GOLLYS

GOLLYS

The first gollys appeared in the series of American children’s books written and illustrated by Florence and Bertha K Upton.

And from  1895, featured in the stories with two wooden Dutch dolls, and based on minstrel figures that the sisters had played with as children, And globally soon became a popular nursery character, inspiring toys and other products including Robertson famous golly badges.

James Robertson and son began producing marmalade in Paisley Scotland.

Shortly before World War I John Robertson visited it America and returned with a fashionable goalie toy.

 The firm adopted the gollys as its trademark in 1914.

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Golly paper labels were added to jars from 1928 and by the end of the decade enamel badges were also introduced .

 Figures subjects such as sporting figures like golfers  cricketers, footballers etc,were introduced and sport was to remain a popular theme.

 Golly badges that were produced before World War II are particularly sought after and have distinguishing features such as pop eyes, since badges were made by different manufacturers, the same subject could appear with a range of different variations, thus offering a wide scope for the collector.

After the war, white  waistcoats were introduced to replace the yellow ones.

1950s  examples had eyes that look downwards, the 1970s saw the return of the yellow waistcoat, and the introduction of sideways  looking eyes and a crinkly head as opposed to round and smooth head.

In the 1980s more activities were represented and paint used on the badges changed from enamel to acrylic.

 Robertsons introduced a collector’s club, which reproduced vintage badges and manufactured special limited edition models.

 As the decade’s changed so did the gollies there is a vast array of collectables available for pocket money prices.

I would recommend gollies as a good and cheap introduction into collecting maybe for children somebody on a limited budget.

I hope you have found this page  on gollys both informative and helpful..

 Happy hunting from the collectibles coach.