Vintage Wallace Berrie Hotshots Downhill Racer cartoon art

Item Description

• Title: Downhill Racer
• Publisher: Wallace Berrie & Co., Inc.
• Series: HOTSHOTS
• Year: 1975
• Medium: Printed cartoon on matted paperboard, mounted on compressed wood chip backing
• Dimensions:
  • With mount: 9.75" x 7.75"
  • Print area: approx. 7.4" x 5.4"
• Edition: Open edition, stock/catalog number #3726 (not limited edition)
• Markings:
  • Copyright “©1975 Wallace Berrie & Co., Inc.” on front
  • Original HOTSHOTS label on back
  • Still in original shrink wrap (New Old Stock / NIP)
• Condition: Mint, unused, sealed

Maker Background

Wallace Berrie & Co., Inc., based in Van Nuys, California, was a prominent U.S. manufacturer of novelty gifts and licensed merchandise throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The company later became known as Applause Inc., which famously licensed and produced Garfield and the Smurfs merchandise.

The HotShots series appears to have been a line of humorous illustrations, often focused on skiing and outdoors-related gags, in the single-panel cartoon style that was popular in the 1960s–70s.

Market and Collectability

• Target Audience: Collectors of retro 1970s humor art, ski lodge decor, Wallace Berrie memorabilia, or vintage novelty prints.
• Style Appeal: Ski humor remains popular in cabin/lodge-style decor, and the brown tonal aesthetic fits a classic mid-70s palette.
• Rarity: While Wallace Berrie prints are not exceedingly rare, finding them in New Old Stock (NIP condition) is increasingly uncommon, especially complete with original packaging and label intact.
• Comparable Sales: Similar pieces from the HOTSHOTS line in good to mint condition (though not necessarily the exact “Downhill Racer”) have sold online for:
  • $15–25 USD unwrapped or in used condition
  • $30–45 USD for sealed/NOS examples
  • Higher if framed or marketed well to ski/cabin decor buyers

Estimated Value (2025 Market)

• Retail (Etsy/eBay or similar): $35–$45 USD
• Wholesale/Dealer Value: $15–20 USD
• Insurance Value (replacement): $50 USD

Recommendations

• If selling, list on platforms such as Etsy, eBay, or vintage decor sites. Include tags like:
  • “1970s ski humor art”
  • “vintage ski lodge decor”
  • “Wallace Berrie HotShots”
  • “Downhill Racer print”
• Mention “still in original shrink wrap” and “made in the USA” to emphasize its collectible condition.
• No professional appraisal needed unless part of a larger collection.

Conclusion

Your "Downhill Racer" wall art is a charming and humorous example of 1970s novelty decor. Its pristine, unopened condition and clearly identified manufacturer make it a desirable collectible for niche markets—especially ski enthusiasts and lovers of retro art.