UPDATED: Girl comic merchandise

I've added some new items of merchandise - and these are highlighted in red

I've previously looked at some of the spin-off merchandise associated with Swift comic (here), Swift books (here) and Robin comic merchandise (here). In a similar vein I thought I should look into the merchandise produced by their sister title Girl. I've look at Girl novels (here and here) but this is the other merchandise that was produced.

I thought I'd be able to find more merchandise but googling 'girl comics merchandise' turns up a lot of stuff which is not to do with the Girl comic I'm after. Anyway, I'm sure more will turn up but here's what I've found so far...

Pelham puppet of 'Lettice Leefe' - a character created by John Ryan (who created Captain Pugwash and Harris Tweed for Eagle) 

Pelham also made a 'Belle of the Ballet' puppet as well

And then there's this - a Girl doll - featuring the Girl logo on the dress and the belt buckle

from 'British dolls of the 1950s' by Susan Brewer (2009)

And there's this piece of Eagle/Girl crossover merchandise - yes, it's a table tennis set!



I'm sure there's more out there so if you have any images you could share just let me know.

Ah, a carpet sweeper! What a delightful piece of tie-in merchandise

And here's some more Girl products - I'd love to get bigger and better pictures of all of these but at least it gives me some stuff to look for

from 'The history of girls' comics' by Susan Brewer (2010)

And, thanks to friend of the blog Jeremy Briggs we can also add these images...

...a blond haired version of the doll shown above...

...and a paintbox (which looks quite similar to the Swift paintbox that was also produced)...

Girl novels - part 1

Once Hulton Press had launched Eagle, and then Girl, they wasted no time cashing in on their new creations. A vast amount of merchandise (much of which was Dan Dare related) was generated by companies who purchased licences from Hulton Press. Some of the other items, such as the annuals an assorted character spin-off novels, were kept 'in house'.

Here are scans of the covers of the first 4 spin-off novels that Hulton produced for Girl, note the distinctive yellow dust wrapper, this still makes the titles stand out on the shelves even today.

Gala Performance is from 1956, Country holiday is from 1957 - both are by George Beardmore.

The  Dutch stamp mystery was first published in 1956 and then reprinted in 1957; the missing scientist was also from 1957. Both titles are written by Valerie Hastings.