Mary Poppins 1904 TUPPENCE Julie Andrews Feed the Birds + PHOTO Walt Disney For Sale

Vintage Treasures from theWorldwide Disneyana Specialists ofSaturday's Toys

Presenting a unique collectible reminiscent of thememorable Academy Award winning score fromMary Poppins,"Feedthe Birds" (by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman): Tuppence!

The Walt Disney film version of the P.L. Travers story wasset in London "in 1910... King Edward's on the throne; it's the age ofmen!" These two coins are original "tuppence" from theUnited Kingdom; as used in London during 1910. Minted in1904, thetwo coins feature the image of King Edward VII, who had the challenging task offollowing the previous century's most enduring royal figure, Queen Victoria.Upon her death on January 22, 1901 (coincidentally, the same year in which WaltDisney was born), Edward VII would assume the throne and rule until his deathon May 6, 1910. These dates (along with the cherry blossoms on Cherry TreeLane) clearly pinpoint the setting for Walt Disney's film to the spring of 1910(likely within afew short weeks prior toKing Edward's death).

The coins are well-worn display pieces that willbeautifully symbolize the spirit of"Mary Poppins" forgenerations to come. The sentiment of "Feed the birds; tuppence abag" was the very heart and soul of this film; now considered to be WaltDisney's own "magnum opus." Here, two "pence" (tuppence;aka two pennies) represents the small amount of effort anyone can make inshowing someone that they care.

In this heart-warming scene, young Michael Banks and hissister Jane are escorted to the bank where their father is employed; supposedlyto open a new account with this tuppence. However, Mary Poppins has alreadyworked her magic as she transforms the hearts of these impressionable children.As they near St. Paul's Cathedral in London, they hear the bird woman (playedby Academy Award winning actress, Jane Darwell) calling to passers-by andbeckoning them to come and feed the birds. Here on the steps of this cold,lifeless edifice, the gifts of a few strangers have created the movement whichstirs the emotion and beauty that is captured so perfectly on film.

"Mary Poppins" proved to be thefinal filmfor actress Jane Darwell (1879 - 1967; aka Patti Woodard). Though she had beenretired for several years when filming began in 1963, Walt Disney rememberedDarwell's matronly strength of character so perfectly captured in her AcademyAward winning performance as"Best Supporting Actress" inthe1940 film version of the John Steinbeck novel, "The Grapes ofWrath." As Ma Joad, Jane Darwellwas able to express the voiceof a nation in overcoming all odds to care and to nurture her struggling familythrough the Great Depression. This same strength of character could easily havebeen used as a backstory for "the bird lady." As art imitates life(and vice versa), when Walt Disney honored Miss Darwell not only by rememberingher, but by treating her on the set with the respect and appreciation that shedeserved, he unknowingly modeled the very sentiment he had hoped to express inthe film. "Feed the birds. Tuppence a bag."

The two large pennies (tuppence) are 1.25", featuringKing Edward (as created by George William de Saulles; 1862-1903). The reverseshows a seated Britannia holding a trident; with the date of 1904 referenced at the lower edge of the coin.

... AND FOR A LIMITED TIME...aspecial edition 5" x 7" color photograph is included withthispurchase. This historic location inspired the Disney artists to film Jane Darwell (asthe Bird Woman) in an exact reproduction on the sound stages at the Walt DisneyStudio in Burbank, California. Here, in this special offering, is an original photograph of London's St. Paul's Cathedral at twilight.

• "Twilight on the Steps of St. Paul's"
• London, England
• Copyright Dave Mason
• Date of original photograph: Wed. Nov. 27, 2002
• Glossy photo finish

(additional photos of Julie Andrews, Mr. Banks' hand(holding Jane and Michael's tuppence), and of Jane Darwell are for illustrationonly; not included with listing)