Tillie the Toiler - 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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Long before Hollywood had pin-up icons, the funny pages had Tillie the Toiler — the stylish, independent stenographer created by Russ Westover in 1921. Syndicated by King Features, Tillie embodied the flapper-era working girl with a mix of sass, glamour, and ambition.
When Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. launched its 1933 “Comic Club” premium campaign, Tillie was a natural inclusion alongside Popeye, Jiggs, Krazy Kat, and Barney Google. Kids mailed in Juicy Fruit wrappers and received a full-color mask printed by Einson-Freeman Co., each stamped with the official King Features Syndicate copyright.
(Newspaper ad shown for reference only — not included with mask.)
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Character: Tillie the Toiler
Creator: Russ Westover
Year: 1933
Maker: Einson-Freeman Co., Long Island City, N.Y.
License: King Features Syndicate
Material: Lithographed heavy paper with original strap slots and factory markings
Dimensions: Approx. 9 inches tall
Condition: Excellent color with minor edge wear, faint toning, and original manufacturer’s marks clearly visible.
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Rarity & Known Survivors
Among the female characters in the Comic Club promotion, Tillie the Toiler ranks among the scarcest — trailing only Olive Oyl and Maw Green in confirmed survivor counts.
Estimated surviving examples: 35 – 50 worldwide.
Character Est. Survivors Rarity Tier
Popeye < 30
Barney Google 25 – 35
Krazy Kat 30 – 40
Tillie the Toiler 35 – 50 Scarce
Jiggs / Mac / Hans / Fritz 50 – 80
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Tillie the Toiler was more than a comic strip — she was an early feminist pop-culture symbol who helped define modern working-woman fashion and humor. This mask captures the sleek Art Deco style of 1930s advertising and the transition from flapper to office girl in Depression-era America.