Two extremely rare 1930s Disney Halloween masks are going under the hammer at Keys auctioneers and valuers.
The papier mâché masks, depicting Mickey Mouse, were made in Germany under licence from the Walt Disney company, and carry a stamp inside.
David Broom, director at Keys, said: "These are extremely rare, given the combination of being very early on in the history of Mickey Mouse and Disney, and the fact that they were manufactured in Germany under licence.
"The rarity is increased by the fact that the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler propagandised against Mickey Mouse, with one mid-1930s newspaper article stating, 'Mickey Mouse is the most miserable ideal ever revealed'.
"There is virtually no auction history for these kind of masks, and so we have set a very conservative pre-sale estimate of £200-£300 - although we would not be surprised if they sold for very much more than that."
Mickey Mouse was introduced as a character in 1928 in the cartoon Plane Crazy, although his debut is often accredited as Steamboat Willie, which appeared the same year and was the first Disney synchronised sound cartoon.
The masks form part of a special Toys and Collectors Sale at Keys Aylsham salerooms on Tuesday, October 30, and online at www.the-saleroom.com
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