c1942 Walt Disney’s Thumper – Vintage Illustrated Children’s Book by Collins
 
Publication Details
 
Title: Walt Disney’s Thumper
Date: Circa 1942 (undated but generally attributed to this year)
Publisher: Collins, London & Glasgow
Format: Hardback, children’s illustrated storybook
Pagination: 32 pages, unnumbered (including endpapers, all present and checked)
Dimensions: Approx. 21.5 cm x 17.5 cm x 0.6 cm
Weight: Approx. 159 g
 
This vintage edition is based on the beloved Disney character Thumper, created for the 1942 animated motion picture Bambi.
 
Binding and Physical Features
 
Bound in paper-covered boards with green cloth backing on spine.
Colour illustrated front cover with Thumper in stylised artwork, red paper rear board, decorative lettering.
Illustrated pastedowns and endpapers, in colour.
Overall robust and intact for a children’s book over 80 years old.
 
Condition: Some wear to the cover, especially corners and edges, soft corner bumping, light marks, fading and light creases. Still retains strong colour and vibrancy.
 
Interior Condition
 
Illustrated throughout with both colour and black & white artwork.
Pages neat, uncreased, and tightly bound.
Just very occasional light mark.
No pen or pencil marks.
No rips or tears.
Light tanning consistent with age.
Small areas of bubbling/creasing to pastedowns.
All pages present and secure.
 
Literary & Cultural Significance
 
Thumper, the mischievous rabbit from Bambi, became one of Walt Disney’s most enduring and iconic characters, representing innocence, playfulness, and moral lessons wrapped in humour. Books such as this were published during the early 1940s to capitalise on the film’s success and brought Disney animation into children’s hands in print form. Collectors of early Disney memorabilia, as well as those interested in World War II-era children’s books, find these editions highly desirable.
 
Rarity and Collectability
 
This c.1942 Collins edition is scarce, particularly in such clean and complete condition without writing or damage. Most surviving copies of Disney’s early Thumper books show heavy wear due to being much-loved children’s items. Its charm, survival state, and cultural link to Bambi make it a valuable collector’s piece.