A rare and visually striking collection of seven original fruit crate labels from the 1940s, each preserved under glass in its original, matching, custom-made combed redwood frame. All frames still retain the label of the original framer, Willetts of Covina, CA. Notably, each label features a two-digit postal code, dating it to the early mid-century era.
These vibrant labels are emblematic of a short-lived but exceptional period in American advertising, when uncredited commercial artists created bold, eye-catching designs to promote fruit shipped cross-country by rail. Rooted in the pride of Southern California citrus growers and possibly influenced by WPA-era aesthetics, they stand as a testament to the lost art of crate label design. By the 1950s, labels like these were largely phased out with the rise of cardboard shipping, making surviving examples in this condition increasingly rare.
Mint vintage condition. A vivid, ready-to-hang collection that celebrates the intersection of art, commerce, and forgotten craftsmanship. Approximately 14" x 11" each, with slight variations in size.
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