Mrs. Katzenjammer - Wrigley's "Comic Club" King Features Syndicate - Einson Freeman Co. Mask (1933)
Made by Einson-Freeman Co. • Licensed by King Features Syndicate
Issued for Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit Chewing Gum Promotion
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From the classic newspaper strip The Katzenjammer Kids comes the formidable Mrs. Katzenjammer — mother of the mischievous twins and one of the earliest comic-strip matriarchs in American newspaper history.
This full-color mask was part of the 1933 Wrigley’s “Comic Club” mail-away promotion, printed by Einson-Freeman Co. of Long Island City, N.Y., under license from King Features Syndicate.
The Wrigley’s set featured 18 different comic-strip faces, each available to children who mailed in gum wrappers. The ad campaign was designed to link America’s favorite chewing gum with its favorite funny-page stars — and Mrs. Katzenjammer’s unmistakable bonnet and stern smile were instantly recognizable in households coast to coast.
(Newspaper advertisement shown for reference only — not included.)
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Character: Mrs. Katzenjammer (from “The Katzenjammer Kids”)
Creators: Rudolph Dirks & Harold Knerr
Year: 1933
Maker: Einson-Freeman Co., Long Island City, N.Y.
License: King Features Syndicate
Material: Lithographed heavy paper stock
Dimensions: Approx. 9 inches tall
Condition: Strong color with light surface wear, mild toning, and clearly legible marks:
“PAT. APPLIED FOR – EINSON-FREEMAN CO.” and “Mrs. Katzenjammer / King Features Syndicate.”
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Rarity & Known Survivors
This mask is one of the harder characters to find in the Comic Club lineup. While the twins Hans & Fritz appear more often, Mrs. Katzenjammer was printed in fewer numbers and seldom saved. Estimated surviving examples: 20 – 40 worldwide
Character Est. Survivors Rarity Tier
Popeye < 30
Barney Google 25–35
Mrs. Katzenjammer 20–40 Scarce
Hans 35–50
Fritz 35–50
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The Katzenjammer Kids (first published 1897) is recognized as the oldest American comic strip still in syndication.
The inclusion of Mrs. Katzenjammer in the 1933 Wrigley’s promotion cements her role as one of the earliest female characters ever turned into a mass-market children’s premium — a bridge between newspaper comics and early character merchandising.