Largest 'Noddy' Collection To Go On Sale In Chiswick

The popular Enid Blyton children's book character turns 65 this year

More than 600 items from the largest 'Noddy' collection in the world will go on sale in Chiswick next week (Nov 19).

The stories about the adventures of Noddy and his friends in Toyland sold millions of books for children's writer Enid Blyton in the 1950s, along with a profitable range of toys and merchandise.

Now Chiswick Auctions is to put up for sale items from a collection which includes over 300 books (fifty of which are first editions) along with other notable items such as the original Noddy window display from Hamley's. The collection belonged to the late Thomas Schuster, a bookseller from Torquay who became a passionate collector. He spent 18 years scouring fairs for items. His widow has put the collection up for sale.

The collection contains many original water colours including some by the original Noddy artist Harmsen Van der Beek, many toys including the rare Woo-Woo Train, as well as the original Noddy window display from the 1998 Hamley's window display.
In total there are more than 600 single items, making this probably the largest Noddy collection in the world.

Early in 1949 Enid Blyton was discussing a new series of books with her publishers Sampson Low Marston & Co. Ltd. and one of the directors - David White - showed Enid a colourful advertising booklet by a Dutch artist.

Enid loved it and arranged to meet the artist - Harmsen Van der Beek - two weeks later. The rapport was instantaneous, and within hours Noddy was born!

His first book “Noddy in Toyland” was published the same year, followed by “Hurrah for Little Noddy” in 1950.

Noddy toys and merchandise appeared swiftly and were in great demand and Van der Beek was soon inundated with more work than he could cope with. Sampson Low set up a stable of artists to help him, and the new artists quickly familiarised themselves with the Van der Beek designs and style to help out.
Van der Beek died suddenly in 1953, but the new artists were able to carry on his work and by the end of 1958 twenty million Noddy books had been sold.

The full catalogue can be viewed at - http://www.chiswickauctions.co.uk/catalogues/as191114/index.html

The sale takes place on Wednesday 19th November starting at 12 noon and will be followed by a sale of vintage dolls and toys.

November 11, 2014