Billy Bones (Treasure Island) - Promotional Paper Mask (1960s)

This striking paper mask depicts Billy Bones, the hardened old sea dog from Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Distributed in the 1960s as part of a promotional set, the mask features bold, comic-style graphics with Billy’s trademark headscarf marked by bright red polka dots and a sword clenched between his teeth.

These masks were part of the wave of mid-century Treasure Island tie-in promotions, often connected with theaters, restaurants, and children’s advertising premiums. They brought to life the swashbuckling world of Stevenson’s classic tale for a new generation, reflecting the 1960s fascination with adventure stories and pirate imagery.

Date: 1960s

Character: Billy Bones (Treasure Island)

Size: 11 x 9 inches

Rarity: Scarce survivor from themed promotional sets