Iconic jacket worn by Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins sells for £40k
THE candy-striped jacket worn by Dick Van Dyke as 'Bert' in one of the most memorable scenes of Disney classic Mary Poppins has sold under the hammer for £40,000.
The iconic ensemble was up for grabs 50 years since the timeless 1964 film, which starred Julie Andrews as a magical nanny who helps unite a dysfunctional British family.
American actor Van Dyke played Cockney chimney sweep Bert and his usual dour outfit is transformed for the film’s famous fantasy sequence – blending actors with animated characters – when the pair sing Jolly Holiday.
The satin-lined jacket has Van Dyke's name and 'Western Costume Company' written on an inside label.
As well as this it still boasts the hook holes used to hoist the chimney sweep for a part in the clip where he sings with animated birds.
The lucky buyer was a private collector at an auction house near Los Angeles organised by Profiles in History.
What makes this jacket so special is that it is from such a memorable scene when Mary Poppins and Bert go into a fantasy land - it's a magical duel world
Joe Maddalena, from Profiles in History, said: "What makes this jacket so special is that it is from such a memorable scene when Mary Poppins and Bert go into a fantasy land - it's a magical duel world.
"It's instantly recognisable from that scene. There would have been several jackets made but this is the only one known to exist.
"Mary Poppins is one of a few films that rank up there with the best like Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz - it's evergreen.
"Some films are important and some are fun. Mary Poppins has both elements. "
After filming was finished the jacket was returned to the Western Costume Company in Hollywood.
Unlike many costumes from that period the jacket survived and was bought by a private collector in the 1993.
Mr Maddalena added said it was a "miracle"it survived.
The Penguin Dance Mary Poppins Dick Van Dyke)
"The jacket comes from an iconic scene in an iconic movie - it doesn't get much better than that.
"After the production wrapped most of the garments weren't saved so it's a miracle that this one has survived."
The clip is one of the most loved of the film, which was a box office smash around the world.
Regarded as one of the best movies ever made, it will be a regular in television schedules over the Christmas period.
