Bashful (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) - Whitman Publishing Co - Walt Disney Paper Mask (1938)

Original 1938 Whitman Publishing Co. paper mask featuring Bashful, one of Disney’s Seven Dwarfs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Released just one year after the film’s historic 1937 debut, these masks were part of the earliest wave of Disney character merchandise, created to capitalize on the film’s massive popularity.

This colorful lithographed mask captures Bashful’s signature shy smile and gentle expression, making it one of the more charming and endearing pieces in the set. Produced on sturdy paperboard with die-cut eyes and original tabs, these masks were intended for children’s play but now stand as highly collectible Disney ephemera.

Historical Context:

1937: Walt Disney releases Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first full-length cel-animated feature film, revolutionizing animation.

1938: Whitman Publishing Co., a leader in children’s books and paper novelties, issued this series of paper masks to tie in with the film’s cultural impact.

Whitman’s masks are among the earliest licensed Disney paper products, predating later Par-T-Masks and promotional tie-ins of the 1940s–60s.

Details:

Date: 1938
Publisher: Whitman Publishing Co.
Film Tie-In: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Size: approx. 13.5" x 9"
Medium: Lithographed paper with die-cut features and side tabs