Elwar Button Mystery

[Monolith]

Most impressive ELWAR collections! Love the original card!

Do you also have the small set that looks like the big set?

Thanks. Nope-don't have any of the small set that looks like the big set.

[Monolith]

Can you post a picture of the small ones beside the large ones for comparison's sake?

They're packed away in boxes right now. I'll have to find them and dig them out again.

[Mike Scott]

Can you post a picture of the small ones beside the large ones for comparison's sake?

The small ones are 7/8" and the large are 3.5".

[Mike Scott]

Thanks. Nope-don't have any of the small set that looks like the big set.

A few years ago, there was a bunch of them on ebay, but you just don't see them anymore.

[Hepcat]

Here's an image upon which I've stumbled which adds to the mysteries surrounding these buttons:



That's the vending machine card paired with buttons featuring the same artwork and lettering as that found on Monster Candy:



Has anyone else seen these buttons? My suspicion is that these buttons might be a fan made issue.

[Mike Scott]

My suspicion is that these buttons might be a fan made issue.

That's exactly what they are.

[Hepcat]

Can you fill us in on any of the details?

[Mike Scott]

Can you fill us in on any of the details?

No legitimate novelty company is going to swipe art from some other company's product. eBay is full of fan made buttons! They use Aurora monster art, Mani-Yack art, anything you can think of.

[Devlin]

Definitely homemade. I could whip up an identical button pack in about an hour, if not less... but mine would probably be glow in the dark or prismatic or something, because I can never leave well enough alone!

[Hepcat]

Warren made a set of Munsters buttons in 1965, and the art, style, and size strongly resembles these Elwar Monster buttons, but they are clearly marked WARREN PUBLISHING CO. on the rim.

Munsters? Are you sure you're not thinking of these Addams Family buttons issued by Warren in 1964?

[Dr.Terror]

Interesting

[Hepcat]

Were all the Elwar Famous Monster buttons available as first versions or only the Frankenstein?

[Dr.Terror]

Yes.  But Frank is the only one with a different background color.

[Mike Scott]

Yes.  But Frank is the only one with a different background color.

And the art is different on the older ones. I think the newer ones are a little more refined.

[Dr.Terror]

Here is the first version Frank.