Henson WILKINS & WONTKINS 1958 Vinyl Puppets No Resv.

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Henson WILKINS & WONTKINS 1958 Vinyl Puppets No Resv.

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Sold Date: 12/03/2006
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Fine Art

These two Henson puppets were mine when I was a kid growing up in Hyattsville, Maryland (Henson's hometown). I convinced my parents to mail in the $1 to Wilkins coffee in 1958. I've had them ever since. For a while, my company did work for Sesame Street and I'd display them in our offices. A set sold back in June for over $2200. You can see the listing at:

/item.asp?Auction=188&ItemNo=43611

For those of you who don't know, the Wilkins and Wontkins puppets were produced in 1958 by the John. R. Wilkins Coffee Company. Based on the famous Jim Henson puppets which were used in their commercials, the puppets could be bought by sending away the lid of a Wilkins Coffee Tin and $1.

From the base of the Wilkins Coffee Tin:

Wilkins: Hi kids! I'm Wilkins and he's Wontkins. You see us on TV! Send for us.....we're vinyl and 8" high lots of fun too!

's some info from Wikipedia:

Wilkins and Wontkins were the stars of one of the earliest, and perhaps longest running, commercial series made by Jim Henson's Muppets, appearing in 8 second spots for Wilkins Coffee. Wilkins was a smiling character named for the coffee, and Wontkins was his generally dour conterpart, a grumpy blob who couldn't stand the Wilkins brand. Wilkins would be a strong proponent of drinking Wilkins Coffee, and would attempt to convince Wontkins to drink it, too. Wontkins however, always refused, leading Wilkins to maim, destroy, assault, and sometimes kill Wontkins over his dislike of Wilkins Coffee.

Wontkins was named as Wilkins' opposite: they either "will" or "won't" drink the coffee. If you won't, bad things will happen to you.

A typical commercial would go like this:

(Wilkins and Wontkins appear under a sign reading "Wilkins Coffee". Wilkins speaks into a large, tabletop microphone).

Wilkins: Care for a cup of Wilkins Coffee?

Wontkins: No, I don't like coffee.

(As Wontkins says this, a hand from off screen places a gun next to Wontkins head. As he completes the line, the gun fires, dropping Wontkins out of frame in a puff of smoke)

Wilkins: This has been a public service.

True to the ad, Wilkins (the orange pre Kermit looking puppet) stand just under 8 inches tall. Wontkins is just over 7 inches. Wontkins is in the best shape with a scuff on his nose and some flecks of white and t My poor Wontkins got caught briefly by my Dachshund Jill who got in a couple of chews before I could get it away from her. So, t's about a 1 inch tear in the foot and a puncture on the mouth edge along with a nick. T's some white flecks from missing red on the mouth. The vinyl is in good shape with no deteroration. The photos show things nicely and feel free to ask questions.

On the back of Wontkins it says, WONTKINS, 1958 John H. Wilkins Company, Patent Pending. Wilkins says the same except with his name, WILKINS on the lower back.T is no Henson mark since these were his first licensed characters. I think he was a student at the University of Maryland at the time.

Anyway, I've run out of room... plus I have 4 grandkids now who can reach higher and higher on my shelves... so I'd rather these end up somew safe. I've had them almost 50 years.

I expect payment within 7 days after the end of the sale. I'll gladly ship overseas, but please note that not all modes of shipping allow insurance. I usually ship Priority Mail and you can check rates (even international) at the site. The "mail from" Zip Code is 22902.

Thanks for your interest.