Father Tuck's Rocking Animals in Original Box
Publisher: Raphael Tuck & Sons Co. Ltd., London - Paris - Berlin - New York - Montreal
Publishers to Their Majesties the King and Queen and T.R.H. The Prince and Princess of Wales.
1st Edition, designed in England, printed in Germany - The large set
Dimensions: Each figure measures approximately 9 inches wide by 7.5 inches high. The original box dimensions are 9.25 x 8 x 1 inches.
Description: This set comprises ten embossed, stiff cardboard animal figures, each designed with a pull-out piece that enables the figure to stand and rock. The animals included are:
Cat - fine
Dog - fine
Horse - fine - missing ears, remnants of original ears included
Tiger - fine with one leg starting a tear - see photo
Cow - fine
Donkey - fine with original left ear re-attached
Sheep - fine
Elephant - fine
Camel - fine
Lion - fine
Original box is in Very Good condition without breaks or tears, still bright and beautiful.
Note: A common issue with these sets is damage caused by shipping the animals loose within the original box, leading to parts breaking off. To prevent this, each animal in this set will be individually packed in an archival sleeve for protection during shipping.
Collectors Corner:
Historical Context: Raphael Tuck & Sons, established in 1866, were renowned publishers to the British royal family, producing a variety of paper toys and books. The "Rocking Animals" set was first mentioned in their catalogs around 1909 and was advertised for the Christmas season of 1911 as "Instructive, Lifelike and full of surprises. Amusing, Interesting and Educational."
The set was produced in England and later editions were made for the American and German markets. Each animal features both its English and Latin names on the back, along with a brief description of its characteristics, adding educational value to the toy.
The Manual of Play by William Byron Forbush (published in 1914) provides fascinating insights into early 20th-century children's toys, including Raphael Tuck’s Father Tuck's Rocking Animals. According to the book:
Packaging and Series:
The Rocking Animals were sold in two formats:
Series 1 and Series 2: Each series was available in two different packaging options:
A set of 10 animals in a single box.
A set of 5 animals in a smaller box.
Original Pricing:
Each set (whether containing 5 or 10 animals) was originally priced at 50 cents per box.
How do we know that this set is a first English edition rather than a second American edition? By the Publisher Information:
English Edition: Published by Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd., London, Paris, Berlin, New York, Montreal.
American Edition: Published by Raphael Tuck & Sons Co., Ltd., New York, Montreal, London, Paris.
All books are returnable within 10 days of receipt if not delighted for any reason.