You can learn a lot by studying ad sheets, such as how dispensers were packaged, who distributed them and how much they cost. Rare and unusual color variations of some dispensers have been verified using information and pictures provided on vintage sheets. Depending on the dispenser(s) pictured, size of the ad and artwork, prices for these ad sheets can go from a couple of dollars for a current ad to several hundred dollars for a vintage ad of popular character(s) like the Universal Studios movie monsters. Around 2005, PEZ stopped producing these sheets, opting to distribute the information electronically. The days of cool old paperwork with bright illustrated graphics have become a thing of the past.
As mentioned earlier, niche items, such as vintage packaging, ad sheets, displays and counter boxes, can be expensive and difficult to find. These kinds of paper items are also known as “ephemera,” which refers to printed matter not meant to be retained or saved. By that nature, it could also imply collectability. Items like this were and still are considered disposable items. When the product was gone, the shopkeeper threw it away and ordered another—it was never meant to be kept. Most of the vintage boxes contained twenty-four or thirty-six dispensers, which means there was only one box for every two or three dozen dispensers. Of those dispensers, think about the relative small quantity of boxes that may have survived compared to the number that was once produced.
The dispenser, made of plastic, was more durable, was meant to be played with and likely ended up in a toy box or bottom of the junk drawer, meaning its chances for survival were far greater than the packaging it came in. The boxes, on the other hand, made of cardboard and paper, were designed for the express purpose of merchandise display and discarded when empty. For example, a dispenser is valued at $100. In theory, that should dictate that the price of the box it came in would be twenty-four to thirty-six times that of the dispenser. Current prices for rare boxes are expensive but nowhere near that range. When you look at it this way, it’s easy to see how scarce some of these boxes really are.
A selection of rare and unusual candy boxes, circa 1940s–70s.
Pricing for any of these kinds of items depends on the condition, size, rarity, characters or theme depicted and artwork. Boxes, like ad sheets, inserts and other paper-related items, are not popular with all collectors. Boxes that were produced for a specific group are much harder to find and usually bring more money than generic boxes. Most of these produced in the early 1960s through the late ’70s are called “single-theme boxes” because they had one specific purpose. Single-theme boxes include such art and characters as The Jungle Book, Popeye, Batman and Green Hornet. These are also known as “cross-over” collectibles because there is another group of hobbyists entirely dedicated to collecting memorabilia from that character or television show.
As a child growing up in Vienna, Austria, the first executive vice-president of PEZ was neighbors with Sigmund Freud.
Boxes showing a generic character allowed more flexibility in what was placed inside them and quickly became more common in the 1980s through the mid-2000s. Around 2005, the company switched from a generic blue twenty-four-count box to a single-theme twelve-count box for bagged dispensers. Given the fact that these newer boxes are theme specific, there is good potential for them to increase in value down the road.
CANDY PACKS
While the candy itself has always been at the core of the business, collecting the individual candy packs is gaining interest with some collectors. The desire to find odd and unusual candy packs has piqued interest, causing prices to rise into the hundred-dollar-plus range for some rare packs. Examples of rare candy packs include those that have pictures of a regular on the back (dating to the 1950s), small sample packs from a tradeshow that only contained three or four pieces of candy or simply a flavor that did not sell well, such as flower flavors from the 1960s. These kinds of packs are very difficult to find and, therefore, command higher prices. Flower flavor packs, when found, have sold for as much as $300 to $400 each for a single candy roll.
Condition, flavor and language are the three most important factors when determining the value of a candy pack. Age also plays a part; generally, the older the pack, the higher the price. The ingredient list on the side also plays a part but is generally considered more of a variation than a value factor.
In the late 1990s, candy packs were modified and manufactured with the label printed right on the foil. Currently, these trade for around original retail price. Value and collectability usually begin when the flavor or wrapper design is no longer available. Earlier packs that were made using a separate paper label wrapped around a foil paper insert are more desirable as candy pack collecting gains interest. Prices for candy packs can vary as widely as the many variations that can be found.
A promotional photograph showing a selection of very rare candy boxes, circa 1960s.
A recent candy pack assortment. U.S. candy packs are shown on the left, and European candy packs are shown on the right, circa 2015.
Known PEZ flavors include anise, apple, assorted fruit, cherry, chlorophyll, chocolate, coffee, cola, eucalyptus-menthol, fizzy, flower, grape, hot cinnamon, IZO (vitamins), lemon, licorice, lime, mango, mint, orange, peppermint, raspberry, raspberry/lemon, sour blue raspberry, sour green apple, sour pineapple, sour watermelon, strawberry, strawberry/vanilla, sugar-free lemon, sugar-free orange, sugar-free peppermint, sugar-free strawberry, tangerine, wild cherry and yogurt. Most can be found in a wide variety of wrapper variations and numerous different languages.
Many of the less popular flavors, such as flower and chlorophyll, were quickly discontinued, making the candy packs quite scarce. Of the old candy packs that have survived, much of it has held up very well. The exception seems to be European candies from the late ’80s and ’90s. U.S. candy is sugar based, while European candy is Dextrose based. The U.S. candy, with the exception of sour flavors, tends to get harder over time. Flavor and color will dissipate but sugar will not mold, so if stored correctly, it can last indefinitely. Despite best efforts, ingredients used in the sour flavors will eventually reverse engineer themselves and start to soften and eventually liquefy. This process takes years, but it’s something to consider when storing collections or displaying candy packs.
A very rare citron candy wrapper, circa 1950s.
Most every collector who has been at this a while will have the same story to relate. Many European packs from this era have softened and leaked onto the card, leaving a stained, sticky mess behind. Climate plays a big factor in preservation, so if you plan on collecting candy, keep it stored in a cool, dark place that has a consistent temperature and low humidity.
A good way to reuse those small desiccant packages (silica gel) found in the pockets of some clothing or packed with some pieces of electronic equipment is to store them with the candy packs you are collecting. They are great for absorbing excess moisture and help to preserve the candy.
The first national gathering of PEZ collectors was held on Saturday, June 15, 1991, in Mentor, Ohio. Since then, collector conventions have popped up all over the world.
Chapter 11
The Deal Is in the Details
This hobby is the perfect avenue for those who love nuance and variation; some of the dispenser variations are quite rare and can dramatically affect the value. Knowing some of these variations adds a layer of excitement when searching for dispensers. What could seemingly be a regular version could in fact be something unusual to the knowledgeable collector with a keen eye.
For example, in the mid-1950s when the original witch was released, the vast majority were all a single variation. Around the same time, a minor variation of the same dispenser was released. Both looked nearly the same, but the head is shaped slightly different and the picture on the stem is slightly different. The most noticeable difference is in the hat. The hat of the variation is just a little bit taller but significantly larger and rounder at the topmost point. This is known as “witch B.” Witch B is extremely difficult to find
, and the few that have turned up, more times than not, have a broken head spring. There are photos in the company archive that show the variation but nothing to indicate why production may have been limited, resulting in so few examples existing today. Both witch versions have a unique stem found only on this dispenser. One side contains the PEZ logo, and the other side has a raised art design that shows a witch flying on a broomstick. The art designs are similar, but each is unique to that particular version.
Original witch dispensers can be found and do turn up on a regular basis. In excellent condition, examples have sold in collector circles between $100 and $200. If you are lucky enough to find the rare variation, you should know examples have sold for as much as $3,000.
Other fun examples to look for are color variations. Color can be a major factor in determining value of certain dispensers. The cat with derby is a fairly common vintage dispenser. The usual color combination is a black head with a pink mouth and red hat. This version has sold for around $100, give or take, depending on the market at the time. The rare version of this dispenser has a yellow head, black mouth and red hat. If you can find one, examples have sold for almost $2,000.
Glow-in-the-dark PEZ dispensers were first sold in the United States in 2002.
Pandas are fairly common dispensers with several variations to look for and collect. Some have removable eyes, some have feet and some are also whistles. Most can be found for $20 or less. Find a footless version with a yellow or red head and it could be worth between $400 and $500.
Stems and patent numbers do play a part in value but are generally considered variations. Some dispenser bases are specific to certain dispensers, such as the witch discussed earlier in this chapter. All psychedelic dispensers have at least one and possibly two smooth sides with no PEZ logo where a sticker that covers the entire stem would have been applied. The football player always has a unique stem that has the logo on one side and a pennant-shaped triangle that points down molded into the other side. “Made in USA” stems have particular interest from most collectors, as they were made for a relatively short period of time and some are unique in color as well. Dispensers “Made in Spain” or “Made in Brasileira” (Brazil) are extremely difficult to find and factor into the value, as usually the character will be completely unique from its counterpart made in another country. Common variations of the fireman dispenser are usually found with either a red or yellow stem, red hat and black mustache and generally sell for less than $100. If you find one made in Brazil with a black hat, it could be worth almost $3,000.
Patent numbers provide a vague indication of when a dispenser was produced but not enough to narrow it to a particular year. Patent numbers were issued on specific dates and are used for years before the next revision is made. For that reason, they cannot be used to date a dispenser with any degree of certainty. Exceptions with value would be thin-footed dispensers with the original 2.620.061 patent number or those marked “BOX Patent” or “BOX Trademark”; both are the earliest versions and are very difficult to find.
The unusual variation is not limited to only vintage dispensers. Some modern dispensers with feet can be quite valuable if the right variation is found. In the early 1990s, the skull dispenser with a purple stem, ivory head and black collar was the typical version offered in the Halloween assortment. Most of these skulls had a missing tooth as part of the design and usually sell for less than $10. Find a rare variation that has a full set of teeth, known as the Colgate skull (presumably because he brushed his teeth, preventing tooth loss), and the price goes up significantly. Examples with a full set of teeth have sold for almost $200.
In the 2000s, when the Bugz line was introduced, the original ladybug in the series contained red antenna. It was thought the dispenser looked better with black antenna, and the change was quickly made, resulting in a true rarity. If you can find a red antenna version, examples have sold for as much as $200. Examples like these are subtle yet have a profound price difference. Because the variations are so slight, it may be worth your time to pick through boxes of “common” dispensers looking for that one unique feature.
Other things to be aware of are bootlegs or remanufactured parts. While not widespread, there are a few out there, and knowing what to look for can save a lot of headaches. Sometime in the mid-1990s, a person remanufactured the flocked vac-u-form displays that PEZ originally first offered as mail-in premiums back in the 1960s. These displays, as well as the originals, were great to show off vintage dispensers but, unfortunately, very difficult to tell apart.
In 2007, PEZ celebrated eighty years as a brand and continues to introduce new characters all the time.
For a number of years, PEZ offered these displays as exclusive mail-order premiums. You could send in X number of wrappers, a nominal amount of money or a combination of both, and PEZ would send you one of these displays to encourage collecting. Original displays were red flocked plastic with either six or twelve display compartments. An eight-compartment version included a horizontal indentation that was designed as a pen rest. (PEZ also offered a special three-sided pen as a promo that could be used with the display.)
Some original six- and twelve-compartment versions included the name P-E-Z molded into the front of the display. Other original examples were plain white plastic without any flocking material and also contained the molded P-E-Z name in the front. The flocked finishes of the remakes were the same, and the plastic was identical to the originals. The molded P-E-Z name on the front of the displays is the best and only way to distinguish between an original and a remake.
Flocked display stands like this were offered as part of the mail-order program, circa 1960s and 1970s.
The remakes were all six-compartment designs offered in maroon red, blue or green. They were designed to accommodate either footed or no-footed dispensers. The way to tell the difference between an original and a remake lies with the letter E: in all original displays, the middle extension of the letter is not as long as the top or bottom extensions. With the remakes, the horizontal extensions in the letter E are the same length. It’s a subtle difference but the only way to tell. Unlike the remakes, none of the original displays could accommodate a footed dispenser (because they did not exist yet).
These displays show up on Internet auction sites on occasion and are most always misrepresented as “vintage.” Likely the misrepresentation is not intentional in most cases; information on these displays has been limited at best. The hobby itself was still pretty young when these were introduced, so a lot of today’s collectors weren’t around to see or hear of them firsthand.
As the hobby continues to grow and more money is spent, the more incentive there will be by those looking to take advantage. There have been at least a couple of individuals who manufactured for dispensers replacement parts such as hats and mustaches. It’s difficult sometimes to track these parts. Communication with other collectors is key to knowing who is selling or making bootleg items. Red hats for the original PEZ Pal boy are notorious for being remanufactured, as are mustaches for ringmasters, capes for Batman and home plates for the baseball glove set (to name a few). The remanufactured red hats are very similar in appearance to the originals and difficult at best to distinguish in a photograph. Most experienced collectors can differentiate between the two when examined in person. The best solution, if you’re not sure, is to buy from a reputable dealer who will stand behind what he is selling.
Some remanufactured parts were made in colors that PEZ never produced, so it makes them easy to spot and distinguish from an original. Other parts are done so crudely that it’s easy to spot the difference to the experienced eye. The advancement of technology and ease of finding information on the Internet has made it much easier to figure out how to make parts. Some parts or heads made with 3D printers have shown up on Internet auction sites, but so far, the quality and appearance is quite noticeable from that of the original.
A disassembled clear 1950s space gun believed to be one of two
examples known to exist.
Several years ago, a complete ’50s space gun was remade and sold for a record amount (over $11,000). The person who sold the gun allegedly used a real ’50s gun to make the molds and then cast the fake in clear transparent plastic. When the sale took place, there was only one verifiable example of this gun known to exist; it is part of a private collection in Austria. Since then, I believe there was a second clear ’50s gun found around 2013 that is real, along with a number of extremely rare items that included a political donkey and elephant dispenser.
The person who bought the clear ’50s gun discovered the fraud when the gun started to warp because of the internal tension from the rubber band that was attached to the trigger mechanism. That tension put enough pressure on the plastic shell of the gun that it began to warp. This kind of issue would not happen with an actual space gun. Later, it was discovered that several other ’50s guns had been remanufactured in various colors. The only way to tell the difference with some degree of certainty is to examine them in person.
An actual space gun from the 1950s was made with styrene plastic. That plastic will make a certain sound when tapped with your fingernail or other solid object. Remanufactured guns will have a different sound that is more “rubbery.” I know that may sound unscientific at best, but it seems to be the best way to distinguish between the two. Think of it like the sound a dinner plate will make when tapped with your finger or an object. If that plate has an internal crack, it will make a much different sound than one that does not. Same with the ’50s PEZ guns; the remanufactured guns will have a different feel and much different sound to them versus an original.
PEZ Page 13