I'd like to know about Mickey Mouse collectables, rather than the average market buys. WHAT THE EXPERT SAYS 'People have been collecting Mickey Mouse since the 1930s,' says Leila Dunbar, director of the Collectables Department at Sotheby's in New York, the site of the Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations Statue Tour Auction on September 27. 'There's a huge market for Mickey memorabilia, from the toys and dolls made during the Depression to the new collectables at Disney stores today.' Created by Walt Disney with Ub Iwerks, the famous mouse made his screen debut in 1928's Steamboat Willie, the first synchronised sound cartoon. Mickey was inspired by a real mouse living in Disney's early studio, and drawn out of necessity when Disney lost the rights to his star character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Original drawings used circles for Mickey's head, body and ears but the design has evolved over the years, most notably in 1939's The Pointer. Animator Fred Moore increased his range of expression by adding pupils to the black oval eyes, and made his body more pear-shaped. OF MOUSE AND MEN In 1929, the first Mickey Mouse merchandise was created when a man offered Disney US$300 to put the mouse on a children's writing pad. One of the most sought-after Mickey collectables, the wristwatch, was first made by Ingersoll (now Timex) in 1933. It's been manufactured continuously since then, with minor design modifications for a period during the 1960s. Although countless licensing deals have resulted in a vast range of Mickey memorabilia, the upcoming auction boasts the first offering of this kind. 'In 2003, statues were created for a two-year tour in honour of Mickey's 75th anniversary,' Dunbar says. 'They travelled to 14 cities and were on display in Disneyland and Disneyworld. These [1.82-metre] statues have never been offered before. 'They're manufactured by Tivoli Too, and are made of polyurethane and steel and sit on a concrete base that weighs 272kg.' Each statue was designed by a celebrity, such as John Travolta and Tom Hanks or a Disney artist such as Nine Old Men animator Ollie Johnston. Each has a different personality, but all are Mickey. 'Disney is donating all the proceeds from the Mickey Mouse statues to 50 charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation.' Mickey appeals to a wide audience, Dunbar says. 'We're receiving inquiries from all over the world, from Disney collectors to galleries, museums and contemporary art collectors.' TIPS FOR NEW COLLECTORS Dunbar recommends choosing what you like. 'He's the most beloved animated character in the world, so the sky's the limit, depending on the allure of each statue, the celebrity or artist who designed it, and so on. 'The last time Sotheby's sold statues that were made for exhibition, they were Snoopys and were sold to benefit the Charles Schultz Foundation - 85 were sold and grossed US$1.1 million in 2000,' says Dunbar. 'There are no estimates or reserves on these Mickeys. But based on the Snoopy sale, I'd conclude that the Mickey statues will sell for anywhere from US$10,000.' The statues have been on tour since 2003. Should collectors be concerned about their condition? 'These statues were exhibited outside and have wear and tear, plus repairs,' she says. 'But because they're all one of a kind, it doesn't affect value.' Disney doesn't appraise pieces, but recommends that collectors seek advice from reputable third parties such as auction houses. RESOURCES Books (Amazon.com): Disneyana: Classic Collectibles 1928-1958 by John Gilman and Robert Heide ($160); Mickey Mouse: The Evolution, The Legend, The Phenomenon! by John Gilman and Robert Heide ($133); Disney A to Z: The Updated Official Encyclopedia by David Smith ($170). Auctions: www.disney auctions.com; Sotheby's New York and The Walt Disney Company, Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations Statue Tour Auction, Sept 27. Inquiries: 2524 8121 or go to www.sothebys.com Send questions about collectables to sofiasuarez@yahoo.com
