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An original Captain Black puppet head from Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's classic Supermarionation series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. The alien Mysterons controlled Captain Black as their agent in the "War of Nerves" they declared on Earth (as seen in the pilot episode "The Mysterons"). The series was the follow-up to the Anderson's commercially successful Thunderbirds, which captivated audiences worldwide.

Puppeteer Christine Glanville has stated that Captain Black was only meant to appear in the first episode, but when Gerry Anderson saw how effective his gaunt face looked after his "Mysteronisation", he decided to keep him as the nemesis of Captain Scarlet. This is the only known surviving Captain Black puppet head, understood to have been given to a studio scriptwriter as a part payment.

The two-part head is 11cm (4 1/4") high. It is made of fibreglass, painted and wigged with mohair, with resin eyes, each of which has a photograph of a real eye inserted. The lower lip is hinged and held shut by a spring allowing the puppet to talk. To create a more realistic effect, the Andersons' team pioneered the use of a solenoid to enable accurate mouth movements synchronised with recorded dialogue. The rear of the head is detachable to gain access to the internal mechanisms and is held in place by a magnet. Different versions of the head were made, including "normal", "smiler", "frowner" and "blinker". This head was a frowner, as indicated by the inscription of "CAPT BLACK FROWNER" on its interior.

The replica puppet body and costume were made by Terry Curtis, one of the original studio team's sculptors. Curtis worked with the Andersons during the 1960s on Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and other Supermarionation series, including Thunderbirds, The Secret Service and Joe 90.

This Captain Black puppet, like most puppets from the series, was re-used for guest roles in later Supermarionation series. It appeared in Joe 90 (as General Valdes in the episode "Viva Cordova") and The Secret Service (as Kroner, in "The Deadly Whisper"), among other roles. The lot comes with a custom-made display, allowing it to stand upright, and an original booklet created for the production featuring character outlines and a synopsis. Dimensions: 23 cm x 28 cm x 65 cm (9" x 11" x 25 1/2")

Estimate: £60,000 - 120,000 M



View all lots from CAPTAIN SCARLET AND THE MYSTERONS (1967-1968)