Thursday, November 29, 2012

A Colorful and Budget-Friendly Collectible

Abundant as the harvests they advertised, vintage fruit labels are a versatile collectible. Valued for their color, motif and age, original labels not only indicated the contents of a crate being shipped across the country, they also soon served as travel marketing, touting the beauty of each region they originated from, says vintage fruit label expert Dwayne Rogers.

To start a collection of your own, get to know these tips:
  • Prices range from a few dollars each for commonly produced and later designs to up to $200 for rare and pristine examples.
  • Handling marks, tears, printer flaws, creases and wrinkles all affect value, but since the genre is fairly new, there isn’t a formalized grading system, and the value is often in the eye of the beholder. This works in the collector’s favor, so it’s easier to find great prices or bargain for better deals.
  • When storing or displaying vintage labels, be sure to use acid-free paper and mats to prevent damage and decay.
  • There’s no right way to collect labels; you can build a set around type of fruit, state or color.  Buy motifs that you love or ones that complement your décor and the value will follow.

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