Felix the Cat

Here is a little history on our friend courtesy of felixthecat.com:

During the early days of television development it was necessary to monitor and adjust the quality of the transmitted picture in order to get the best definition. To do this, engineers required an 'actor' to constantly be under the burning studio lights as they tweaked and sharpened the image, and Felix fit the bill perfectly. He was the right colour (black and white), impervious to the heat from the lights and worked cheaply (in fact a one-off payment was all that was required). RCA's first experimental television transmissions began in 1928 by station W2XBS (New York-Channel #1) in Van Cortlandt Park and then moved to the New Amsterdam Theater Building, transmitting 60 line pictures. The 13" Felix the Cat figure made of paper mache was placed on a record player turntable and was broadcast using a mechanical scanning disk to an electronic kinescope receiver. The image received was only 2 inches tall, and the broadcasts lasted about 2 hours per day. By 1931 the station became part of NBC and began to transmit from 42nd St. These early broadcasts consisted of objects like Felix the Cat or early test patterns and photographs. Felix remained on his turntable for almost a decade as the early experimenters strove towards the goal of a high definition picture.

So with all this history on our little cat - you can see why he is so popular with the collectors! Here are a few of my top favorite picks that are on my what to look for list.


Here is a soft cover book from the 1920's. This book is very hard to find, but you just never know what you mind in that old box at the thrift store.

This book recently sold for $258!















Here is a Felix the Cat Puppet!

He is only about 7 inches tall, but he's from the 1930's.

This little guy recently sold for over $400.









Anything Felix from the 20's, 30's or 40's will make you some decent money. Personally I would buy any Felix item that I find at a thrift store or garage sale, and you will almost always make a profit.

Vintage Sheets

Vintage sheets....and yes, I mean the sheets you sleep on at night. They can bring in big bucks if you've got the right ones. The best are going to be character sheets in great condition. NO fading or torn sheets will sell for much. Think about your local thrift store or the last garage sale you went to. You could probably score a 15 year old set of sheets for only a few bucks, right? Here are a few that sold on eBay recently:

Remember these guys? It is the Hugga Bunch gang!

This flat sheet sold for $56!

Here is a great set of Star Wars sheets from the 70's.

They sold 2 fitted sheets and 2 pillowcases for $46!

Here is a full size fitted and flat sheet with matching comforter from the early 1980's.

It features Kermit the Frog. This set sold for $66!

So make sure you add VINTAGE character sheets to your "What to Look For List!"