Dirty Jokes Collectibles

When I started collecting naughty bits of history, I used to ignore the risque humor items. I thought they were too silly, and focused on publications, postcards, and of course pinups.

But somewhere along the line (a line every collector realizes at some point is blurry), I allowed myself to include the gag items. The glassware, ashtrays etc with dirty jokes and cartoons printed on them.

At the left, a circa 1960's square porcelain dish or ashtray, made in Japan, with a buxom blonde sitting across the desk from her surprised doctor. It reads "MEALS? Thought you said three MALES a day!"

(A double whammy -- a sex joke and a blonde joke!)

At the right, a black glass rectangular ashtray, circa 1960's, featuring what appears to be a nude woman hiding her nakedness behind her large fan.

At the top it reads "As the Fan Dancer said to her fan..." and at the near bottom right, "I'll never let you down!" At the very bottom it reads "Happy Birthday!"

One guesses that this ashtray was purchased by the older-set who had not fully adopted the freedom of the 60's youth, and still found burlesque outrageous.

The art reminds me of those naughty cards you still find in adult stores -- hell, even the shape -- a big rectangle -- remains the same.