. I have found two that sold at auction, one in Australia in 2004 for $1,350 and one in the USA in 2005 for $1,200. The image of Felix and the Golliwog on the sign has become a popular pop culture image and is available on everything from T-shirts to mouse pads. As to who created it and why is a mystery.

[bigwull]

Golliwogs are a taboo subject now,here in UK....most toy shops still sell them, but they are now called Ethnic dolls....because they have been classed as a racist symbol.but...here,s the rub...In Blackpool...England s answer to Coney Island  ...the shops are full of them...and their called Golliwogs.....and 90% of the shopkeepers are......Muslim.... and 3.to 4 years ago, the local council received complaints from non muslim shopkeepers, because they were not allowed to call them golliwogs.....the worlds gone NUTS!