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‘1930′s’ Category

  1. 19 rare Rupert Bear Annuals now online

    May 29, 2011 by admin

    Rupert Bear Facsimile Annual 1936 Stock No. RBF  104

    Wow what a stunning annual this is. In MINT condition and housed in a protective cover, the Collectors Facsimile Edition  doesn’t come much better than this. There is not a mark to be found and it comes complete with the publicity wrap band also in MINT condition, and the annual is numbered No.10102 in the restricted issue. One for any collector.

    Rupert Bear Facsimile Annual 1936 Stock No. RBF 105

    A lovely copy of this hard to find facsimile edition. This Collectors Facsimile Edition annual is in FINE condition. The dust jacket is showing some signs of wear to the edges, corners and to the top and tail of the spine, see the photo’s. but it does come complete with the front half of the publicity wrap band. The annual its self has only some bump to the top and tail of the spine, and very minor bump to the corners, for the rest of the annual absolutely in MINT condition, I would think hardly ever been opened, the pages are gleaming white and the colours rich and bold with not a mark to be found, and this annual is numbered a very low number 1929 in the very restricted issue. This annual would sit proudly in any collection.

    Rupert Bear Annual 1947 Stock No. RBA 588

    WOW WOW and THRICE WOW ! What an annual and in MINT – condition this is a really stunning annual. The paper wartime cover is totally complete, so clean, bright and with the colours bursting out, the corners virtually pin sharp and square, tiny tip wear only. The spine full, square and well defined with just the tiniest hint of wear to the top. Inside there is a name in the belongs to box very neatly done “ROGER WESTLAKE SAWBRIDGEWORTH”, NOT PRICE CLIPPED. The condition of the rest of the pages has to be seen to be believed, Master Westlake must have opened this Christmas morning and by dinner time put it away in a cupboard and for got about it for the next 64 years, the pages are gleaming white, the colours so rich and bold. Truly a real rarity that would stand proud in any collection. Look at all of the photo’s to really appreciate just how good this annual is.

    Rupert Bear Annual 1948 Stock No. RBA 587

    A truly fabulous annual in MINT – condition. When I examined this annual I couldn’t believe my eyes, the only faults that I could find are as follows. On the front cover there are two crease and on the back cover one crease, but these are not from mishandling they are undoubtedly occurred in the production process, two tiny indents on the front cover, who ever owned this annual must have lent on the annual with a button or something similar. The only other fault is three small splashes of Stephens India ink, do you remember filling you pens from the inkwell in your desk at school, on the back cover and one on the inside of the back cover. The inside ages have to be seen to be believed, NO INSCRIPTION, NOT PRICE CLIPPED and the binding so tight, the pages crisp and gleaming white, the colours so bold they jump out at you. This is one of those annuals that are magical to find and would stand proud in any collection.

    Rupert Bear Annual 1952 Stock No. RBA 540

    What a find this is, in MINT- CONDITION. The lovely paper covered board covers so clean and bright just a hint of finger wear at the leading edges, the corners are pin sharp and square just a pin prick of wear to the top and bottom of the rear cover corners. The spine is full, well defined complete in every way with just a hint of bump to the top and tail a few very faint fox spots near the spine. Internally there is a name in the belongs to box in a very neat child’s hand “Michael John Harrold”, NOT PRICE CLIPPED. Every page thereafter is so gleaming white, bold with rich vibrant colours, the pages crisp and firm to the touch and the binding firm and sound. This is one annual for any collector.

    Rupert Bear Annual 1972 Stock No. RBA 551

    What a gem of an annual. In MINT CONDITION. This annual is as you would have purchased it from the bookshop some 39 years ago, truly amazing. The laminated board covers are in pristine condition, the corners pin sharp and inside WOW untouched and unseen for 39 years, this is one amazing annual and will stand out in any collection.

    Rupert Bear Annual 1976 Stock No. RBA 552

    What an annual this is, in MINT CONDITION JUST AS IT CAME FROM THE BOOKSHOP 35 YEARS AGO. Truly amazing, the covers are in pristine condition, the corners are pin sharp, the spine untouched. Inside gleaming white pages with vibrant colour, the binding so stiff. This annual I would doubt has ever been opened let alone read. This should be in a museum and would stand out in any collection.

    Rupert Bear Annual 1976 Stock No. RBA 553

    This fabulous annual graded as in MINT – CONDITION due only to it having the price clipped, other wise it would have been MINT condition. The covers are pristine, the corners pin sharp, the spine untouched. Inside absolutely just as it was printed except for the price tag being very neatly snipped off. The pages are totally untouched and from the stiffness of the binding rarely if ever opened. This is one for any collector.

    Rupert Bear Annual 1970 Stock No. RBA 549

    Amazing and graded as being in MINT – CONDITION due only to the most minor of bump to the top and tail of the spine, other wise this annual would be in MINT CONDITION. The covers are beautiful, the corners well defined and square, maybe a touch soft. Inside as clean and unmarked as the day that it was printed. I would think not only unread but virtually unopened in the last 40 years. The pages are gleaming, the binding and pages so stiff, a real joy to hold. This is one for any collector.

    Rupert Bear Annual 1971 Stock No. RBA 550

    A cracking annual and graded as FINE + CONDITION. The  beautiful laminated board covers so clean both front and rear, there is a very hard to see crease on the front cover, the corners nice and square and still holding there shape just a little soft. The spine full and complete and well defined, with just a touch of bump to the tail. Internally there is no inscription and not price clipped. Every page is untouched, not a competition is touched and the pages gleaming white and full of vibrant colour, the binding so firm and sound. An excellent annual for any collector.
    Rupert Bear Annual 1958 Stock No. RBA 545

    What a gem, and graded as in MINT – CONDITION. The fabulous unmarked laminated board covers so clean and bold, the corners so nearly pin sharp and square just a hint of  bump, the spine full and complete, well defined with just the tiniest hint of bump. Inside what a stunning annual. There is no inscription, not price clipped and every page so clean and white with again fabulous bold vibrant colours, just a couple of edge stains to the top edge of the pages after page 85, see photo’s. Not a single competition has been touched, as pure as the day that it was printed. This is one annual for all collectors.

    Rupert Bear Annual 1955 Stock No. RBA 592

    OH my OH my what a beauty and graded as in MINT – CONDITION. The laminated board covers so clean and vibrant with colour that jumps out at you, there is an indent line across the rear cover but only when you catch it in a certain light. The corners pin sharp and square, the spine well defined and square full and complete with just the tiniest touch of bump and wear to the top and just a hint of bump to the tail. Inside the is a dedication in a lovely script hand “With love from Uncle Owen To David B’day 1956”, there is a very neat name in the belongs to box “David Williams” and the price has been neatly clipped. After this every page is so crisp, clean and firm to the touch, sound to the binding, and most importantly NOT A COMPETITION HAS BEEN TOUCHED. What a magical annual for any collector.

    Rupert Bear Annual 1955 Stock No. RBA 541

    A stunning annual very hard to find and in FINE + CONDITION. The laminated board covers so clean and bright and shiny, the colours so bold they jump out at you. The corners so very square and pin sharp, just a touch of bump to the bottom right, the spine full, square and well defined with just a hint of bump to the top and a little more to the tail. Inside there is a dedication in a neat adult hand “To Judy – from Mummy Birthday 1956” and an incitation in a very neat child’s hand in pencil in the belongs to box “Judith Wills happy birthday from mummy” NOT PRICE CLIPPED. All of the pages are so clean and firm to the touch, with bold vibrant colour, sound to the binding. The only competitions to be done are the Crossword in biro on page 81 and quite neatly in pencil crayon the colouring competition on page 106, but all complete. A really great looking annual for any collection.
    Rupert Bear Annual 1955 Stock No. RBA 543

    A very hard to find annual, really nice and graded as being in FINE CONDITION. The laminated board covers are clean but with some slight staining in the gutter of the spine, colours bold and bright, the corners showing some bump and wear, the spine full and complete with some bump and wear to the top and a start of a split, 1cm, and some bump and wear to the tail. Internally there is an inscription in an adult hand in the belongs to box “Gillian with love from Mummy & Daddy”, a tiny red biro mark near the price corner, NOT PRICE CLIPPED. The pages are clean and bright with bold vibrant colours, firm to the touch and sound to the binding. The only competitions to be touched are the Crossword on page 81 in pencil, and the colouring completion on page 106 in crayon pencil very neatly, all the others are untouched. A lovely copy of a very hard to find annual for any collector.

    Rupert Bear Annual 1956 Stock No. RBA 544

    This rare and very hard to find annual in FINE CONDITION  needs you to really look at it, for if it wasn’t for a couple of faults it would be graded as MINT CONDITION. The covers are so clean and bright and in excellent condition except for the only faults in the entire annual. The top corners have just a touch of bump and a pin prick of wear, the bottom corners are pin prick sharp, and the spine has bump and wear to the top and about 1 cm loss at the tail. If it wasn’t for this this annual would be in MINT CONDITION  as the inside is amazing. There is no name or inscription, not price clipped and nothing has touched these pages since it was printed some 55 years ago. The pages are gleaming white, really bold vibrant colours, the binding firm and sound and the pages so stiff and crisp. NOT A SINGLE MARK TO ALL OF THE PAGES AND NOT A COMPETITION TOUCHED. This annual has a couple of faults but I think the inside makes up for everything. A terrific annual.

    Rupert Bear Annual 1967 Stock No. RBA 548

    This lovely very hard to find annual is graded as in FINE CONDITION. The great laminated board cover so clean and the colours so vibrant are in great condition, the corners are pin sharp and square, the spine full, square and well defined with just a hint of bump to the tail and with bump and wear and chipped to the top. Internally a gem of an annual with NO INSCRIPTION AND NOT PRICE CLIPPED, and every as gleaming white and clean as the day that this annual was printed. The 8 MAGIC PAINTINGS ARE UNTOUCHED APART FROM A WET FINGER MARK TO 3 OF THEM absolutely  beautiful. The binding so firm and sound and the pages stiff and crisp to the touch. A rare and hard to find annual in great condition. Ready for any collection.

    Rupert Bear Annual 1966 Stock No. RBA 547

    This really rare and hard to find annual in FINE CONDITION, the laminated board covers clean and bright with Rupert in a sputnik, yes they really were called that, the corners with some bump and wear, the spine full, square and well defined but with a little bump and chip to the tail and bump and loss to the top, see photo’s. Inside this is where it really excels although the first page is loose for the bottom half, for the rest NO NAME OR INSCRIPTION AND NOT PRICE CLIPPED, the pages so crisp and firm to the touch, gleaming white and the colours rich and bold. The 8 MAGIC PAINTINGS ARE UNTOUCHED APART FROM ONE WET FINGER MARK TO THE FIRST ONE. Apart from a few condition faults a stunning and rare annual.

    Rupert Bear Annual 1951 Stock No. RBA 557

    This so very rare and hard to find annual is in FINE CONDITION with the illustrated paper covered board covers so clean and bright with rich colours. The corners with some bump and a tiny show of wear, the spine full, square and well defined with some bump to the top and some bump and wear to the tail. The edges are in excellent condition. Internally wow, there is a name in the belongs to box in a neat child’s hand “Patricia M Neve 1985 Stuart” NOT PRICE CLIPPED. The pages are beautiful so clean and bright, no marks , sound and firm to the binding. This is and has been a very well loved and cared for annual, some 60 years old and would look great in any collection.
    Rupert Bear Annual 1976 Stock No. RBA 554

    A very popular annual in VERY GOOD CONDITION.  The laminated board covers so bright and clean a few tiny indents on the rear cover. The corners at the top just bumped, and at the bottom bumped with some wear, the spine full, square and well defined with a hint of bump and a pin prick of wear to the top and the same to the tail. Inside there is a name in the belongs to box in a very young child’s hand “Miss Rachaele ?????”, NOT PRICE CLIPPED,  there is a word in biro on the contents list which I think is “Gety”. After this, I would think that this annual has never been opened let alone read, the pages so stiff and firm, so gleaming white, a small turn over on page 69, the binding so stiff NOTHING HAS BEEN TOUCHED IN THIS ANNUAL, truly remarkable. One for any collector.


  2. Rare Rupert Annuals in stock this week

    February 8, 2011 by admin

    The first three annuals to go online this week are rare & in great condition.

    We have:

    • 1938 FINE condition
    • 1940 FINE condition
    • 1941 FINE condition

    For more information on these annuals visit our coming soon page

    http://www.rupertbearannuals.com/content/7-coming-soon


  3. 1936 The new adventures of Rupert with Dust Jacket

    February 5, 2011 by admin

    1936 The New Adventures of Rupert

    Amazing! What a find in FINE condition A 1936 ORIGINAL ANNUAL AND COMPLETE WITH THE DUST JACKET WOW. Boards are so bright and clean and brilliant red with Rupert reading a book in dense black, the merest hint of bump to the top and tail of the spine, just lovely. Inside there is the indentation of indecipherable writing in the belongs to box just a name slight very foxing spots to this page and the last page, all the rest of the pages bright and clean, the colouring competition on page very carefully done in part, the binding is sound. Again just beautiful. The dust jacket is housed in an acid free protective cover, a few(4) very small archival tape repairs to the reverse, small chips and tears. There are three small areas of loss to the front panel. Please study all of the photographs. This is the Holy Grail of Rupert annuals and I don’t anticipate seeing another one for several years, it has been more than ten years since I saw the last one, and that was not in such good a condition as this fine copy. Any collector or collection would love this one. As a bonus this also comes with 12 newspaper cuttings of the Rupert daily cartoon from the Daily Express of 1936, again WOW!

    Contents of Rupert Annual 1936

    Rupert and the Wonderful Kite,
    Pictures for Your Paint-box,
    Rupert, Algy, and the Cannibals,
    Pictures for your Paint-Box,
    Rupert, Autumn Adventure,
    Rupert, Bill, and The Pearls,
    Rupert’s Christmas Adventure,
    Picture for your Paint-box

    http://www.rupertbearannuals.com/rupert-bear-1930-s/327-1936-rupert-bear-annual-rba360.html


  4. 1936 Original Rupert Annual in stock & for sale

    December 22, 2010 by admin

    You will not find another 1936 Rupert Bear Annual on the Internet of this quality or price.

    1936 ORIGINAL ANNUAL AND COMPLETE WITH THE DUST JACKET WOW. Boards are so bright and clean and brilliant red with Rupert reading a book in dense black, the merest hint of bump to the top and tail of the spine, just lovely. Inside there is the indentation of indecipherable writing in the belongs to box just a name slight very foxing spots to this page and the last page, all the rest of the pages bright and clean, the colouring competition on page very carefully done in part, the binding is sound. Again just beautiful. The dust jacket is housed in an acid free protective cover, a few(4) very small archival tape repairs to the reverse, small chips and tears. There are three small areas of loss to the front panel. Please study all of the photographs. This is the Holy Grail of Rupert annuals and I don’t anticipate seeing another one for several years, it has been more than ten years since I saw the last one, and that was not in such good a condition as this fine copy. Any collector or collection would love this one. As a bonus this also comes with 12 newspaper cuttings of the Rupert daily cartoon from the Daily Express of 1936, again WOW!



  5. Rupert Bear Stories

    December 21, 2010 by admin

    We have just started our Rupert Bear Stories category on our website. We get lots of emails from people looking for an annual they once had when young, but cannot remember the year  only that it had a story in it about “Rupert and the ……..” .

    Our new category makes it even easier & quicker. Just type the name of the story you remember in the search bar at the top of our website page & hit the search button. If the story is listed in our database the result will show you the annual year, the other stories, puzzles & how to make contents featured in that years edition. If we have the annual in stock it will also be displayed, you can view detailed information & descriptions of the annual & also view pictures of it. For original annuals we like to have an average of 10 pictures per annual. This gives you the chance to see not only the outside condition but also the internal pages. Puzzles & magic paintings untouched are the hardest annuals to come across but we have lots in stock for you to choose from.

    If you cannot remember the year or any of the stories, then why not browse through our list of annuals on the website & view the pictures.

    http://www.rupertbearannuals.com/21-rupert-bear-stories


  6. 1938 Original Rupert Annual 40% OFF

    December 20, 2010 by admin

    original 1938 rupert annual

    This original 1938 rupert annual is now only £267 a special offer reduction of %40

    A nice copy of this very early annual. The condition is classed as VERY GOOD, the board covers are nice and bright with shelf wear to the edges, the spine is full and complete with only an oval stain 2cm x 1.5cm over the word Rupert. There is foxing to the first 4 and last 2 pages and foxing to the page edges, the “belongs to “ box was filled in but has been erased and there is an inscription “from mummy 1940 “ inside the rear cover. The pages are nice and stiff and the binding tight and sound. A well looked after Rupert Annual that will complement any collection.


  7. Rupert Bear annuals value

    November 13, 2010 by admin

    We receive lots & lots of emails weekly from people asking the value of their annuals & would we be interested in buying them.

    Although we hold the largest stock of quality Rupert Annuals on the internet, we are always looking to keep our stock levels rising to keep up with the increasing demand for the top quality annuals we supply.

    If you have any Rupert annuals you feel are good quality & wish to sell, then please let us know via our contact page on the website. Let us know which years you have & the quality of the annuals. We will reply to all requests & if we are interested will ask for more details & photos of the annuals in order to value them correctly.


  8. Updated Rupert Bear Annuals website

    November 8, 2010 by admin

    We have now completed updating the Rupert Bear Annuals website. More annuals, more pictures & more discounts. As it’s Rupert Bears birthday & we’re launching the new website, we’re offering 15% off all annuals. We’re running this promotion until the 20th of December 2010. So if you’re looking for a special Rupert annual from your childhood, we’ve probably got one.


  9. Rupert facsimile annual 1939

    December 15, 2009 by admin

    Rupert bear facsimile annual 1939

    rupert annual 1939

    £65.00

    A fabulous copy of this increasingly rare Collectors Limited Edition in MINT yes MINT condition just a hint of shelf wear right on the tips of each corner, this annual is still in it’s cellophane wrapper, untouched and unread and a fabulous find for any collector and for any collection.


  10. Why collecting Rupert Annuals can be good for you

    December 10, 2009 by admin

    Antiques Roadshow star and expert Eric Knowles should know, with all his years of experience on the Antiques Roadshow, his extensive experience at Bonham’s the internationally renowned auction house and in the trade says this week in the Radio Times 19th. – 235th. September 2009;

    “If you’ve got the right Rupert annual you could be sitting on a fortune” and he is not wrong. He is referring to the 1973 issue of this ever popular annual with the distinctive “Brown faced Rupert” on the front cover  (  instead of white as specified by Alfred Bestall the illustrator ) of which only about 12 proof copies were produced. This so angered Alfred Bestall that he never produced another cover again. The estimated value of one of these Rupert annuals is a staggering £20,000.00 and it doesn’t stop there, a copy of the first Rupert annual produced in 1936 complete with it’s dust jacket in good condition, you will note I did not say mint condition, could expect to sell for in the region of £5000.00.

    This brings us to the mantra always quoted by any collector,

    “condition is everything”

    Even some of the early Rupert annuals in only good condition, say a 1936 copy with no dust jacket can fetch £400.00 to £600.00 and the war years publications in the paper covers due to wartime printing restrictions, it is well to note that these restrictions carried on to 1949, in good to fine condition can fetch £100.00 to £300.00. Not a bad investment when the purchase price was only 3s/ 6p or 17.5 pence in today’s money.

    It also says a lot about a publication that Rupert Bear annuals were considered so vital to the moral of the nation that they were produced despite the grave conditions and shortages.

    How do you asses whether or not the condition of your annual is Mint, Mint-, Fine, good or otherwise, well the easiest method is to go to our website www.rupertbearannuals.com and it is all explained in detail, just click on the “about us” icon at the head of the home page, but in brief any damage to the spine or covers will reduce the value as will if the price, usually on the corner of page 2, has been snipped off, some collectors will also devalue an annual if there is an name in the “belongs to “ box or if there is an inscription, usually from the parents or an aunt and uncle. On a personal level a name written in by an evidently childish hand or an inscription from adoring parents or relative is very touching and for me lends an authenticity to the annual, as an example we have a 1948 edition in FINE condition with the inscription;

    “To Michael Neil, from Mum xmas 1948”

    and my immediate thought is what happened to Dad, was he lost in the war, did the deprivations of the war years tear the family apart, was Michael an evacuee, some never went home as there wasn’t a home to go to, so many features can be conjured up.

    Inside none of the puzzles, competitions or paintings should be touched as this will devalue the annual and this is highlighted by the Rupert annuals produced from 1960 through to 1968. Now these Rupert annuals were all produced with 6 to 8 pages of “Magic Pictures” , for the collector a nightmare. What the lucky recipient of the Rupert annual had to do to colour these pictures in was to take a cup of water a paint brush or finger dip it into the water and gently and accurately fill in each part of the picture this would then bring out the colour and when completed you have a beautiful coloured picture, well that’s the theory. If the page was turned before the water was dry it would transfer onto the next page, to much water and it would run or spread. A 1960’s Rupert annual in Fine plus condition with the magic paintings untouched could easily make £50.00 to £120.00. Rupert annuals from the 1950’s in Mint to Fine condition can make similar sums whilst from the 1970’s and 1980‘s can make £20.00 to £50.00, the 1990’s and to present day £8.00 to £20.00.

    Limited Edition Collectors Facsimile Reproduction annuals

    In 1986 it was decided that due to the interest and demand from the public to produce a true facsimile of the first Rupert annual staying true to the paper, colour and content. These have proven to be incredible popular that they are valued even higher than many of the multi million selling authors of the twentieth century with many of the Limited Edition Collectors annuals having values from £50.00 to £150.00. All of the Rupert annuals produced in this range from 1949 onwards should also be accompanied by numbered certificate whilst the annuals issued for 1936, 37, 38, 39 and 40 were not issued with protective slip cases all of the rest were. The annuals issued for 1936, 37 and 38 were issued with a publicity wrapper. Any loss or damage will once again devalue the annual.

    It is well to note that not all of the years could be reproduced and the following years were not;

    1946, 1947, 1954, 1956, 1960, 1961 and 1962

    this is due solely to the non P.C. ( politically correct ) nature of the contents, Oh how things have changed!

    Signed Rupert Annuals

    As with most books having a copy that has been signed by the author, or in the case of Rupert Bear the illustrator and/or storey writer, will enhance the value and this can be enhanced even further by having not just the illustrator’s signature but also a personal dedication from the illustrator to you. Values of these would also be in the £20.00 to £60.00 range.

    Yes collecting Rupert Bear annuals can be good for you not only financially, make sure your collection is insured or included within your house insurance as even a small selection of Rupert annuals can have a value in excess of £2000.00. You will certainly have fun physically looking for your annuals from either a car boot sale, auction houses or scouring the internet bookshops, and its very evident from my customers that there is an even split of men and women of all ages that collect Rupert Bear annuals. Lastly but not least the quality of the illustrators and storey writers over the last 70 plus years is without equal and on par with some of the most renowned illustrators of the 20th. Century.

    Have you ordered your copy of this years yet.