National Library of Scotland puts rare items from The Broons and Oor Wullie history on display for 90th anniversary
The exhibition took place at the National Library of Scotland on George IV Bridge.
Rare items from the past 90 years of beloved comic strip characters The Broons and Oor Wullie were displayed in a special pop-up show in Edinburgh today.
The anniversary event was planned by the National Library of Scotland in collaboration with DC Thomson, which originally published the first edition of ‘The Broons’ in The Sunday Post in 1936.
The first famous annual was released three years later and Oor Wullie made his first appearance in 1940.
The National Library of Scotland began collecting as much of The Broons and Oor Wullie history as they could at the turn of the millenium and put some of the rare items they collected on display for fans to help celebrate the franchise’s 90th anniversary.
Peggy Hughes, the National Library’s director of engagement said: “I’m especially excited to see the first edition annuals. When I was growing up, I got the annuals every year without fail – it was a much-anticipated occasion.
“The Broons are unique to Scotland. They are also unique in the sense that they move with the times, but only just – they remain a comforting, consistent presence in family households throughout the country and beyond because, in many ways, they haven’t changed since their debut in the 1930s. Even internationally, there are few comparable cultural icons that have enjoyed such endurance.”
Ms Hughes added: “It was as recent as 2023 when we managed to get our hands on the first edition of ‘The Broons’ annual, and it has taken its rightful place alongside all the other treasures we have in the national collections.“
‘The Broons and Oor Wullie’s Braw Weekend’ also featured costumed characters, giveaways and activities for all ages.
If you missed the chance to see the rare items in Edinburgh, the free pop-up will be visiting the National Library of Scotland at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow on Saturday, July 25 and at DC Thomson HQ in Dundee on Sunday, July 26. Both pop-ups will be open from 10am until 4pm each day.
Thomas Hawkins, Editor of The Sunday Post, added: “Very few fictional characters have lived as vividly in Scotland's imagination as Oor Wullie and The Broons.
"From boosting morale during the Second World War to putting a smile on readers' faces during the Covid pandemic, Oor Wullie and The Broons have been a reassuring constant in a world in flux.
“We’re delighted to be working with the National Library of Scotland to showcase the remarkable history and origins of Scotland's favourite ‘schoolboy’ and best loved family.
“Whether you've grown up reading the annuals or are discovering them for the first time, we hope families will enjoy celebrating this special anniversary with us.”