New, Collector's Limited Edition, 'Dan Dare' Jigsaw Puzzle

This information arrived too late to include mention Eagle Times' latest issue and, now, possibly is too late for Christmas, but Eagle fans (and jigsaw collectors too!) may like to know of a newly issued Limited Edition 'Dan Dare' wooden jigsaw puzzle. The puzzle is produced by Vintage Toys and Games in conjunction with Dragon Collectables. The edition will be limited to 500 numbered and certificated copies, and priced at £59.95 each.

Note: The author has not seen a copy for review, and the information and photographs are as supplied in a Vintage Toys and Games press release. Clicking on the images will allow you to see them in a larger size. 

'Dan Dare' Puzzle

Presentation Box and Storage Bag

*** PRESS RELEASE ***

‘Dan Dare’ Collector’s Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle 

We are pleased to announce a new ‘Dan Dare’ Limited Edition wooden jigsaw puzzle, produced in conjunction with Dragon Collectables.

The large jigsaw (51 x 36 cm) is made up of a montage of original images from the first ‘Dan Dare’ story that appeared in ‘The Eagle’ comic, including the front page of the very first issue from April 1950.

The ‘Dan Dare’ stories, with their mixture of the futuristic adventures, exciting storylines and superb colour artwork helped make The Eagle one of the most popular weekly comics of the 1950’s and 1960’s.

This vintage-style wooden jigsaw puzzle brings Frank Hampson’s stunning artwork back to life and is a wonderful piece of 1950’s nostalgia.

Manufactured in the UK, the puzzle has been made to the highest standards and features 3mm thick, laser-cut, wooden pieces. It features some very unusually shaped pieces, and it includes over 30 ‘whimsy’ pieces (see attached photos). These specially shaped pieces were made popular in the wooden jigsaw puzzles of the early 20th century when jigsaw puzzles were cut by hand and the cutter would make a selection of pieces in special shapes, often to reflect the theme of the puzzle.

Every piece in the puzzle is a unique shape and the ‘whimsy’ pieces are themed around Dan Dare and The Eagle. The puzzle comes in a high-quality presentation box with a cloth bag to store the pieces.

The jigsaw puzzle is a Limited Edition and only 500 copies will be available worldwide. Each puzzle comes with an individually numbered Limited Edition Certificate.

'Whimsy' pieces

For further information or to order online go to: The Vintage Toys and Games website

Thanks to Nigel Gregory at Vintage Toys and Games for sending  the Press Release.

Eagle Times Vol 27 No 4

Winter 2014 Contents

• 'Ron Embleton - Master of line drawing' - a focus on the black and white illustration work of this renowned artist, who drew in colour and black and white for many books, magazines and comics, including the 'Johnny Frog' strip for Eagle
• 'Christmas Eagles 1960-69' - a look at the covers and festive-based content of Eagle through the 1960s
• 'A Christmas Eagle Wordsearch' - festive fun with a quiz-based puzzle, with clues from Eagle's 1955 Christmas issue
• 'Moon Rover' - as a follow up to the article in Eagle Times Vol 27 No 2 on breakfast cereals advertised in Eagle, a reader presents his recently built Shredded Wheat cutout model of a moon rover 
• 'PC49 and the Case of the Missing Scotsman' - an aftermath of Hogmanay/New Year's adventure for the London bobby, adapted from on one of Alan Stranks' radio plays
• 'Dan Dare Royalties' - the payments made to Hulton Press by the multifarious companies who produced 'Dan Dare' merchandise between 1st October, 1951 and 30th September, 1952
• 'From Under the 1950s Christmas Tree: Christmas Annuals' - a look at the range of children's annuals and similar publications produced through the 1950s
• 'A PC49 Christmas Story: The Case of the Cigarette Card' - PC49 gets a day off for Christmas, but still manages to have an adventure. A festive tale adapted from the Alan Stranks radio stories 
• 'The Dan Dare Pipeline' - a look at the incidence of smoking in Eagle's 'Dan Dare', with some speculation on what might have been in Dan's famous billiard pipe 
• 'Saturday Mornin' at the Pictures: No. 1 Congo Bill' - a new series looking at Saturday children's cinema matinees of the 1950s. The first looks at the Congo Bill, King of the Jungle serial and the origin of the character in comics
• 'An Evening with Eagle at Pewterers' Hall' - a photo-illustrated article on the charity fundraising event An Evening with Eagle, a celebration of the comic and its connection with the City, which was held at Pewterers' Hall, London, on 29th October, 2014 in aid of The Samaritans. The event was organised by The Worshipful Company of Pewterers 
• 'In and Out of the Eagle' - some more in the series presenting collections of Eagle-related snippets 
• 'Past, Present and Future' - a reflection on the difficulties of prediction and the frustrations of modern life. Eagle Society member Steve Winders' amusing after dinner talk from the 2014 Eagle Society gathering at St. Albans 
• 'A hotel fit for a king' - on the stately home/hotel Hartwell House, which featured in Jack o'Lantern and the Fighting Cock, and Eagle novel, published by Hulton Press in 1958 
• 'How Eagle Stimulated My Love of Nature' - on the various natural history feature strips in Eagle, including those attributed to George Cansdale and John Dyke 
• 'ABC Film Review' - on the long-running publication that was originally tied to the ABC cinema chain, focussing on the December 1952 (Christmas) issue which included a 'Jeff Arnold' strip