Lion - C.D. Kenney Co. - Tea and Coffee - Advertising Paper Mask (1910s)

This majestic lion mask is one of the earliest surviving examples of advertising ephemera tied to the C.D. Kenney Company, a Baltimore-based firm established in the late 19th century that became well known for its tea and coffee. By the 1910s, Kenney was competing in a crowded national market, and like many companies of the time, they turned to premiums and giveaways as a way to capture the loyalty of households and children alike.

This mask is lithographed on early 20th-century card stock, depicting a powerful yet approachable lion — both a symbol of strength and a recognizable advertising mascot for the brand. Pieces like this were given away at stores or included with bulk orders of coffee and tea to encourage repeat business. Unlike later comic or cartoon-style advertising, these early masks aimed for a more naturalistic and serious style, making them stand out from the character-driven advertising of the 1930s–1950s.

Very few masks from this era survived. Children would have cut them out, tied them on with string, and quickly discarded them, making intact examples today almost unheard of. Over a century later, this mask stands as a testament to both early American advertising ingenuity and the roots of collectible premiums.

Date: Circa 1910s
Maker/Advertiser: C.D. Kenney Company, Baltimore, Maryland
Product Tie-in: Tea and Coffee promotions
Size: approx. 8" x 14.5"
Rarity: Ultra Rare – early pre-1920s advertising premiums seldom survive, especially in mask form.