Here's a mysterious item I picked up a couple of years ago which I've always wondered about. The item, a Betty Boop handkerchief, was one of the few (compared to Disney for example) licensed items to be produced during the cartoon's initial run. However, I have always had a 'hankerin' (I couldn't resist) that there might be something fishy going with this particular Boop for the snoot. Am I looking at a genuine article? I have included the original drawing (which was also used in the bridge sets which were produced) along side of the mystery hanky. The linen seems old and not all original Betty merch was on-model: the stencil on the ukulele for example. Still I can't help but think there is a factory in Tia Juana crankin' these out 20 at a time. Thoughts?
Everything is facing the wrong way except the feather ... uh oh.
*update* I was flipping through the french edition of "The Fleischer Story" when I happened upon this drawing of Betty (at left). Stylistically they seem similar to me and I presume the one on the left is authentic. Could they be by the same artist?
*update* I think I may have solved the mystery - the exact image as reproduced here was used in a piece of Woolco merchandise produced in the 60's. I think this is the origin of the Hanky. Genuine article? S'not.
