Mara wrote:

Timeless A-Peel wrote:I know Maartje has suggested once or twice that I should post pictures of my collection, so I was wondering if you guys would be interested in the pictures once I've taken them all? You can probably see a lot if it elsewhere, but I'm just offering.

Oh, absolutely - I'd love to see your collection, still. The fact that it's going to take ages to photograph it all, is promising.

Yeah, I think I'm going have to group stuff. Otherwise I'll be here all day!

(Dude! I'd forgotten all about my Darkwing Duck storyboard! It's in here, too. )

I've started posting pictures of my collection, but I'm doing it in the Daily Life forum for privacy reasons. You can see it here.

Your collection is amazing.

Becka.
xx

bexyshortcake wrote:Your collection is amazing.

Becka.
xx

Thank you! It's fun to share.

Yeah it was lovely to look at. Thank you.

Becka.
xx

bexyshortcake wrote:Yeah it was lovely to look at. Thank you.

Becka.
xx

You're very welcome. Stay tuned, though--there's more to come.

Here is my 1976 life size Purdey manequinn head. Sadly she has been parted with her body over the years but still looks amazing. She was used to display the Purdey pajama and wig sets during the series original run.

My goodness, you really shocked me there! I scrolled down and immediately noticed the description - she doesn't really look like Joanna, but still. The wig's great though: it's the exact colour and hairdo, fab!

Oh I think she looks amazingly like Purdey, you have to remember it was made in 1976 and the technology over 30 years ago to recreate an exact likness just didn't exist. Looking at your avatar against the head, the cheekbones, make-up, chin, eyes are all spot on. Of course the hair isn't real and has flattened over the years, that of course makes a difference to her look :)

Mara wrote:My goodness, you really shocked me there! I scrolled down and immediately noticed the description - she doesn't really look like Joanna, but still. The wig's great though: it's the exact colour and hairdo, fab!

I don't think she looks exactly like Joanna, either--there's something a little too sharp about the features, and the eyes are a little too big and not shaped quite right. But it is pretty good--rather eerie, actually, with just the head floating there. I wouldn't want it looking at me at night.

I think the thing is, if the picture was posted today along with the caption 'whose this ?" the majority of people with knowledge of the show would recognize her imidiately. And of course you have to imagine her back in 1976, in a shop window, dressed in a purple leotard and black tights surrounded by New Avengers merchandise, everybody would say 'look it's Purdey' which I suppose was the point of it

avengerholic wrote:I think the thing is, if the picture was posted today along with the caption 'whose this ?" the majority of people with knowledge of the show would recognize her imidiately. And of course you have to imagine her back in 1976, in a shop window, dressed in a purple leotard and black tights surrounded by New Avengers merchandise, everybody would say 'look it's Purdey' which I suppose was the point of it

Oh, yes, in context she'd work very well. (Did they give her a "Today's Biggest Offer" sign to hold, I wonder? ) The haircut rather gives her away, too. I have to say, though, if they slapped a different wig on her, and I wasn't cued to think "Purdey," I honestly don't think I'd recognise her as Purdey/Joanna at all. But she's a lovely piece to have. I wonder which diabolical mastermind decapitated her?

avengerholic wrote:I think the thing is, if the picture was posted today along with the caption 'whose this ?" the majority of people with knowledge of the show would recognize her imidiately. And of course you have to imagine her back in 1976, in a shop window, dressed in a purple leotard and black tights surrounded by New Avengers merchandise, everybody would say 'look it's Purdey' which I suppose was the point of it

Well that's absolutely true of course: technology in the seventies wasn't that advanced as it is today. I should imagine Joanna's face is quite hard to get right I think: I've seen pictures of her wax model in Madame Tussaud's and it scares the crap out of me. All the softness has gone, like Timeless pointed out. It's great for modelling Avengers merchandise though, however, I still prefer the real Purdey in shop-windows.

Mara wrote:I still prefer the real Purdey in shop-windows.

Indeed Thee is also the fact that the head looks better in real life, photos don't capture the features well. I've got a life size Purdey cut out somewhere, I'll have to dig it out if anyone is interested

avengerholic wrote:I've got a life size Purdey cut out somewhere, I'll have to dig it out if anyone is interested

I don't think anyone on this forum will complain if you do, Ian.

Timeless A-Peel wrote:

avengerholic wrote:I've got a life size Purdey cut out somewhere, I'll have to dig it out if anyone is interested

I don't think anyone on this forum will complain if you do, Ian.

Not me, certainly not me! It's amazing - there's so much Avengers merchandise to discover, it seems like TNA was attached to every possible product back then. I wish there was such great merchandise for AbFab!

(Oh by the way - I take it you're both on the Avengers forum too? I feel left out among all these die hard Avengers fans haha)

Agreed, I don't think it looks like her either, but because of the distinctive haircut and everything, people would immediately be able to guess who it's supposed to be.
And yes, I'd love to see your life size Purdey

Mara wrote:(Oh by the way - I take it you're both on the Avengers forum too? I feel left out among all these die hard Avengers fans haha)

Yes. Ian's the Avengers collector extraordinaire. I think pretty much everything they made for the show's passed through his hands at one point or another.

They really did merchandise TNA right up to the hilt, probably more so in some ways than the original series (they didn't really get started until Emma came around). There's loads of rare TNA stuff that got churned out--this was the show they made tie-in marshmallows for, remember?

Well it must just be me then. I think it's quite an amazing likeness of the very early 1st season look Purdey. And certainly 100% better than the 12" doll of the same period.

Timeless A-Peel wrote:Yes. Ian's the Avengers collector extraordinaire. I think pretty much everything they made for the show's passed through his hands at one point or another

Oh believe me I think there is plenty that I didn't get my hands on. Oddly my New Avengers collection has survived my recent Avengers purge extremely well, and remains largely intact. Although I've sold a lot of my collection I've hung onto much of the rare vintage stuff from the Emma & Purdey eras. I'll try and post some pics of a few bits.

Life Size Purdey standee


Mega Rare Purdey Fragrance Purfume & Shop Mannequin Head


Purdey Doll & Outfit Signed by Joanna


Mission Kit


Complete Set of Hardback Novels


MORE TO FOLLOW .....

I don't think they were going for accuracy when they created the Purdey mannequins, just a vague representation of her. I think today it would be far more lifelike.

The bottom half of the face - especially her distinctive chin - is there, but the eyes are harsher - Joanna has the most beautiful kind eyes and these are a bit piercing.

But I'm made up that there were ever Purdey mannequins in the first place and very pleased to see them here (thank you, Avengerholic). All we need now are pictures of the window display!

@Mara - I feel left out when you're discussing Ab Fab (although I like to lurk from time to time!) so I appreciate how you feel when the discussion is The Avengers!

Avengerdan wrote:I don't think they were going for accuracy when they created the Purdey mannequins, just a vague representation of her. I think today it would be far more lifelike.

The bottom half of the face - especially her distinctive chin - is there, but the eyes are harsher - Joanna has the most beautiful kind eyes and these are a bit piercing.

But I'm made up that there were ever Purdey mannequins in the first place and very pleased to see them here (thank you, Avengerholic). All we need now are pictures of the window display!

Oh I agree, as I said there wern't tools like facial laser scanning back in 1976 so these sculpts are bound to look more primative by todays standards. I think you have to view it as an item of its time and not be too critical of its accuracy However still a fantastic piece of New Avengers history. Purdey must have made quite an impact to have even had these shop dummies created in the first place, I can't think of any other TV character having been reproduced in this way. And apparently 'Purdey' was still seen in shops up until the very early 80s !

avengerholic wrote:Oh believe me I think there is plenty that I didn't get my hands on. Oddly my New Avengers collection has survived my recent Avengers purge extremely well, and remains largely intact. Although I've sold a lot of my collection I've hung onto much of the rare vintage stuff from the Emma & Purdey eras.

I've spent ages on Ebay, browsing through all your ads and looking at the amazing collector's items. I think we've even discussed it here: your collection is amazing! Can I ask... Why did you sell those wonderful items?

Please don't get rid of that Purdey doll.

Mara wrote:Can I ask... Why did you sell those wonderful items?

Well after all those years collecting everything I could lay my hands on, there came a time last year when I thought WHY ? where do I put it all, what happens if there is a fire, is there really any point in it if there is so much I can't even display it properly. And of course my interest in the Avengers had declined. I just made the decision to thin my collection down. I started by selling off all the items that were non era related, that is, anything not made at the time the series aired I sold on. After that I sold the era specific items that I didn't really like, then the items that visually were of no interest to me. I've ended up with a much smaller collection, one i'm able to display, and one that contains pieces that are all vintage, really rare. valuable, pleasing and just simply interesting to look at. Although I no longer actively collect, I would still buy something if it was from the 60's or 70's and if I really liked it

avengerholic wrote:Well after all those years collecting everything I could lay my hands on, there came a time last year when I thought WHY ? where do I put it all, what happens if there is a fire, is there really any point in it if there is so much I can't even display it properly. And of course my interest in the Avengers had declined. I just made the decision to thin my collection down.

Oh I see... I think it's just natural that your interest in a show declines over the years, and it's nice that other collectors get a chance to pick up the really good items too now. I only wish they'd been more careful with the stuff from the set in the first place: if there was an Avengers museum now, I'd definitely go to see it.

But hey - I think it's great that you've managed to save this merchandise from storage, and you're willing to display these amazing items to the fans.