Vintage Seven Dwarfs Postcards by Valentine & Sons

Beginning around the time of the film's 1938 general release, Valentine and Sons Ltd. of Dundee, Scotland produced several series of Snow White postcards. This particular set differed from the others in that it would highlight just one character per card. In addition, two variations of each postcard were published. The first included a rhyming caption at the bottom. The other printing did not. Cards are standard size 3.5" x 5.5"; regular postcard stock.


#4227 Happy...

Note that all postcards which include the rhyme on the front, also contain the tagline "THIS IS A REAL PHOTOGRAPH" on the back.

In what was probably a later printing, these next postcards don't contain the rhyming caption nor the "photograph" tagline. They do, however, include a card number on the back. This one is #4227.

Some were clearly used to promote specific movie venues by way of additional text: "As 'Happy' as the day is long at CLIFTONVILLE"

#4228 Bashful...

"Don't be 'Bashful' come to MARGATE"

#4229 Doc...

I haven't yet come across the Doc card with a rhyming caption, but it'll be added here when I do.

"Doc says --Bournemouth will do you a world of good"

#4230 Grumpy...

"Feeling 'Grumpy'? Come to Margate"

#4231 Sneezy...

"Sneezy Matter Enjoying Yourself at MARGATE"

#4232 Sleepy...

#4303 Dopey...

Note the card number on the back (#4303) does not follow in the same sequence as the rest of the series.

Snow White...

As you can see, a Snow White postcard was also included in this series. I haven't yet found a numbered version though.

 

FOR ADDITIONAL VALENTINE & SONS SNOW WHITE POSTCARDS, SEE:

• MOVIE SCENE SERIES, CARDS #4166-4168
• MOVIE SCENE SERIES, CARD #4169
• MOVIE SCENE SERIES, CARDS #4170-4171
• MOVIE SCENE SERIES, CARDS #4172-4177
• CUT-OUT NUMERAL BIRTHDAY CARDS

Postcard images via dondonald, SpreadTheLuv, Net Collector Philatelic Heritage, John+Sandy Millns Postcards,
Golden Age Postcards, BeBrightSalesToo, jeffhoo4, Victorian Parlour Postcards, outerkom, and collezionandocarta.

1938 Italian RKO/Generalcine Postcard

Here we have a rare gem, an RKO promotional postcard from the initial Italian release of Snow White. Made of cardstock, it's double the size of postcards common in Italy at that time. The crease across the center is original since it would have come folded in two. Unfolded, it measures 14 x 18cm.

The classic Gustaf Tenggren cast portrait graces the front with the "Snow White" name plate in Italian.

On the back, one side was free for stamps and address. The other was filled with an announcement of the film. It translates to:

Generalcine will present. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney's first full length motion picture in color. The Wonder of Wonders - Unforgettable for Children and Grown-ups.

Generalcine was the Italian "host" distributor for all the RKO movies seen in Italian theatres. Their logo is in the upper left, RKO's in the lower right.

This particular card also has a rubber stamp imprint with the word, "Venerdì" (Friday). The general release of the film occurred in Italy on Thursday December 8, 1938. Yet, some cinemas didn't begin showing it until Friday. Unfortunately, no name is given for the theatre.

Images and info courtesy of the Nunziante Valoroso Collection.

Rare Snow White Postcard from Italy

Printed by Mondialcolor, this postcard dates from 1962 and depicts an original drawing by artist Giuseppe Perego. He worked for Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, the exclusive publisher in Italy of everything Disney from the 1930's to 1988. Perego's artwork made it onto several covers and in numerous stories for Italian comic books. 

Postcard images and info courtesy of the Nunziante Valoroso Collection.

Learn more about Giuseppe Perego at Lambiek Comiclopedia.

Biancaneve ei Sette Nani - Italian "Adhesives"

Grafiche Biondetti, manufacturer of the Italian postcards seen in the previous post, also produced a series of Disney postcard stickers (adhesives) utilizing the same artwork. Just two of the Snow White cards were made into stickers--Snow with her forest animals and the Dwarfs crossing the log. These were first issued in the 1970s with later reprints. The cards below date from the mid to late 80s.

Card #WD/9-1

Card #WD/9-2...

Thanks again to Nunziante Valoroso for providing the postcard images and info.

Biancaneve ei Sette Nani - Italian Postcards

Grafiche Biondetti of Verona, Italy was licensed by Walt Disney Productions to produce postcards featuring characters from many of the animated films. This series of eight Snow White cards was first printed in the 1960s, with many additional reprints occurring over the years until 1990.

Each film was identified by a number on the back of the postcard. All the Snow White cards are marked #103.

The artwork has a colorful and unique flavor to it.

Special thanks to Nunziante Valoroso from Italy for providing the postcard images and information.

Carthay Circle 'Snow White Premiere' Postcard

Printed in two-tone blue ink, this postcard from the Carthay Circle Theatre promotes the "RKO release" and world premiere of Snow White. Measures 5.5" x 3.5". Dates from 1937-38.

Images via JK Postcards.

RKO International 'Snow White' Postcards

A collection of Snow White postcards was produced by RKO Radio Films during the international run of the movie back in the late 1930s. The series was issued in English, French, German, Czech, Polish and probably more languages. This first set appears in French and was printed in Brussels by the publisher A. Beirnaerdt. The character image is accompanied by a related text poem (except for the Snow White card).

Blache Neige...

Card backside with RKO logo...

Prof...

Timide/Dormeur...

Simplet...

Atchoum/Joyeux...

Grincheux...

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Here's the same series but printed in the Czech language and published in Prague. It's fairly certain these date from 1938 because by the following year, Czechoslovakia was occupied by the Nazis.

Kejchal, Smudla and Profa...

The card back displays the same RKO logo but reads, "PRAHA II- VACLAVSKE NAM. 51" (PRAGUE II- Wenceslas Square 51) and "Sněhurka a sedm trpasliku" (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs).

Czech postcard images via ms.cheezball, dutch-anton and John + Sandy Millns.

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This next set employs the same artwork (with different color shading) for all the Dwarfs except Dopey. And Snow White appears with the Prince from a Gustaf Tenggren drawing. Copyright "W.D.P."; text in English. Each card measures 3.5" x 5.5".

The cards were used as store premiums. The reverse side of this set each has a light ink stamp, "With Best Wishes From Foy's". Sold in auction by Hakes, March 22, 2012 for $336.49 (USD).