Doc (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) - Whitman Publishing Co - Walt Disney Paper Mask (1938)

This original 1938 Whitman Publishing Co. paper mask features Doc, the wise and kind-hearted leader of Disney’s Seven Dwarfs. Issued to promote Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), these fragile masks were sold in five-and-dime stores and through Whitman’s licensed Disney tie-ins, making them some of the earliest paper collectibles tied directly to a feature-length animated film.

Doc’s mask is rendered in bold pre-war litho colors, complete with his signature round glasses and gentle smile. Children of the late 1930s would have worn these masks for parties and play, but because they were made of thin paperboard with tabs, few have survived in collectible condition.

Historical Context:

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered in December 1937, quickly becoming a cultural landmark.

Whitman Publishing Co., already known for producing storybooks and paper novelties, capitalized on the phenomenon by releasing this series of dwarf masks in 1938.

Today, these masks offer a rare glimpse at Disney’s earliest merchandising efforts — issued before the studio had even fully built out its consumer products division.

Details:

Date: 1938
Publisher: Whitman Publishing Co.
Film Tie-In: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Size: approx. 13.5" x 9"
Medium: Lithographed paper mask with side tabs