Original Play School Humpty sells for £6,250 at Bonhams

One of the original Humpty dolls from the BBC TV series Play School has sold for £6,250 during the Fine Dolls auction at Bonhams on 20th May. The stuffed egg-shaped toy with green velvet upper half and tweed belly, arms and legs was one of several made for the show, which ran for 20 years from 1964.

Bonhams noted that: "this is one of only three original Humptys made for BBC television's long-running children's programme Play School, this iconic and much loved character was an important member of the Play School cast, taking part in almost every single episode and even receiving his very own fan mail".

Humpty was among the recurring cast of toys in the series, which also included Big Ted and Little Ted; Jemima, a ragdoll with long red and white striped legs; Hamble a little doll who was later replaced by Poppy in the '80s and a rocking horse called Dapple. There is a display of the Play School characters at the National Media Museum in Bradford.

Play School is one of the BBC's most iconic children's shows and accidentally became the first ever programme to be shown on BBC2, after a power cut halted the opening night's programming. It was also the first children's show to be shown in colour on the channel. Take a look at the opening sequence below.




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