Jings! It's taken 70 years … but the National Library at last has a full set of Oor Wullie annuals

Published on Sunday 24 October 2010 17:36

WITH his spiky hair, trademark dungarees and upturned bucket, Oor Wullie has become one of Scotland's most enduring national institutions. And, it seems, one of our more valuable ones.

• Young Oor Wullie fan Joe Hoyle has fun reading one of the rarest annuals, the 1940 issue which was the very first

On the 70th anniversary of its first publication, the National Library of Scotland has finally completed its collection of Oor Wullie annuals by buying two extremely rare volumes of the youngster's adventures for 4,000.

A 1940 annual, the first Oor Wullie collection ever published, has been bought for 3,000 at auction, along with a 1942 annual for a further 1,000.

They are the only two to have been published during the Second World War because of severe paper shortages, yet their popularity was such that they marked the beginning of a Christmas gift tradition that has lasted decades.

Andrew Martin, NLS Modern Scottish Collections curator, said: "We all know Oor Wullie, he's one of the iconic Scottish figures and it's appropriate that the library has the full collection. It's a record of Scottish publishing and further evidence of a very important character in the Scottish pysche."

The NLS has been searching for copies of the two rare annuals for some time. One 1940 annual was discovered at a car boot sale earlier this year and sold for 1,000. The two annuals bought by NLS were sold by Edinburgh auction house Lyon & Turnbull last month and came from private sellers.

• Wee tearaway that Scotland took to its heart

"There are said to be very few in existence," said Mr Martin. "We never know exactly but I think Oor Wullie fans would say there are fewer than ten in the world. Then again, you don't know if people have got one hidden away upstairs in their loft and don't know about it."

The first annual, published in October 1940, features Oor Wullie on the cover in his trademark position on his upturned bucket. Stories inside include him causing havoc at the local swimming pool by throwing frogs in, being chased by a policeman, and visiting his aunt in England, where he is mocked for wearing dungarees and called William.

"It's not really a commentary on real life," said Mr Martin. "I'm not sure you look to Oor Wullie to see the state of Britain after the Blitz. It's escapism really."

Malcolm Phillips, director of Comic Book Auctions and one of Britain's leading experts on comics and comic books, said he was delighted to hear the National Library had completed its collection of annuals.

"I think it is terrific. I think it is exciting.It is a very, very important part of Scottish heritage and the fact that the library has recognised that is great."

Mr Phillips, who was born in Glasgow, said the humour of Oor Wullie reflected the can-do spirit of the working classes in the depression and during the war years.

"If I was to sum it up in two words I would say "mischievous fun", humour is a big part of it. A typical story involves Oor Wullie and his friends having shenanigans and trying to raise a few bob for sweeties.

"This was a boy who lived next to the Govan shipyards - both Oor Wullie and the Broons were the story of a normal working class family and the things that happened to them."

Oor Wullie, was first published as a comic strip in DC Thomson's Sunday Post in 1936, and early versions featured him complaining "I nivver get ony fun roond here!"

Later editions carried the tag line: Oor Wullie! Your Wullie! A'body's Wullie!"