HOW RARE IS ORIGINAL LUNCH BOX ART WORK?
There were only about 550 metal lunchboxes produced between 1950 to 1987. Each lunchbox has a front, back and side panel. If we relay that to lunchbox art we can estimate that there is a maximum of 3 pieces of art X 550 metal lunchboxes =1,650 pieces of original art. According to one book, 80% of lunchbox factories destroyed their art when the factories closed decades ago. With that percentage in mind, this means that 1,320 pieces of the 1,650 produced could possibly be destroyed leaving about 330 pieces of original art. Another note to mention is that some side panel art was made to be generic and used more than once by the artist to go on similar boxes. This brings our total closer to 300. In addition, a number of boxes had the same art for the front and back (ex. Smurfs). Lastly, we must consider that the Smithsonian has 100 pieces on their inventory list and perhaps more unarchived or a couple pieces in some folders. With that said, the pool of available art to collectors tops out at about 150 or less, original pieces of vintage metal lunchbox art worldwide.

There was also 1 piece of art produced for each thermos and we can estimate that approximately 80% of those were destroyed along with the box art. Metal thermos art is more sought after then plastic thermos art. Metal thermoses were only produced from 1950 - 1973. Not every lunchbox had a thermos and not every thermos had a character on them. There was approximately 165 vintage metal thermoses produced by the major factories. Some had generic art and some went with more than one lunchbox. With the estimated 80% destroyed we can estimate that only a few dozen original vintage metal thermos paintings exist today. Once again, the Smithsonian most likely has several of the pieces. It's safe to say that original lunchbox art, whether for the lunch box, or the thermos, is art that is "one of a kind" and "museum quality".

LUNCHBOX ART WORK IN THE MARKET PLACE
Original lunchbox art is very rare and highly collectible. The value on most pieces from the 1950s - 1980s is in the $1,000s! Certain pieces have already broken the $5,000 price mark. A few of the art pieces that have reached these heights are Dr.Seuss' - The Cat in the Hat metal lunchbox art by Aladdin (SOLD ON EBAY FOR APX $12,100 IN 2007, later appriased on Antiques Roadshow with an appraised value of $10,000 - $15,000) and Land of the Giants and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea metal lunch box art, also by Aladdin (SOLD ON EBAY FOR APX $5,000 EACH IN 2007).

The following is a price guide based on past sales and opinions formed as to the values of vintage metal lunchbox pieces that are known to exist. This is only an estimate and market values change on a daily basis. There is no guarantee as to the accuracy of the pricing and Lunchboxcollector.com, Inc. is not responsible for errors in judgement. Here is a listing of final original lunchbox artwork for vintage metal lunchboxes that are confirmed to exist in the open market and other places than in a museum:

1. 18 Wheeler original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,100
2. The Archie's original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,500
3. Back in '76 original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $2,000
4. Batman and Robin original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $20,000
5. Battlestar Galactica original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,100
6. Bedknobs and Broomsticks original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,100
7. The Beverly Hillbillies original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $4,500
8. The Black Hole original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,000
9. Bonanza original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,500
10. Buck Rogers in the 25th Century original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,800
11. Bugaloos original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $2,000
12. Care Bear Cousins original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $500
13. Charlie's Angel's original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $2,000
14. Chavo (La Vecindad Del Chavo) original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $700
15. Cracker Jack original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $600
16. Daniel Boone original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,200
17. Dick Tracy original lunch box art work, Drag Strip original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,500
18. Dragon's Lair original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,500
19. The Dukes of Hazzard original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $2,000
20. The Fall Guy original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,100
21. The Flintstones original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,000
22. The Flying Nun original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,500
23. Gentle Ben original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $750
24. Gunsmoke original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,800
25. H.R. Puffnstuff original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $3,500
26. Hopalong Cassidy original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $2,000
27. The Incredible Hulk original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,400
28. It's About Time original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,900
29. James Bond 007 original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $20,000
30. Johnny Lightning original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,000
31. Kellogg's Breakfast original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $900
32. Kroft Supershow original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $2,500
33. Land of the Lost original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,100
34. Legend of the Lone Ranger original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,500
35. Lidsville original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,800
36. The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $900
37. Masters of the Universe original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,000
38. Miss America original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $500
39. NFL Quarterback original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $750
40. Pebbles and Bamm Bamm original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $900
41. Planet of the Apes original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,900
42. Police Patrol original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,100
43. 80 Popeye original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,000
44. Popples original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $500
45. The Rat Patrol original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $2,000
46. The Rifleman original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $2,000
47. 56 Robin Hood original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $3,000
48. Ronald McDonald: Sheriff Canyon original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $500
49. Rose Petal Place original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $400
50. Rough Rider original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,500
51. School Days original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $900
52. The Secret of NIMH original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $600
53. Secret Wars original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,000
54. Sesame Street original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $900
55. Sigmund and the Sea Monsters original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $4,000
56. Six Million Dollar man original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $2,500
57. Sport Goofy original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $250
58. Strawberry Land original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $400
59. 80 Strawberry Shortcake original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,500
60. Street Hawk original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $575
61. Super Friends original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $2,000
62. Super Heroes original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $5,000
63. Super Powers original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,300
64. Thundercats original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,100
65. U.S. Mail original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $800
66. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $5,000
67. The Walton's original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,100
68. Welcome back Kotter original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,800
69. The Wild Wild West original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $1,500
70. Woody Woodpecker original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $500
71. Yogi Bear and Friends original lunch box art work EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $750
72. Beatles (in museum only) EST. VALUE FOR FRONT OR BACK $25,000

The rarest of lunch box art is the metal lunchboxes of the vintage era 1950s - 1980s. Vinyl and plastic lunchboxes were not as significant to the history of the lunchbox and therefore the art for them may not hold as much value as the metal box art. In general, all lunch box art is rare and each piece is considered "one of a kind".

HOW DID THE ARTISTS DO IT?
The artists would design the pieces according to the client's requests and specifications. After each pieces was finished and approved,ht e art would go to the printer who would then make color seperations. Once the color seperations were approved the printer would make a test proof. If the test proof looked good, the client would sign off and the factory would go full force into production. Some art was painted on illustration board using tempera or perhaps acrylic, some art was done on heavy paper stock using water colors. Some pieces were painted as a single panel and others would have the colors on a background piece and the dark outlines on a seperate acetate overlay. At times it was necessary to create seperate parts and glue them onto one piece. Most original pieces have notations on them for the printers as well as copyright information glued or taped on. Some box titles were done on seperate acetate and placed over the art. Each piece is unique. Back then the artists used their creativity to get the jobs done, and this was all done by hand.

FINAL THOUGHTS...
Each painting was responsible for the production of hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions, of actual vintage metal lunchboxes and thermoses that collectors still seek to this day. What would you rather; the 1970 Dr.Seuss lunchbox they produced over half a million of, or the "one of a kind", actual painting, that was used to make the box as we know it today?

REFERENCES
SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY - http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives/d8844c.htm - art inventory pg 4 of 8

To sell your lunch box art contact: sales@lunchboxcollector.com and please include pics.