Andy Gump (The Gumps) - Listerine Toothpaste (Par-T-Mask) Promotional Advertising Mask (1930s)

A fantastic piece of 1930s advertising ephemera—this Par-T-Mask features Andy Gump, the iconic bald-headed, mustachioed character from the popular comic strip The Gumps created by Sidney Smith.

This mask was distributed as a Listerine Toothpaste promotional giveaway—a clever tie-in merging early mass media comic fame with product marketing during the Depression era. Printed by Einson Freeman Co., Inc. for the Famous Artists Syndicate, these masks were part of the booming era of branded premiums when companies used playful giveaways to cement brand loyalty.

Date: 1930s

Character: Andy Gump (The Gumps)

Promotion: Listerine Toothpaste / Par-T-Mask series

Maker/Publisher: Einson Freeman Co. Inc. for Famous Artists Syndicate (Sydney Smith, creator of The Gumps)

Material: Litho-printed cardstock

Size: 8 inches by 10 inches

Condition: Original vintage, with strong colors and advertising print intact on reverse.

Historical Note:
The Gumps (1917–1959) was one of America’s most influential comic strips, pioneering the idea of a continuous narrative soap-opera style in newspapers. Its popularity spawned countless tie-ins, and this mask represents the fusion of popular culture with commercial advertising during the golden age of print promotions.