Rupert Bear [in dutch]
Not only ordinary books have his interest, there are also comic
books. His favourite is a creation of Mary
Tourtel (1874/1948) called 'Rupert Bear'
and brought to life in 1920. It is especially the Tourtel version which
he finds has this little extra. You can't point your finger at it, but
it is there! Quite amazing actually that these few lines in a drawing
can create a whole atmosphere. Her drawings are
actually static, but there is something special about them. Filled with
anachronisms are these stories of Tourtel, you see knights but you'll also see
automobiles. Many seem to prefer Alfred Bestall who took over the 'creation'
in 1935 when falling eyesight forced her to stop drawing Rupert.
With Bestall Rupert became much more worldly. Parents found
that the stories with witches, magic and mystery and such were too scary for
children, so Bestall had to make him more in alignment with the world we knew
from daily life. Rupert became very popular in England.
In 1929 Rupert was introduced in the Netherlands as 'Bruintje Beer'
where his popularity equaled that from England. In
particular he likes to collect older merchandizing of Rupert.
Not so much of this you'll find in England, however in the Netherlands you'll
find all kinds of things. Puzzles, cards, games, clocks, jewellery, carpets,
puddingforms, 'magica laterna' slides etc etc... He
is even compiling al the data about what he finds, he has been going through
newspapers and so on, and so on...... In case you would have something
for him, you will probably make him very happy. But he also likes
to hear stories about how people experienced this 'creature' back then.
Drop a line any time!!
| Copyright © 1998
Michel
Snoeck. All rights reserved. This page revised: 12 April, 2010 |