G. I. Joe Action Sailor thumbnail 1
G. I. Joe Action Sailor thumbnail 2
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images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at Young V&A
Imagine Gallery, Small Worlds, Case 2, Shelf 4

This object consists of 15 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

G. I. Joe Action Sailor

Action Figure
1965-1966 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a complete boxed version of 'G. I. Joe Action Sailor', including instruction booklet, stickers and a recruitment leaflet, asking children to 'Join the G. I. Joe club!'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 15 parts.

  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Box Lid
  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Box Base
  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Stickers
  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Stickers
  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Advertising Leaflet
  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Instruction Leaflet
  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Recruitment Leaflet
  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Navy Manual
  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Action Figure
  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Hat
  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Boot
  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Boot
  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Neck Tag
  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Shirt
  • G. I. Joe Action Sailor Trousers
TitleG. I. Joe Action Sailor (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Moulded and painted PVC and other plastics, printed card and paper
Brief description
Boxed action figure, 'G. I. Joe Action Sailor', made by Hasbro in Hong Kong between 1965-1966
Physical description
Action figure dressed as a military sailor, with original packaging.

A posable plastic action figure representing a muscular man, made from moulded pink PVC, with moulded blond hair and brown eyes. It has a moulded scar on the right cheek.

Its clothing consists of a hat, shirt, trousers and a pair of boots. The hat is a white PVC sailor's cap, the boots are of black PVC with lace and toe cap details. Pale blue long-sleeved cotton shirt. It has a collar and a popper on each cuff. It has three poppers down the front to fasten the shirt, and also has buttons sewn onto the front for decoration. Dark blue cotton trousers with metal popper on the front to fasten.

Silver metal dog tag on a ball chain. The tag is printed both sides with 'GI Joe by Hasbro'

Cream paper booklet bound with navy blue card and printed with black ink.

Cream paper recruitment leaflet, printed with black writing. It is encouraging children to sign up to the G. I. Joe fan club.

Rectangular printed thick paper leaflet, instrucing how to remove the boots. It is printed in black ink.

Printed paper advertising sheet, advertising a variety of G. I. Joe action figures. The leaflet contains a variety of artwork and paintings, along with descriptions of the different figures.

Small sticker sheet featuring identification ribbons and a division patch. The colours are mainly red, blue and black.

Small sheet of three stickers to use as accessories on. Three of the stickers indicate various ranks of sailor in the navy, and all are clearly labelled.

Printed card box lid with artwork of the Action Sailor, and drawings of him posed in a variety of positions. Rectangular card box base with blue card lining. The corners are secured with brown tape.
Dimensions
  • Doll height: 300mm
  • Doll width: 85mm (shoulders)
  • Cap height: 12mm
  • Cap width: 40mm
  • Cap depth: 30mm
  • Boots height: 32mm
  • Boots depth: 50mm
  • Shirt length: 110mm
  • Shirt sleeve length: 100mm
  • Booklet height: 100mm
  • Booklet width: 90mm
  • Recruitment leaflet height: 201mm
  • Recruitment leaflet width: 84mm
  • Boot removal instruction height: 60mm
  • Boot removal instruction width: 110mm
  • Advertising leaflet height: 275mm
  • Advertising leaflet width: 337mm
  • Sticker sheet height: 33mm
  • Sticker sheet width: 25mm
  • Sheet of three sticker height: 62mm
  • Sheet of three stickers width: 45mm
  • Box height: 302mm
  • Box width: 101mm
  • Box depth: 53mm
Gallery label
Fashion and action People wear different clothes for different occasions, and so do our dolls. These two sailors have lots of different outfits to choose from. One of them was originally designed for a boy and the other for a girl, but if you think about it, they aren’t that different. [Young V&A, Imagine Gallery group object label](2023)
Subject depicted
Summary
This is a complete boxed version of 'G. I. Joe Action Sailor', including instruction booklet, stickers and a recruitment leaflet, asking children to 'Join the G. I. Joe club!'.
Collection
Accession number
B.233:1 to 15-2012

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Record createdAugust 16, 2012
Record URL
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