He was Zorro, the fox--wealthy nobleman by day, black-clad champion of the oppressed in old California by night. He rode the great black horse Tornado and became a thrilling figure of justice, liberty, and licensing throughout the world.
Wait a minute, licensing?
Yep. Like other successful fictional creations, Johnston McCulley’s black-cloaked avenger leapt from the pages of All-Story Weekly in 1919 (the same publication that gave birth to Tarzan seven years earlier) and onto the silver screen, both in feature films and weekly serials. From there, it was a short trip to the new medium of television, where Zorro gained a new following - marketers. Yes, the character is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
Today’s Zorro collector has a treasure trove to consider, starting with the phenomenon of the TV series “Zorro,” starring beloved actor Guy Williams, better known to Baby Boomers as Dr. John Robinson on “Lost in Space.” “Zorro,” produced by Disney, ran from 1957 until ’59, and made the Fox a household name rivalling that of Daniel Boone and Bret Maverick. Consequently, plenty of people wanted a piece of the Zorro action.
With the popularity of the “Zorro” television show, the flood gates opened. Now pins and buttons and trading cards and toys and lunchboxes, let’s face it, almost everything with a surface, was adorned with the image of the masked avenger (in fact, anecdotal evidence suggests that Zorro’s stylized “Z” became a graffiti problem in schools and playgrounds across the nation). Many of these collectibles are still very affordable, although there are some that will set you back a pretty penny.
One of the more ubiquitous items from the era of the TV show is a pinback button from 7-Up, a sponsor of the show, featuring a bold red “Z” and silhouette image of Zorro and Tornado. It’s a good entry point into the world of Zorro collecting, as it’s fairly easy to find, boasts a nice image, and is relatively inexpensive. Another nice, yet inexpensive piece from the same time period is a plastic ring that could be had in gumball machines back in the day. The plastic band (examples are in both silver and gold) is topped with a black faux-onyx slab with the word “Zorro” engraved in gold. It’s a handsome piece and one well worth seeking out. Collectors can also find a set of 88 color trading cards released in 1958, featuring scenes from the TV show (as the show was broadcast in black and white, full-color cards are a real pleasure). Although high-grade examples of individual cards can sell well into the four-figure range, it is possible to put a reasonably priced set together if you’re not overly concerned with condition.
For the more ambitious collector, a Zorro lunchbox, first issued in 1958, is a great piece to set your sights on. It’s fronted by a great image of Zorro on a rearing Tornado, with the Fox battling Sergeant Garcia on the back. The original issue had a black rim. When the box was reissued in 1966, the graphics stayed the same, but the rim was changed to red. Of the two, the later red-rimmed version is considered to be scarcer and commands a higher price. Both versions were issued with a matching Aladdin Thermos that shows Zorro battling several foes.
If you’ve spent any time in the collectibles world, you won’t be surprised to hear that a Zorro Pez dispenser was produced. First released shortly after the time of the TV show, there are many different versions, including black and red stems, two different mask types, large and small logos on the stem, and both Zorro and Pez logos.
Next we come to a piece that’s undeniably attractive, but rather confusing at the same time. This might not be a Zorro collectible at all, but it’s still pretty cool. In 1928, the Sandeman Company, a leading producer of sherry and other fortified wines, introduced a mysterious figure in a wide-brimmed hat and black cloak. Named “The Don,” it was the work of Scottish artist George Massiot Brown, and, reportedly, was designed in the same week that the Douglas Fairbanks film, “The Gaucho,” the third of the great actor’s Zorro films, was released. Officially, Sandeman identifies “The Don” as being dressed in “a Portuguese student’s cape and a wide-brimmed hat like the Spanish caballeros de Jerez,” but they also admit that the question of Brown’s inspiration is unanswered.
Regardless, at some point the company issued a decanter in the shape of their iconic character, which many collectors identify as Zorro (and who are we to say nay?). Typically found in black with either a yellow or red cup in his hand, this decanter has also been seen in white and grey, and versions made by both Royal Doulton (ca. 1937) and Wedgewood (ca. 1969) have been noted. Although the decanters themselves are fairly common, examples in the original box are quite rare and command significant premiums.
Movie posters are a great area for Zorro collectors to explore. While a one-sheet (27-by-41 inches) from Fairbanks’ “The Mark of Zorro” (1920) will set you back significantly (In 2005, a good example of this rare poster sold at Heritage Auctions for $17,250), posters from later films are more affordable. The serial Zorro’s “Fighting Legion” (1939) had a colorful and exciting poster (chapter sheets include a different photo from the film for each episode), and the Italian two-foglio for “The Ghost of Zorro” (1951) depicts the Fox cuddling up with a red-headed Jane Russell look-alike. But for the money, perhaps the best poster for the Zorro enthusiast is the one-sheet for “The Son of Zorro” serial (1947), featuring a great image of the title character.
Whatever your budget or taste, there’s a Zorro movie paper out there for you. Aside from being a great collectible, it will look great framed and hanging on the wall.
Our hero has also had a significant career in comic books, and these can be well worth searching out. Zorro’s first appearance in the four-color pages was in Hit Comics #55 (Quality, 1948), when he was summoned by Kid Eternity (whose superpower was that he could bring forth legendary characters to aid him in his battle against crime and evil) to help with a case. Brief, but memorable.
The next stop was several issues of Dell’s Four Color Comics between 1949 and 1957, specifically #228, #425, #497, #538, #574, #617, and #732. After Four Color Comics became simply Four Color, stories based on the characters and situations seen in the TV show appeared in issues #882, #920, #933, #960, #976, #1003, and #1037. The first six issues featured art by the legendary Alex Toth and are particularly prized by collectors.
At this point, Zorro was given his own self-titled magazine, beginning with issue #8 (as if the Four Color books were the first seven in the series) and running until issue #15. Gold Key picked up the license and started over with Walt Disney Presents Zorro at issue #1, continuing through issue #9. These were mainly reprints from earlier comics, a trend that continued in the pages of Walt Disney’s Comics & Stories, Walt Disney Comics Digest, Walt Disney Showcase, and Walt Disney Presents. Gold Key also released two issues of Top Comics in 1967, both featuring Zorro reprints. More recently, other publishers have published the adventures of Zorro in comic book form, some going so far as to team the Fox with other pulp-related characters.
For the truly dedicated, and truly flush, collector, there’s the Marx Zorro playset, complete with (as described on the box front) “Authentic Television Zorro Figures, Metal Lithographed Building, Gateway, Fence, Mexican Soldiers, Flag, Trees, Shell Shooting Cannon, Horses and Many Other Accessories.” A deluxe version included Tornado’s cave. Considered by many to be one of the “Holy Grails” of toy collecting, it’s rare to find a complete set without significant damage.
Lest you think that Zorro collectibles are a thing of the past, consider the handsome bust created by Bowen Designs, released in 2003. Sculpted by Randy Bowen himself, this great piece should be a part of any Zorro collection. Weta Collectibles produced a beautiful statue of Zorro astride a rearing Tornado, while Sideshow Productions released a striking 11-inch full figure sculpt of the masked hero.
Halloween costumes and other wonderful items featuring our favorite Fox can be widely found in today’s stores, proving that, as we knew all along, Zorro lives.
Not enough? Well, a bit of diligent searching will no doubt reveal Zorro gloves, hand puppets, coloring books, toy guns, action figures, puzzles, board games, swords (both plastic and metal), watches, drinking glasses, wallets, and much more.
We’ve touched on a few highlights here, but there are enough Zorro collectibles out there to fill a book. And that’s just what Rochelle Dubrow has done in “A Collector’s Guide to Zorro from the ’50s and ’60s,” 2nd Edition (Cork Hill Press, 2005). If you’re itching to start your own collection, this book is essential reading. You’ll discover much more in its pages than this short article can provide. And that’s part of the fun of collecting material based on such an iconic character: there’s always something new to find.
If you have an itch to read the original stories, check out the six-volume “Zorro: The Complete Pulp Adventures” by Johnston McCulley from Bold Venture Press (www.boldventurepress.com). This remarkable collection gathers all of McCulley’s stories, the basis for everything Zorro, for the first time. A few of these stories had remained out of print since their original publication in the 1940s. Now every short story and novel by Zorro’s creator is available once again.
So, scour those flea markets and enjoy those garage sales. Be as bold as the Fox, and you never know what you might find.
The popular show Pulp Adventurecon is one place to look. The event is being held Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Town Inn in Bordentown, N.J., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Town Inn is at 1083 Route 206 N, off Exit 7 of the New Jersey Turnpike.
Visit www.pulpadventure.com for more.

John Petty is a Lecturer in Film at the University of Texas at Dallas. He is also the author of “Capes, Crooks, and Cliffhangers: Heroic Serials Posters of the Golden Age,” available from Ivy Press at www.HA.com/serial.