The earliest manufacturer of Ceramic souvenirs for Disneyland was a little company located in Monterey California, Eleanor Welborn Art Productions. Started in her garage like so many California ceramic companies of the time period, Welborn in 1955 secured the license to produce souvenir ceramic plates, tea cups, salt and pepper shakers, ashtrays and other souvenirs for the new Disneyland park. Not only are the items with the Welborn mark definitely from the first couple of years of Disneyland's operation, the souvenirs also used the imagineering pre opening artwork for the transfer and graphics. This plate has the Welborn mark on the back, some also have a stamp for ASI (American Souvenir Incorporated) which seems to have been created just to supply souvenirs to Disneyland. Within a couple of years, Walt Disney was able to bring the merchandising into the company and under his control. And when that happened, Welborn lost the license.
The next overhead map in the series is this one showing Disneyland in relationship to the still sleepy Orange Grove town of Anaheim. Not much is around the park and the city of Anaheim is east of the Santa Ana Freeway. Caption for the photo reads: Relationship of DISNEYLAND to Anaheim and the general surrounding area. Photo is dated November 17, 1954.
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I have a friend who collects Welborn pieces. Many go for very high prices, and rarer examples can exceed $300.
I love early views of Southern California, when you can see how undeveloped it used to be. And if the view includes Disneyland, so much the better!
I love seeing the mountains in this shot - that is unusual for DL aerials...
I've been looking for info on Welborn Disneyland pieces for a long time.
A few years ago, I found a Welborn ceramic Adventureland wall plaque at a flea market for $5. It's about 6" x6" and in very good condition. Any idea of it's worth?
Thanks for sharing this information on the Welborn items!
I have a 1955 original Welborn 6" Main Street Plate, that still has the $2 price sticker on the back of it. My Grandfather bought it opening year at Disneyland. I can find very little on it's value or anything about these original plates. If anyone wants to see pictures, just email me at ponymom2@sbcglobal.net
dimitri - I believe it was you who emailed me about the plate. I mistakenly deleted your email, please try me again!
I have this plate ........what is it worth........Thank you!
i was researching this because i buy antiques and put them on ebay. i found two pieces of eleanor wellborn in a thrift shop. they both appear to be salt shakers. one is the cinderella castle and the other is tinkerbell. they are shaped like a bell and have a screw on cap but they are all ceramic. i never saw a top like that. if anyone can help me with a value for these or is interested in buying them, you can reach me at nancyvf827@gmail.com
thanks,
I have an Eleanore Welborn piece with the Virgin Mary on it and would like to know more about it. Any ideas?
I have rare piece if your friend might be interested. It is a disneyland plate, sleeping beauty castle, with elanore Welborn's back stamp, an early piece!
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