Bo-Bo (The Clown) - Wheaties Cereal mask (1940s-50s) - complete cereal box
This rare Bo-Bo the Clown mask remains intact on a full Wheaties cereal box from the late 1940s to early 1950s, offering one of the best surviving examples of mid-century cereal-box premiums.
During this period, Wheaties often printed colorful masks on the backs of their boxes, encouraging children to cut them out, tie them on, and play. Clowns were especially popular with kids of the era, embodying the cheerful spirit of the circus and children’s entertainment. While most masks were quickly cut and worn, very few boxes survived in complete form, making this an exceptional piece.
The design of Bo-Bo, with his oversized orange nose, wide grin, and bold graphics, captures the energy and whimsy that defined postwar advertising for children. To find the entire box preserved flat is highly uncommon, elevating this item into the upper tier of cereal-mask collecting.
Date: Late 1940s–1950s
Origin: Wheaties Cereal backside mask premium
Character: Bo-Bo the Clown
Size: Box measures 10 x 13.5 inches (flattened)
Condition: Complete box with vivid colors and wear consistent with age; mask uncut and intact.