What did you miss?
Stuffed toy expert Bunny Campione left an Antiques Roadshow guest in shock when she revealed that a simple toy that had been kept in a drawer was worth around £2,000.
The owner turned up at the Roadshow in Northumberland with her stuffed Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and heard about his status as a pre-Mickey Mouse creation of Walt Disney. But she wasn’t prepared for Campione’s four-figure valuation.
Who, what and why?
Walt Disney and creative partner Ub Iwerks created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in 1927 for Universal Pictures, before Disney even opened his own studio. Oswald appeared in 27 animated shorts, but Universal owned the rights, and so Disney decided to create a character he could fully own. Step forward, Mickey.
The Antiques Roadshow guest explained that her mum was given the toy, made by the famous British Dean’s Rag Book Company, as a gift by a great-aunt and had kept it in a drawer for around 20 years.
Campione said: “I can’t understand how Mickey Mouse came along. [Oswald is] not so well-known, but he’s absolutely delightful. And what’s so lovely about him, he looks lucky.”
Moving on to the value, she said: “In that condition — and he’s incredibly rare — I’m going to say he’s worth £2,000.” Take that, Mickey Mouse!
The guest was left open-mouthed in shock, saying: “I wasn’t expecting that. I’m so pleased I brought him.”
She added: “I can’t believe how much he’s worth for a little stuffed toy. I would definitely sell him. For me, he’s been in a drawer, wrapped-up, and he’d probably stay like that. I’d love to find someone who would really appreciate him and show him off a bit.”
What else happened on Antiques Roadshow?
On an eclectic edition of the Roadshow, a pair of Masonic glasses got a massive £16,000 valuation while a Rolex watch got a £14,000 number due to its “untouched condition”.
The highlight, though, was a George Cross medal awarded to a miner who saved several people during a mine disaster. Due to the incredible story behind it, the item was worth £20,000.
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