RARE ANTIQUE VALENTINE - MARIONETTE SCARECROW - RAPHAEL TUCK & SONS

Description

Up for sale is this incredibly RARE early antique Valentine card marionette puppet of a SCARECROW. This scarecrow looks like he just popped up off the pages of The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. He is dressed in a green tunic and green and gold pants tied up at the knees. He has his characteristic pointed hat stuffed with straw and white stuffed gloves for hands finished off with a red bandana or ascot tie around the neck.The scarecrow is jointed knees, upper legs, and shoulders partially mobile by pulling on the tasseled marionette string. Otherwise all of his limbs can be posed in any number of poses. He has a damaged foot that is currently held together with tape but which could easily be professionally repaired.
I believe that he is one of a rare set created in England by Raphael Tuck and Sons just prior to or at the turn of the century. Considering the rarity of this piece and that the archives and plates of Raphael Tuck and Sons were destroyed during WWII there is a strong possibility that this is one of the few remaining cards of this type. You will not be able to come across another better example of early Valentines anywhere. This would be a beautiful addition to any collection or just simply beautifully framed and hung up on the wall.
Check out my other Raphael Tuck and Sons Valentine Marionette.