Planters Peanuts: Advertising Collectibles and Mr. Peanut Memorabilia
Planters Peanuts collectibles encompass the vast array of advertising items, packaging, store displays, and premium giveaways produced by the Planters Nut and Chocolate Company from its founding in 1906 through the present day. The company's iconic mascot, Mr. Peanut -- a monocled, top-hatted, cane-carrying anthropomorphic peanut designed by 14-year-old Antonio Gentile in 1916 -- is one of the most recognized advertising characters in American history.
History and Key Dates
- 1906: Amedeo Obici and Mario Peruzzi found Planters in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
- 1916: Mr. Peanut mascot created through a schoolboy contest; refined by a commercial artist who added the monocle, top hat, and cane
- 1920s-1930s: Golden age of Planters advertising; glass counter jars, tin containers, and paper ephemera proliferate
- 1961: Planters acquired by Standard Brands
- 1981: Merged into Nabisco; later Kraft Heinz
- 2021: Mr. Peanut temporarily "killed off" in a Super Bowl ad campaign, generating renewed collector interest
Types of Collectibles
Glass Counter Jars
The most iconic Planters collectibles. Used in stores to display and sell peanuts by the scoop.
- Barrel jar: Round barrel shape, embossed "Planters" and peanut finial lid; 1930s
- Fish bowl jar: Round globe shape; 1929
- Pennant jar: Five-sided with "Planters" pennants on each panel; 1930s
- Clipper jar: Streamlined Art Deco shape; late 1930s
- Leap Year jar: Square with paper label; 1940s
- Octagon jar: Eight-sided; 1920s-1930s
Tin Containers
- Peanut tins in various sizes from 1-pound to 10-pound store tins
- Lithographed designs featuring Mr. Peanut in various poses and settings
Other Collectibles
- Painted cast-iron and plastic Mr. Peanut figures
- Mechanical pencils, key chains, and premium giveaways
- Wooden and cardboard store displays
- Paper bags, wax wrappers, and packaging
- Salt and pepper shakers, banks, and kitchen items
Auction Price Ranges
| Item | Condition | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Common glass jar (barrel, fish bowl) | Good | $30 - $75 |
| Scarce glass jar (pennant, clipper) | Very good | $75 - $200 |
| Rare glass jar (octagon, square) | Excellent | $150 - $500 |
| 1-lb peanut tin, 1920s-30s | Good | $40 - $100 |
| 10-lb store tin, lithographed | Very good | $100 - $300 |
| Cast-iron Mr. Peanut figure | Original paint | $200 - $600 |
| Wooden store display | Complete | $300 - $1,000+ |
| Mechanical pencils/premiums | Good | $15 - $50 |
| Paper advertising, pre-1940 | Very good | $25 - $150 |
Condition Factors
- Glass jars: Must have original lids with peanut finials; missing or replaced lids cut value by 50% or more
- Tins: Lithography brightness and completeness are critical; rust, dents, and scratches lower value significantly
- Cast-iron figures: Original paint is essential; repainted examples bring a fraction of original-paint prices
- Paper items: Staining, tears, and foxing all reduce value; clean, bright examples command premiums
Collecting Tips
- Glass counter jars are the entry point for most collectors and remain the most liquid segment of the market
- Pre-1940 items generally outperform post-war pieces, with Art Deco era (1930s) being especially popular
- Reproductions of glass jars exist; genuine jars have specific mold characteristics and glass quality that experienced collectors can identify
- Mr. Peanut figures have been reproduced extensively; verify casting details and paint wear patterns
- Regional variations in packaging and advertising from the Wilkes-Barre and Suffolk, Virginia plants are of special interest to advanced collectors
- Store displays and point-of-purchase materials are scarce survivors and consistently bring strong auction results