After searching this blog for a prior post on the Nelson R. Mandela Talking Action Figure and finding none, I stopped on this final day of Black
History Month to share.
Prior to purchasing my own Nelson R. Mandela figure, the following details about it were included in chapter 6 on page 329 of my book, Black Dolls: A Comprehensive Guide to Celebrating, Collecting, and Experiencing the Passion (2008):
While writing my third book, published in 2010, I acquired my own Nelson R. Mandela and through me, he wrote the following entry on page 115 of The Doll Blogs: When Dolls Speak, I Listen:
The Nelson R. Mandela figure also includes a biographical pamphlet covering the president's life before and during his service as the first democratically-elected President of South Africa with the inclusion of biographical facts and rare photographs.
I have yet to hear Mandela speak, but I disrobed him this morning and removed his three dead 357/303 Energizer batteries. I plan to replace these with working batteries soon as I am still eager to hear his up to four minutes of audio, the text of which is included on the inside flap of the box. His first and last statements are shown as:
dbg
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Prior to purchasing my own Nelson R. Mandela figure, the following details about it were included in chapter 6 on page 329 of my book, Black Dolls: A Comprehensive Guide to Celebrating, Collecting, and Experiencing the Passion (2008):
Illustration 699 - Time Capsule Toys® – Nelson R. Mandela, ca.
2003 (actually made in 2005)
Material: All vinyl
Height: 12in/30.48cm
Hair/Eyes/Mouth: Molded gray
hair/painted blue/smiling, open mouth with teeth
Clothing: Blue three-piece
suit, white shirt, blue tie, black shoes
Other: The first
democratically-elected President of South Africa portrayed as
a talking action figure, speaks 23 unique and authentic phrases; limited
to 10,000, comes with doll stand.
Value: $60
Photograph
courtesy of Debra Richardson
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
While writing my third book, published in 2010, I acquired my own Nelson R. Mandela and through me, he wrote the following entry on page 115 of The Doll Blogs: When Dolls Speak, I Listen:
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
I finally arrived to Texas today along with
two additional dolls. Debbie ordered me
at least two months ago from an Amazon.com seller, who obviously had some
difficulty fulfilling the order. She
plans to keep me in my box, but would like to hear the 23 unique phrases I am
supposed to speak in the voice of the real person I represent, Nelson R.
Mandela, the first democratically-elected president of South Africa, who served
from 1994 through 1999. It is a mystery
to Debbie why Time Capsule Toys, Inc. made my eyes blue. The type of batteries that I require is also
a mystery. The current batteries are
obviously dead because I remain mute when Debbie presses my chest in an attempt
to hear me speak.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Nelson R. Mandela figure also includes a biographical pamphlet covering the president's life before and during his service as the first democratically-elected President of South Africa with the inclusion of biographical facts and rare photographs.
 |
| Close-up image of Nelson R. Mandela Action Figure; the eyes appear more green than blue to me now. |
- I have dedicated my life to this struggle.
- It seems most strange that man should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come. Now men who believe in that, you disappear under a cloud of glory, your name lives beyond the grave.
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Hello from Spain, i like this Nelson Mandela doll. I had not seen before. Point well taken. Keep in touch
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, Marta. I am always happy to introduce collectors to dolls that were once unfamiliar to them.
Deletedbg
I don't think it's a very good likeness, even if his eyes were the right color. If I saw that doll out of the box I would never guess who he was supposed to be. What do you think Debbie?
ReplyDeleteI agree, Zendelle. I was going to add this shared opinion when I revised the post to add the headshot. Instead, I deleted what I wrote as I didn't want to sway anyone else's opinion. It is pretty clear that Timecapsule Toys did not create an exact portrait doll of Nelson R. Mandela. Had they given him a fuller face, maybe I could see him more in this figure, maybe.
Deletedbg
Here's a link to some other action figures by Timecapsule Toys made in the "likeness" of real people.
Deletedbg
Link most appreciated. I have yet to buy a doll this year and something pretty and historically significant would make it all the more special :3
DeleteThis is a great historical ornament in itself! Pity the speaking function might be a bit of a hassle. If they had a proper off switch somewhere it might isolate the batteries from the circuit and prevent it from draining itself eventually.
ReplyDeleteThis figure is a treasure to own even if it is not a true portrait.
DeleteThe figure, although new, was four years old when I acquired it, which is probably the reason the batteries were dead on arrival. An on and off switch or a removable insert in the battery compartment to prevent the batteries from touching the power source would have been a better design.
dbg
Wow, what a find! This is a wonderful addition to your collection. I would jump at the chance to add him to my own collection. Yes, the blue eyes are strange. Hope you get to hear his wonderful voice soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Vanessa. I purchased batteries for him this afternoon (thanks for the reminder; they are still in my purse). I had to shell out $10 and change for them at Walgreens. They probably cost less at Target or Walmart, but I would have eaten up the savings in gas going there. Hope they work.
Deletedbg
While that doesn't look quite like him, perhaps it could have been him in is 20's? Either way, I think it's a doll worth having.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Muff. He's well worth owning.
DeleteThe company made an honorable effort. Some of the other action figures they made can be more readily recognized as the persons they portray. Even Jesus (and that's not my image of Him) but I knew who he was supposed to represent.
dbg
This is a great review, Debbie! You probably enabled me to get my Nelson Mandela figure. I see from what "he" wrote above, he arrived in Texas on May 6, 2009. I ordered mine on May 10, 2009. LOL!
ReplyDeleteHi Roxanne,
DeleteIt may be more of a case of "great minds buying dolls alike" around the same time than my enabling you to purchase your Mandela. During the time I was writing my third book, in which Mandela "speaks" through me to record his entry, I rarely if ever shared photos that would be included in the published book. It is possible that I shared the photo of the doll that was in my 2nd book (the first image in this post) with members of the WLBD Yahoo group, which was a courtesy photograph from a friend who owned the doll several years before I found one.
Either way, for historical reasons, he is a nice one to own and to remain in the box for that reason. I am glad you purchased him.
dbg
I'm really glad that I purchased him, also! He is a treasured part of my collection. I probably learned about him on WLBD, where someone may have shared that he was on sale on Amazon.com, which is where I purchased him.
Delete