These over-the-head masks were first made in Germany during the teens. This one is particularly spooky, don’t you think? These were relatively expensive when first produced and tended to be sold at the “better” stores. Today, few have survived and the current price on this mask of $760 with 1+ days to go illustrates their desirability and scarceness.
09/19 Update: This scary item fetched $1,375!
Since I have a trimmed one of these in the collection, I called the seller this morning to convey that it was not a prototype not meant to be sold, but an item produced and distributed by Beistle - very much meant to be sold. I acquired my lesser example 6-7 years ago when I purchased a box from a seller in the Midwest. Everything in the box was from a party some relative threw in 1923. Therefore, I think it reasonable to assume this creation was sold that year, too. I suspect that it didn’t sell well, causing Beistle to but the brakes on such designs. (Beistle was a well-managed company with responsive management acutely attuned to market trends. From my familiarity with their business practices honed through my 33 years of avid collecting, I know Beistle seldom lost much time in acknowledging market missteps.) They tinkered with the overall design until they hit upon a better one, a more easily worn one, known today as Domino masks. These were sold from 1926-1931. Examples can be seen on pages 236-237. In short, this is a rarity - and in better shape than the only other one I’ve ever seen.
Beistle issued three “domino hat mask” designs between 1926 and 1931. Most of the time they were just stand-alone masks as shown on pages 236-237, but occasionally they were stapled to a random band hat, as in this listing. The entire bottom section of the mask is missing, so this is more of a substantial remnant than anything else. Virtually all of its collectible value has been eliminated due to its poor condition.
11/13 Update: …And yet this sold, in these bubbly times, for $86!
This item was produced by Beistle as one of their four domino mask designs from 1926-1931. (Check out two other designs on pages 236-237.) This example is missing its nose piece, a significant condition issue. In near-perfect condition, these typically bring close to $300.
10/04 Update: I’m not surprised this brought only $58.31.
This mask was actually made by Gibson sometime during the later 1920s, and represents the company recycling a design that was used as one of their Partipuzzles. Look at the puzzle on page 22 to see what I mean.
Beistle didn't use this image much, so this advertising item for Sealtest Ice Cream is unusual. They used this JOL on two variants of the same Jack-O-Lantern Fortune Game as well as a tabletop decoration with a flip-out base. (The latter item is exceedingly rare and can be seen in The Inner Sanctum section on page 124.) Compared to many of their masks, this design is a cut above.
This is certainly an odd item. Prior to viewing this listing, I had never seen a Beistle marketing tie-in. Did they actually license Sunshine Bakers to stamp their verbiage on the reverse, or was this something done without formal permission? Were these JOL masks purchased in large quantities from a wholesaler like Shackman's? Beistle, like so many firms back then, didn't keep meticulous records. Hence, it is near impossible to definitively answer questions like these. Even their vaunted archives really are just a few filing drawer cabinets haphazardly storing items thrown in without a great deal of thought.
The mask, in and of itself, is rare. Given the verbiage on the back, this item becomes even more rare. I was distressed by the condition, so never considered bidding, but in my estimation the buyer got a good deal.
