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"Micky Mouse" Pre-Disney Performo Poseable Wooden Toy (Performo Toy Company, c. 1926). ...
Description
"Micky Mouse" Pre-Disney Performo Poseable Wooden Toy (Performo Toy Company, c. 1926). Mickey Mouse made his memorable debut on 11/18/1928 with the premiere of Steamboat Willie, but this rare pre-Disney Performo toy predates it by a little over two years. It received the patent "Micky Mouse", on 8/17/1926 with simple design made from wood and the arms, legs, neck, and tail made from posable cord. Each toy produced also featured a Micky sticker on the torso with some variation in color. It was the company's most popular toy, especially in New York where the distributor was located. Coincidentally, Walt Disney was in New York City at the same time and was on his way home from a trip. This train ride was where he got the idea for Mickey Mouse, leading to one question: Did Disney take inspiration from the idea, or did he copy it? Things get even trickier when you take Milton Mouse into account, a character that appeared in the Aesop's Fables cartoons as early as 1921. The features on the 4.5'' x 2.25'' toy are similar, whether you're looking at the color palette or the hands and feet that look like Disney's earliest drawings of the character, but we'll never know for sure. Disney would later file a lawsuit in 1931 after Mickey's rise in popularity and the company would be required to destroy the toys, going out of business soon after. Because of this any existing toys are considered rare. It includes a dated copyright sticker on the foot and is in Good condition with some edge and handling wear and faint paint wear.Auction Info
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This lot is in: 1 -
Signature® Floor Session - The Art of Disney (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 16001-16306) - 10:00 AM Central Time, Friday, December 12, 2025.
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
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Heritage Auctions
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
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