VERY RARE Disney WWII GREMLINS Glow - N - Dark Print Roald Dahl
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:8275330 | Disney WWII: Lithograph |
| Country/Region of Manufacture: United States | Disney: Glow-in-the-dark Series |
| Year: 1944-1946 | Modified Item: No |
| Character/Story/Theme: Gremlins |
The first two photos are scanned images (Front and Back) of the print. As this sometimes washes out the true color of images, the last are camera images. For comparison - you should see that the colors of this roughly 75 year old print are amazingly vivid and crisp.
This 8 x 10 lithographic print is believed to be one of only two Gremlins designs included in a large series of Disney character glow-in-the-dark prints. The series was published between 1944 and 1946. ...The other Disney character prints included Mickey, Minnie, Donald as well as characters from Bambi and Snow White. I do not have a complete list, but many are found frequently listed on eBay. Gremlins prints are very hard to find.
This is likely in the best possible condition for a circulated (used) print. I found it underneath another vintage print from the 1950's of a mother dog with pup. Likely the newer print was placed over the Disney print in its original frame as the child aged and the bedroom art was changed. It probably has not been exposed to sunlight for more than 60 years until I discovered it approximately 5 years ago. I have kept it stored flat and on acid-free matboard and it has had limited exposure to light.
I was unaware that this was a glow-in-the-dark piece until I was able to further research. I have just recently been able to identify the characters and series thanks to some Disney experts that helped me.
GREAT NEWS - It still glows a bit! I have not been able to capture that with my camera, but the photos will give you a good idea. The images of the back paper show light areas. Those are the areas that glow from the front view in darkness. The glow areas are a rough textured, gritty surface and the rest of the print is a smooth, thickly painted surface.
For others like me who were not familiar with Disney's World War II era Gremlins, here is a bit of history I can share. This is direct text from www.RoaldDahl.com.
"The Gremlins has a very good claim to being Roald Dahl's first piece of writing for children. It is certainly one of the first stories he ever wrote. He began work on it in 1942, soon after his first paid piece of writing, Shot Down Over Libya, was published in the Saturday Evening Post. He was working for the British Embassy in Washington DC at the time and sent his finished Gremlins story to his bosses for approval. From there, it was forwarded by British movie producer and entrepreneur Sidney Bernstein on to Walt Disney, who liked the story so much he wanted to turn it into a movie.The gremlins are little creatures responsible for the various mechanical failures on aeroplanes, as the pilot in the story, Gus, discovers. Taking its inspiration from RAF folklore and the many gremlin tales he had heard during his own time as a pilot, Roald's story went on to tell how Gus tames the gremlins and persuades them to help him return to flying.
Although the Disney film version of The Gremlins was later shelved, a shortened version of the story appeared in the American general interest magazine Cosmopolitan in 1942 with Roald using the pen name 'Pegasus.' And a year later, The Gremlins was released as a book by Walt Disney and Random House with proceeds going to the RAF Benevolent Fund. Roald bought 50 copies to send out, delivering one to the first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, who responded with enthusiasm and was said to have read the story to her grandchildren."
Please note: I have been selling on EBay for many years. I do not sell often or in large volume of listings but my seller feedback has always been excellent. I am experienced with packaging - specifically of paper items. I will have this item packaged securely between sturdy boards to protect from bending and all will be enclosed in waterproof packaging. My home is a smoke-free environment.Please feel free to ask any questions before placing a bid. Thank you!
SHIPPING TO U.S. or Canada address only
This 8 x 10 lithographic print is believed to be one of only two Gremlins designs included in a large series of Disney character glow-in-the-dark prints. The series was published between 1944 and 1946. ...The other Disney character prints included Mickey, Minnie, Donald as well as characters from Bambi and Snow White. I do not have a complete list, but many are found frequently listed on eBay. Gremlins prints are very hard to find.
This is likely in the best possible condition for a circulated (used) print. I found it underneath another vintage print from the 1950's of a mother dog with pup. Likely the newer print was placed over the Disney print in its original frame as the child aged and the bedroom art was changed. It probably has not been exposed to sunlight for more than 60 years until I discovered it approximately 5 years ago. I have kept it stored flat and on acid-free matboard and it has had limited exposure to light.
I was unaware that this was a glow-in-the-dark piece until I was able to further research. I have just recently been able to identify the characters and series thanks to some Disney experts that helped me.
GREAT NEWS - It still glows a bit! I have not been able to capture that with my camera, but the photos will give you a good idea. The images of the back paper show light areas. Those are the areas that glow from the front view in darkness. The glow areas are a rough textured, gritty surface and the rest of the print is a smooth, thickly painted surface.
For others like me who were not familiar with Disney's World War II era Gremlins, here is a bit of history I can share. This is direct text from www.RoaldDahl.com.
"The Gremlins has a very good claim to being Roald Dahl's first piece of writing for children. It is certainly one of the first stories he ever wrote. He began work on it in 1942, soon after his first paid piece of writing, Shot Down Over Libya, was published in the Saturday Evening Post. He was working for the British Embassy in Washington DC at the time and sent his finished Gremlins story to his bosses for approval. From there, it was forwarded by British movie producer and entrepreneur Sidney Bernstein on to Walt Disney, who liked the story so much he wanted to turn it into a movie.The gremlins are little creatures responsible for the various mechanical failures on aeroplanes, as the pilot in the story, Gus, discovers. Taking its inspiration from RAF folklore and the many gremlin tales he had heard during his own time as a pilot, Roald's story went on to tell how Gus tames the gremlins and persuades them to help him return to flying.
Although the Disney film version of The Gremlins was later shelved, a shortened version of the story appeared in the American general interest magazine Cosmopolitan in 1942 with Roald using the pen name 'Pegasus.' And a year later, The Gremlins was released as a book by Walt Disney and Random House with proceeds going to the RAF Benevolent Fund. Roald bought 50 copies to send out, delivering one to the first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, who responded with enthusiasm and was said to have read the story to her grandchildren."
Please note: I have been selling on EBay for many years. I do not sell often or in large volume of listings but my seller feedback has always been excellent. I am experienced with packaging - specifically of paper items. I will have this item packaged securely between sturdy boards to protect from bending and all will be enclosed in waterproof packaging. My home is a smoke-free environment.Please feel free to ask any questions before placing a bid. Thank you!
SHIPPING TO U.S. or Canada address only
