This button was produced by Tokio cigarettes, a very popular brand
at the beginning of the 1900's. These were produced around 1910, and came
free with the cigarettes. The buttons are lithographed images with a celluloid
cover. Most have the paper insert from the brands of cigarette inside the pin's
back. These buttons feature the art of the popular newspaper’s cartoonists at
the dawning of the America's comics page. The button's artists are the icons
whose innovations lead the way to the comics we know today. This lot features
the artwork of Gus Mager.
In 1904, he created the first of his successful Monk comic strips
featuring monkey-like characters. Knocko the Monk was soon followed by new
figures such as Rhymo the Monk, Mufti the Monk, Freshy the Monk, Henpecko the
Monk, Groucho the Monk and the most popular, Sherlocko the Monk. These pinbacks
feature characters from the Monk series.
These are for
collectors of Vintage Tobacciana, Cartoon ephemera or anyone who likes vintage
cool that is well made. I will carefully package these pins so they arrive
in the condition shown. Any questions? Need more photos? Feel free to
contact me through eBay. Thanks for looking and please check out my store!
Keeth.