Headhunter - Kelloggs Corn Flakes mask (1953) - backside

From the 1953 Kellogg’s “False Faces” mask series, this striking cut-out mask known as the “Headhunter” was printed on the reverse side of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes cereal boxes. Part of a larger set of promotional masks aimed at children, the series reflected the advertising trends of the early 1950s—brightly colored, imaginative, and sometimes caricatured designs that today highlight both the playful and problematic aspects of mid-century commercial art.

Most of these masks were cut out, played with, and discarded, making surviving examples rare. This piece, still intact on the original panel, represents not just a nostalgic childhood premium but also a cultural snapshot of how cereal companies marketed fun and fantasy at the breakfast table. Collectors prize it for its bold lithography, rarity, and its place in the larger Kellogg’s advertising legacy.

Measures approx. 7.5" × 11"
Dated 1953, part of Kellogg’s “False Faces” promotion
Original color lithograph, uncut backside panel

Rarity & Value: While many of the 1953 masks surface occasionally, intact box panels—especially featuring the more unusual characters like the Headhunter—are much harder to find. A key piece for serious cereal premium and advertising collectors.