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

This original 1938 Whitman Publishing Co. paper mask features Sneezy, one of Disney’s Seven Dwarfs from the groundbreaking film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Produced as part of Whitman’s licensed Disney novelties, these masks were issued during the film’s first wave of merchandising — making them among the earliest Disney paper collectibles ever created.

Printed in bright pre-war litho colors, this mask captures Sneezy mid-expression, his comical face embodying the dwarf’s signature sneeze-prone personality. Made of lightweight paperboard with die-cut eyeholes and original side tabs, it was intended as a child’s dress-up mask, but few examples survive due to their fragile nature.

Historical Context:

1937: Snow White premieres, becoming the first full-length animated feature and a cultural phenomenon.

1938: Whitman Publishing Co. produces a series of licensed Disney masks of the dwarfs, issued in bookstores, five-and-dimes, and novelty shops.

These represent some of the first commercial products to bring Disney animation into everyday play for children.

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