soft toy, teddy tail, english; 1925-35

1. All felt figure designed to represent a mouse by the name of Teddy Tail. It is stuffed with soft material, probaby kapok. The head and hands are grey; the ears, separately sewn on, are lined with pink felt. The bulbous nose and O shaped mouth are of black and the eyes black circles set against large ovals of white felt. Black threads are used as whiskers. The upper body is black designed to represent a jacket. At the front has been added a white felt `shirt front' with three red felt buttons and black lapels; around the neck is a white felt collar. The legs are of red representing trousers and the feet of black felt for shoes. Sewn to the lower back is a long grey felt tail with a knot in it.
2. badge, cold enamelled metal in red, white blue and gilt; showing an illustration of Teddy Tail and the name. Designed in the shape of a rosette, the badges were issued to members of the Teddy Tail League.

References: The Children's Annual; Encyclopedia of Comic Characters
see also Misc. 694-1991 and Misc. 708-1988.

Historical significance: The Adventures of Teddy Tail was published by the Daily Mail from April 5, 1915 to 1960 with a short break during the 2nd World War. It was the country's first daily newspaper strip and was also published as annuals. There was a children's Teddy Tail League club with each member given a badge and on birthdays, sent a coloured postcard. First drawn by Charles Folkard, then by his brother Harry who designed the badge image. Herbert Foxwell, the best known of the illustrators, designed many of the covers and illustrations for the annuals and supplements published after 1933 and some of his drawings became the postcards.

The knot in the tail of the character was said to have been acquired when he helped a friend out of a hole. The knot being something to hold on to and it could not be undone.

Made by: The toy is hand made, however, it may have been made from a pattern by a skilled person.

B.232:1-1996