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An attic find.
IMPORTANT CONDITION NOTE: There is a hole in the plastic wrapping on the front of the package. Because of this opening, a small amount of tiny debris/dust has worked its way underneath the plastic over the years. This can be seen upon close inspection and is mentioned for complete accuracy and transparency.
Offered here is an exceptionally scarce original 1979 Flash Gordon Poster Pen Set, manufactured by Craft House Corporation of Toledo, Ohio and officially copyrighted by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Item / Catalog No. 47904
This is an authentic period Flash Gordon collectible from 1979 — not a modern reproduction or reissue.
What makes this example particularly special is that it appears to have survived unused in its original vintage packaging with all four original colored pens still present.
The original 99¢ retail price sticker also remains attached to the front—a wonderful piece of period history that adds to its untouched old-store-stock appearance.
ORIGINAL SET INCLUDES:
• Four non-toxic colored pens
• One 9” × 12” paper picture
• One 9” × 12” picture board
• Complete instructions
• Original illustrated Flash Gordon packaging
• Craft House Corporation markings
• Copyright 1979 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
• Printed in U.S.A.
• Catalog #47904
EXTREMELY SCARCE SURVIVOR
This is not the type of Flash Gordon collectible that regularly turns up.
Coloring and activity sets were made to be opened, colored and ultimately discarded, meaning unused examples had a naturally low survival rate compared with comics, books and conventional collectibles that owners were more likely to preserve.
Finding an approximately 47-year-old Flash Gordon activity set still together with its original pens, artwork and packaging is therefore particularly noteworthy.
The set also has tremendous visual appeal. The front features classic Flash Gordon artwork with Flash, Ming the Merciless and other characters, while the two elaborate black-and-white pictures contain fantastic period science-fiction imagery designed to be colored with the included pens.
The reverse is equally impressive, featuring a large, highly detailed Flash Gordon composition along with the original Craft House coloring instructions.
This would display beautifully as-is and represents a fascinating piece of late-1970s Flash Gordon merchandising and American pop-culture history.
CONDITION
Vintage New Old Stock / Original Packaging.
The contents appear unused and all four original colored pens—red, yellow, pink and blue—are present.
The vintage plastic wrapping remains around the set and shows normal age-related wrinkling, stretching and storage wear. The cardboard/paper components also exhibit some age-related discoloration, spotting and edge/corner wear, all of which can be examined closely in the photographs.
The pens have NOT been tested. Given their age, they may no longer write and no guarantee is made regarding their functionality. They have intentionally been left untouched to preserve the originality of this vintage collectible.
Please examine all photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the condition description.
Sold as a vintage collectible exactly as pictured.
A FANTASTIC FLASH GORDON DISPLAY PIECE
Flash Gordon is one of the foundational characters of science-fiction adventure, dating back to the classic Alex Raymond comic strip era and inspiring generations of science-fiction entertainment.
This unusual 1979 Craft House set has crossover appeal to collectors of:
Flash Gordon • King Features Syndicate • Vintage Science Fiction • Space Opera • Comic Strip Memorabilia • Vintage Coloring Books • Vintage Activity Sets • Craft House • 1970s Toys • Paper Ephemera • Pop Culture • New Old Stock
An outstanding opportunity to acquire a seldom-seen piece of original 1979 Flash Gordon merchandise that has survived remarkably complete for nearly half a century.
A striking display piece for an advanced Flash Gordon or vintage science-fiction collection.
