Chapter 8

Flaked Out When financial analysts say that collecting baseball cards can be a better long-term investment than the stock market, you know that collecting has become a way of life. But cereal boxes? Yes! Here are some strange, but true, examples.

CORN FLAKES. One of the most collectible cereal boxes is the 1984 Miss America Kellogg’s Corn Flakes box. It features Vanessa Williams, the nation’s first African American winner of the award. The congratulatory statement on the back panel states the box is a lasting reminder that America is a land of opportunity. The box was pulled immediately when Penthouse Magazine published pictures of Williams in her birthday suit.

WHEATIES. In the 1950’s, Wheaties stopped putting athletes on their boxes, and used images of Disney Characters, instead. Sales were down almost 15% within a year. The executives at General Mills decided to switch back to sports stars. However, the Disney Character boxes are highly sought after today.

SWISS MISS. The psychedelic generation of the 1960’s didn’t miss out on cereal boxes. Pop Artist, Peter Max, designed a surreal cereal box for the imported Swiss Miss cereal called LOVE. Also highly collectable today.

WHEAT & RICE HONEYS. A pair of boxes of Wheat & Rice Honeys that featured The Beatles and the Yellow Submarine, sold at auction for $7000.

COUNT CHOCULA. In 1981, General Mills released a box that featured the cartoon character of Count Chocula, with an image of Bela Lugosi, as Dracula in the background. The “Bela” Dracula was wearing a pendant that featured a 6-point star in it. Religious organizations protested, and the box was quickly pulled from distribution. Today, collectors search for it, religiously.