Betty Boop - Fleischer Studios, Inc. - Advertising Promotional Paper Mask (1931)

Before Mickey Mouse reigned supreme, Betty Boop was one of the most recognizable animated stars of the early 1930s. Created by Max Fleischer and Grim Natwick, Betty debuted in 1930 in Dizzy Dishes and by 1931 had become the first true female animated icon—flirtatious, independent, and thoroughly modern. Her cartoons captured the jazz age spirit with a playful mix of innocence and risqué appeal.

This rare Betty Boop paper mask, issued in 1931 by Fleischer Studios, Inc., stands as one of the earliest known pieces of Betty Boop merchandising. Produced during her breakout years, it would have been distributed as a promotional giveaway, either in theaters showing Fleischer shorts or through cross-promotional advertising partners. The simple yet instantly recognizable design—big round eyes, heart-shaped face, and iconic short curls—cemented Betty’s image in the minds of Depression-era audiences.

Because these masks were made inexpensively on lightweight stock and meant to be used, very few survived in good condition. Most were discarded or destroyed after play use, making authentic examples extremely scarce in the collector’s market. Today, they represent a vital link to Fleischer Studios’ inventive marketing and the birth of character licensing that set the stage for Disney, Warner Bros., and others to follow.

For collectors of early animation, Hollywood ephemera, and advertising history, this mask is a premiere piece, capturing the earliest phase of Betty Boop’s rise to fame.

Measures 8 ½ inches by 9 inches. Marked Fleischer Studios.