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Roth Keep Smiling Pretend It's Payday 1969 Plaque 50P-5069

Roth Keep Smiling Pretend It's Payday is a colorful 1969 novelty plaque made by Roth Greeting Cards of Hollywood, California. The bright yellow background, oversized red lettering, blue smiling character, green bow tie, and gold decorative border give it the bold humor of late 1960s office and desk decor.

The front reads "KEEP SMILING" across the top and "PRETEND IT'S PAYDAY" below the smiling character. The gold border still has plenty of sparkle, so this piece has not lost the playful look that makes it fun to display.

Details

  • Item: Novelty humor plaque with easel back
  • Maker: Roth Greeting Cards
  • Mark: Copyright MCMLXIX ROTH GREETING CARDS, Hollywood, California 90028. Printed in U.S.A.
  • Model: 50P-5069
  • Date: 1969
  • Material: Printed board with applied glitter decoration and cardboard easel back
  • Color: Yellow, red, blue, green, black, white, and gold
  • Design: Smiling blue cartoon character with green patterned bow tie
  • Text: "KEEP SMILING" and "PRETEND IT'S PAYDAY"
  • Dimensions: Approximately 9 inches by 7 inches
  • Display: Attached cardboard easel stand on the reverse remains functional

Condition Grade: Good

Positives

  • The colors remain bright and lively, especially the yellow field, red lettering, and blue character.
  • The decorative gold glitter border still catches the light and remains an important part of the original design.
  • The cardboard easel back is still attached and works well for tabletop display.
  • The printed maker information and model number on the reverse remain clear and readable.

Issues / Wear

  • A visible pen line runs across the lower left portion of the yellow front. This is distracting on close inspection and should be expected.
  • The cream outer border shows age toning, scattered spotting, and surface soil.
  • Edges and corners show rubbing and small areas of wear from handling and storage.
  • The reverse has general age discoloration, spotting, and surface wear.
  • The cardboard easel shows age and handling wear but remains usable.

If you collect Roth novelty plaques, this piece gives that history a place on display. If it's the one you've been looking for, it's ready to come home.

  • Near Fine: Close to new. Any flaw is small and named above.
  • Very Good: Light use. Every flaw is named above, and none of them get in the way of reading or display.
  • Good: Complete and usable, with clear signs of use. Every flaw is named above.
  • Fair: Heavy wear or damage, named above. A reading or working copy, not a display piece.

Returns

You have 30 days from the delivery of the last item in your order to request a return. Items must come back in the condition they were sent, so please keep the original packaging and take photos before you open a package if it arrives damaged.

To start a return, email us at the address on your order confirmation. You are responsible for return shipping, and we recommend a tracked service, since we can only refund items that arrive back to us.

Refunds are issued to the original payment method within 5 business days of the item arriving back in the condition it was sent. Original shipping charges are not refunded.

Anything marked Final Sale cannot be returned.

Cancellations

You can cancel any order until it has been fulfilled. Once an order ships, please use the return process above.

Read the full Return and Refund 

  • Photo-verified condition, no surprises
  • Packed with care. Glass and fragile pieces get extra cushioning
  • Ships within 1 business day
  • Free Shipping on $35+ (U.S. only)

Questions buyers ask

Every listing spells it out and shows it in photos. Chips, hairlines, crazing, worn plating, old repairs. If I did not mention it, it is not there.

Yes. Every photo is the actual piece, taken by me. When it sells, it is gone.

I note maker, mark, era, and measurements when I can confirm them, and say so plainly when I cannot. Unmarked pieces get dated by what the piece itself shows.

I process your order within 1 business day, wrapped and boxed so it arrives the way it left here. Don't forget, free shipping on orders $35 and up.