Turko (The Pasha) - Wheaties Cereal mask (1940s-50s) - backside

This colorful “Turko the Pasha” mask hails from the whimsical Wheaties cereal mask series of the late 1940s–50s. Printed on the back of Wheaties boxes, these masks invited kids to cut, wear, and play, turning breakfast into an adventure. With his bold fez and crescent-star emblem, Turko reflects mid-century America’s fascination with “exotic” characters drawn from travel tales, pulp stories, and Hollywood portrayals of faraway lands.

Measures: 10 x 12.5 inches
Date: 1940s–50s
Origin: Backside of Wheaties cereal box
Rarity: Moderately scarce; distinctive for its fez-and-mustache caricature style.