Benjamin Franklin - Great American Series (Par-T-Mask) Einson Freeman Co. Paper Mask (1933)

A rare survivor from the depths of the Great Depression, this Benjamin Franklin paper mask was produced in 1933 by the Einson Freeman Company as part of their ambitious “Great American Series” of Par-T-Masks. Unlike the whimsical cartoon characters and advertising tie-ins that dominated the mask market, this series presented children with faces of historical American icons — a blend of fun costume play and patriotic education.

Distributed in dime stores and department store promotions, these masks tapped into a national spirit of resilience during one of America’s hardest decades. Franklin, the statesman, inventor, and Founding Father, was the ideal subject: a symbol of thrift, ingenuity, and perseverance. For children of the 1930s, slipping on this mask meant literally “becoming” a piece of American history.

Printed in rich litho colors on sturdy paperboard, this mask captures Franklin’s likeness in remarkable detail. Today, very few examples of the Great American Series survive intact — most were discarded after play. Collectors prize them not only for their artistry but also for what they reveal about early 20th-century marketing, education, and pop culture.

Date: 1933
Maker: Einson Freeman Co. (Par-T-Mask line)
Size: 8" x 10"
Rarity: Very scarce; few surviving examples of the Great American Series are known