Sutan (of Changtu) - Wheaties Cereal mask (1940s-50s) - backside

This dramatic “Sutan of Changtu” mask was one of Wheaties’ cereal-box premiums from the late 1940s into the early 1950s. Printed on the back of cereal boxes, these masks were part of General Mills’ effort to combine breakfast with playtime—encouraging kids to cut out and wear them.

The design reflects the pulp-fiction and Hollywood “exotic villain” themes of its day, echoing adventure serials and comic strips popular in mid-century America. While the portrayal is clearly outdated today, it stands as an artifact of advertising history—illustrating how commercial art and cereal companies tapped into pop-culture archetypes to captivate young audiences.

Rarity: Less common than many of the Moon Mullins family character masks, with survival limited due to being cut out and discarded. Complete cereal panels with the mask intact are far scarcer.

Measures: 10 x 12.5 inches
Date: 1940s–1950s
Origin: Wheaties cereal backside premium