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Mister Rogers' (Fred Rogers) blue sweater, circa 1990's from Fred Rogers' Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. At the start of every episode, Rogers would come for a visit, and as part of his ritual, he would sing "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" as he removed his jacket and donned a cardigan zipper sweater, followed by switching his dress shoes for a pair of sneakers. This sweater is believed to have been worn on January 8, 1997, when Rogers received his star on the Walk of Fame.
Rogers' sweater, symbolic of play clothes, came to represent his ability to meet children on their level. While Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was an educational children's television show, Rogers went to great lengths to not put on an act and spoke directly to the viewer as he covered various topics and interacted with his friends, often even covering taboo subjects in the cultural zeitgeist, such as racial segregation, war, and death. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood won four Daytime Emmy Awards, one Peabody Award, and one Heritage Award from the Television Critics Association. It remains a culturally impactful show and is considered one of the greatest TV shows of all time.Rogers' mother hand-knit his sweaters every year until she died in 1981, but by the 1990's, production turned to purchasing sweaters in bulk for the last 10 years of the show's run that were then hand-dyed, and the zipper tape hand-colored in with matching permanent marker.This customized sweater has a zip closure and a shortened collar. It was hand-dyed blue, and the zipper tape was hand-colored in with blue ink. It is accompanied by a typed personal letter with Mister Rogers' Neighborhood letterhead and signed by Fred Rogers. It shows a patch of white at the bottom of the zipper tape where the ink has lifted. In addition, it shows wear consistent with on-set use, handling, and age, as well as discoloration along the collar and over one pocket.
Estimate: $25,000 - 50,000
View all lots from MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD (T.V. SERIES, 1968-2001)
This item comes with a Propstore Certificate of Authenticity.