Topics: Ephemera : Crate Labels

Crate labels are the paper labels that were stuck on the end of wooden packing crates for produce to indicate the origins, type, and quality of the contents. Elaborate and colorful labels began to appear at the turn of the 20th century as sellers began to realize the power of a recognizable brand with a strong visual image. The replacement of wooden crates with cardboard eventually eliminated the need for separate labels during the 1960s-1970s. Amazingly a great many mint and unused labels still exist. They are found in old packing houses as unused stock, or in label printing company archives. The varieties from printers may only have 3 or 4 examples in existence, but those from packing houses can number in the thousands.