Lunch Boxes of Yesteryear: A Beginner's Guide to Vintage Lunch Box Collecting

The history of the modern lunch box began in 1935 when Geuder, Paeschke, & Frey licensed the image of, then new, character Mickey Mouse to use on its oval-shaped “Lunch Kit.” Inside was a tray, but no bottle or Thermos, those would come much later. Mickey Mouse Lunch Kits originally sold for 15-20 cents but today can fetch anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars based on condition.