An independent archive of typography.
Topics
Formats
Typefaces

“I’m Thumbody” pin

Contributed by Stephen Coles on Sep 3rd, 2012. Artwork published in .
“I’m Thumbody” pin 1
Source: www.flickr.com © 1971 Princeton Partners Inc. Photo by Dan Goodsell, 2012. License: All Rights Reserved.

Anyone know the designer?

Another version with custom lettering, as shown in a “mid-70's edition of the book World of Logotypes”.
Source: www.flickr.com License: All Rights Reserved.

Another version with custom lettering, as shown in a “mid-70's edition of the book World of Logotypes”.

Typefaces

  • Volta

Formats

Topics

Designers/Agencies

9 Comments on ““I’m Thumbody” pin”

  1. I was making pen and ink drawings from (donors’) thumbprints at art fairs etc. in the late ’60s and throughout the ’70s and ’80s. References in my character drawings — such as “I’m Thumbody,”  “Thumbody Loves Me”, and “the thumb-buddies” — were attached to many of my thumbprint drawings and my signature on my checks incorporated my thumbprint. The character used by the mental health associations (and later copyrighted by them without my permission) was created by me and sold to them in the form of buttons. All their copyrighted characters embody my thumbprint … and I have the thumb to prove it!

  2. Thanks for the comment, Neil! Great to have the story told from the thumb himself.

  3. I have a photo of me and my cousin in my bedroom in 1976, and in the background is a “Thumbody Loves You” poster with this pink thumbprint. I have no idea now where I got it…
  4. Ivy Hefler says:
    Mar 30th, 2017 11:21 pm

    Just came across one of these exact pinbacks in my collection. It was nice to research it and see this post. I must have picked it up in the 60s or early 70s at one of those fairs.

  5. This button was created by James R. Williams of Williams & Associates of Harrisburg, PA. The “I’m Thumbody” character was created for a promotion for First Federal Savings & Loan in the early 1970s. There were pinback buttons, beach towels, posters and coin banks given away for free by the bank. I have this exact button & I’m sure this where I acquired it in the early 1970s.

  6. Neil was my bus driver. He used to make thumbody pictures for the kids using their thumb and fingerprints.
  7. Arnold Semmons says:
    Jun 4th, 2019 4:34 pm

    I opened a Thumbody accout at a savings & loan in Richmond VA in the 70s. I don’t remember if it was called First Federal or not. Perhaps different banks in different geographical areas used this branding for children’s accounts?

  8. jennifer says:
    Feb 5th, 2020 5:32 pm

    I had a stuffed thumbody. Back in the 70s I slept with him every night. I went through more then one lol. My mom’s friend worked at a bank and she got him through there.

  9. Dan Johnson says:
    Apr 3rd, 2021 10:17 pm

    I found a glass beer mug with the thumb print that says “Im thumbody” and “76”  in my mom’s estate stuff, she used to live in Pittsburgh PA during the 1970's.

Post a comment