Vintage 1961 Man in the Moon Paper Kite-Top Flite-MINT

The Man in the Moon     

OVERSIZED 42-INCH 1961 TOP-FLITE MAN IN THE MOON PAPER KITE 

(The standard sized kite has a height measurement of 36 inches)

 Until about two years ago when a lady I had the pleasure of speaking with briefly, discovered an unopened box of these vintage giant Man in the Moon kites hidden away for over 40 years upstairs, in the attic, of her uncle's neighborhood grocery store, these kites and the legendary "diamond design" Man in the Moon kites were the rarest and most valuable of all these paper collectibles.

It is my understanding that there are now 50 of these kites (from this stash) in collectors hands. Still a very small universe of this highly desired childhood memory and at this price a good investment.

Here is an opportunity to own one of these wonderful Man in the Moon oversized-large Top Flier vintage paper kites in absolutely mint condition. Still in the unopened plastic bag.

Also note if you prefer, I have available for sale one (1) RED Man in the Moon vintage kite. 

The red kite is not in the bag and has been assembled and does show minor signs of wear. So specify which kite you wish shipped. This auction is for one kite only.

The Hi-Flier Manufacturing Company was founded by  Harvey A. Sellers (1889-1976) in his Decatur, Illinois, basement. He got started by purchasing a patent to a bow kite from a Decatur inventor named Arthur W. Cash (US Patent # 1452956) and later that same year patented a barn-door kite in his own name. (US Patent #1453287, at right.) These two kite designs were the core of his business while production remained in Decatur. I've heard that Sellers (or the company) later obtained a patent on the Hi-Flier box kite, but I've been unable to find the patent. Sellers' son, Harvey A. Sellers, Jr, was granted a patent on a "gliding kite" in 1965. This resembles but was not the "Glite" kite sold well into the 1970s by North Pacific Products (now defunct) of Bend, Oregon. (That was US Patent #3,276,730.) The bow kite patent date (1923) was printed on virtually every Hi-Flier bow kite ever made, and a lot of supposedly savvy antiques people believe that this indicates when the kite was manufactured. Not so—most surviving Hi-Flier kites date back to the late 50s at best.

The kite you will receive is identical to the one pictured, but has never been unrolled, and is sealed in its original plastic wrap. Guaranteed Absolute Mint Condition!

An exceptionally scarce collectible! 

              $11.25 USA LIGHTNING-FAST  SECURE PRIORITY SHIPPING