Toby Twirl and his Helicopter

I was first introduced to Toby Twirl books by reader Terranova47 last year.

The stories are wonderful and the artwork by E. Jeffrey are exquisite and reminds me of an even sweeter Lucie Atwell.

Terranova47 recently sent me this:

Hello Woodsy

Here are some of the books that were discontinued when Noddy became more popular.

Toby and the Dillypuff train was on the blog last year:

MOONBASE CENTRAL: THE DILLYPUFF: TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION! https://share.google/dWhUo98q2TqzSPllz

Terranova47

NYC

Remembering Toby I was excited this month when I picked up this gorgeous annual for a pound. There's Dillypuff the train on the cover too.

Looking for more Adventures I was really taken by this quaint cover from another book, in particular the cute bubble copter. I wonder if there were any toys made?

It rang a bell and I then thought of that old East German TV animation called Sandmännchen or the Sandman. He had a few helicopters with big fronts like these two.

An even closer Toby Twirl copter lookalike is this 1960's Smoky Bear helicopter made by multiple Toymakers  (they of Golden Astronaut)

A final blister cockpit is this lovely Italian Carabinieri job. I love it 

Terranova47 recently sent me this too:

Hello Woodsy

I found my copy of a Toby Twirl 'fan' price guide published quite a while ago.

The prices quoted are for 'mint' copies and at one time that may have held true though these days those of us that knew the character from childhood are getting thin on the ground.

I hope you have read the book by now and hopefully enjoyed the charm of times past.

Last weekend I dug out my Toby Twirl annuals and discovered that my copy of the one you have had a dust jacket.

I scanned the dust jacket to show you the flaps. The front one talks about the annual the back one promotes Noddy, the stinking little wooden boy that replaced Toby in the publishers line-up. 

This was the last Toby Book published in 1958, the publisher dropped him in favour of Noddy who appealed to girls as well as boys.

Here are two scans from the 1956 annual which reflect the delightful art style of these books.

Terranova47

USA

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Have you any Toby Twirl memories or memorabilia readers?