1982 Set of Two Purnell Playmates Sooty Books
A set of two 1982 Purnell Playmates children’s books featuring Sooty, Sweep and their friends, published in Great Britain under licence from Sooty Concessions Limited.
This set consists of two small-format children’s storybooks, Sooty’s Adventures and Sooty’s Caravan, published by Purnell Books in 1982 as part of its Purnell Playmates range.
The books feature Sooty, the famous British television bear created by Harry Corbett, together with familiar characters including Sweep, Soo and Matthew Corbett. Brightly coloured illustrations accompany the stories throughout, reflecting the appearance of the television characters during the early 1980s.
Publication details printed inside the books state that the Sooty Book Series was produced by arrangement with Harry and Matthew Corbett, approved by Sooty Concessions Limited and licensed under trade mark and Sooty Overseas Limited rights. The books were made and printed in Great Britain by Purnell & Sons (Book Production) Limited at Paulton, Bristol.
Sooty’s Caravan carries ISBN 0 361 05460 2, which independently confirms its publication by Purnell in Bristol in 1982. (OBNB) Sooty’s Adventures carries the consecutive ISBN 0 361 05461 0. Both originally retailed for 50p in the United Kingdom.
The backcovers advertise other Purnell Playmates titles available at the time, including Sooty and the Flood, Sooty’s TV Town Train, several Noddy stories and Victoria Plum titles. This places the books within a broader inexpensive children’s publishing range intended to bring popular television and storybook characters into small, accessible storybooks.
The books are an example of early-1980s licensed Sooty merchandise and illustrate the continuing popularity of the character some three decades after Sooty first appeared on British television.
Features
Measurements: 145mm high × 110 mm wide × 10 mm deep each
Condition: Good - Used age appropriate wear and tear
Markings: See Photos
Date Note: Date is an estimate based on available research and stylistic features. If you have additional information, please contact us to help update our records.
Made from the following materials
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Paper Mache
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