The Shadow "Crime Does Not Pay!" Matchbook (Blue Coal, 1940's)

Captain Midnight "Key-O-Matic Code-O-Graph" with key (Ovaltine, 1949)

Wannatoy's Bubble-Topped Coupe (Dillon Beck, 1940's)

"Steel, lead and rubber were not the only toy-making materials being rationed and restricted during the war. Plastic was too. As a result, despite the plastic industry's attempts to promote new formulas to the toy industry before and during the war, few manufacturers were poised at war's end to introduce bright new plastic playthings for Christmas. One of the few was Dillon-Beck Mfg. Co. of Hillside. N.J., which, under its Wannatoys banner, introduced its 25-cent coupe. The Wannatoy Coupe was not an ordinary coupe. It sported a bubble top of transparent acetate, through which a simplified steering wheel and seats were visible. The bubble sat squarely on a streamlined body, vaguely reminiscent of a rowboat set keel-side-up. Children, or at least their buying parents, reacted with enthusiasm to its Art Deco-inspired futuristic design. In the new Atomic Age, it expressed the hope people felt about times to come. A million units moved off shelves in the 1946 Christmas season. The Coupe sold well into the next decade, at the lower price of a dime per car. With plastic toys being promoted as safe, tough to break, free of sharp edges and hygienically washable, even toddlers must have had their first lessons in Art Deco styling from this wheeled, bubbled bauble, a dime-store best seller at the dawn of the Baby Boomer years.

-- from "Warman's 101 Great Baby Boomer Toys" (No.36)

The Shadow 1:6 Figure (Go Hero/Executive Replicas, 2012)

"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?  THE SHADOW KNOWS!

In 1930, The Shadow first appeared as the host of The Detective Story Magazine Hour for American radio. Among the actors to play The Shadow was the great Orson Welles. The Shadow fought evil forces with his mysterious girasol ring, guns, fists, and iconic laugh! Soon, The Shadow became a world famous pulp magazine with suspenseful storytelling and rich cover art. The Shadow has spawned countless imitations and is credited as being the direct inspiration for Batman. The Shadow has made an indelible mark on pop culture that lasts to this day.

For the first time ever, Executive Replicas and Go Hero are proud to present the Shadow 1:6th scale action figure. Now you can fight evil with...

-         Poseable Cape
-         Poseable Scarf
-         Likeness of Lamont Cranston as The Shadow
-         Black Suit (Jacket, Pants, Shirt, & Tie)
-         Black Hat
-         2 Guns
-         Holster
-         Shoes & Socks
-         2 Sets of Hands with The Shadow’s Ring
-         Figure Stand"

 -- from the "Go Hero" website

This is a limited edition of 750 pieces.

"The Shadow", Advance A3 Poster (1994)

The Shadow "Blue Coal" Blotter, Style L (1940's)

The Shadow "Blue Coal" Blotter, Style C (1940's)

Space Intruder Erasers (Kikkerland, 2012)

They're Space Inva-- Intruders! And they're erasers! What's not to love? :)

Atomic Disintegrator (Hubley, USA, 1954)

It was love at first sight.

The moment I first saw the Hubley in the wonderful book "Blast Off!", I knew I had to have one. For me, this raygun epitomises the dream of the disintegrator-ray-shooting weapon. This is what I would like to carry with me, should I need to go on a space adventure. Made of heavy metal with plastic grips, you can feel the weight and the raw power.



The "Atomic Disintegrator" was created in 1954 by Hubley, manufacturer of cap guns since 1894, and is considered one of the most desirable ray guns for collectors. Also includes the original box. Relatively common in poor to fair condition, the box is extremely rare. When Hake's offered this example in 2012 with an almost intact box, the raygun metal still shiny (also rare), the mechanism in perfect working condition and no warping on the handles, I knew this one would find its way to me.

Now I feel I can take on any misguided space monster that dares threaten Earth. It hasn't got a chance.

"c. 1950s. Original box has moderate wear to one end flap having 2" tear but complete w/exception of one inside flap. Despite obvious defect on one side, box still displays VF. Box contains 7.25" long well-made gun w/heavy cast metal body and plastic grips. Gun is designed w/raised name "Atomic Disintegrator" on each side along w/nice futuristic design including simulated power setting knob on right side. Uses roll caps. Grips have nearly none of the typical warping and gun itself is unused. NM example of this classic space gun. Nicest condition example of this gun we have ever offered."

-- from Hake's auction description of this gun, in 2012.

The Shadow (March 15, 1940)

Cavaleiro Andante #1-15 (Portugal, 1952)

The "Cavaleiro Andante" was a Portuguese comic book, published between 1952 and 1962 and had 556 issues. The publisher was the Empresa Nacional de Publicidade and its director was Adolfo Simões Muller. Mainly geared towards European artists and stories, it published many stories by great artists like Fernando Bento, José Ruy, Eduardo Teixeira Coelho, José Garcês and Hergé.

I have the good fortune to own the first 69 issues (and some assorted later issues) with all the extras, as nearly all these issues had "separatas", or loose supplements that, when collected, would allow you to assemble something fun, and several loose announcements and contests. These are seldom seen, as they were the first to disappear when kids got their hands on them.

So please enjoy the first fifteen issues with all the supplements and extras. The scans seem to come out yellowish, but somehow I couldn't fix that.