Pat Jacobsen's Millennium Guide to Fruit Crate Labels : A Collector's Guide and Price Catalogue [Plastic Comb]

Pat Jacobsen (Author), Thomas Pat Jacobsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2000

800 Illustrations 5,400 current prices 88,000 words of text (plus, the lists)! Over 20 Years in the making

Fruit and vegetable crate labeling began on the Pacific Coast in the mid-1880s and has flourished for over one-hundred-thirty years -- an art-form whose preservation was never intended! Labels pasted onto wooden crates, were specifically designed to identify and "sell" the product, and then be discarded with the empty crate Thus, the fact that so many original labels still exist and are collected today is truly miraculous!

This Millennium Guide is the most definitive work available on the subject of Crate Label Art and has taken more than twenty-years to compile It provides historical facts about labels and their use It introduces you to the lithographers who printed them and to the agriculture-industry who used them It also discusses all aspects of collecting including: the collecting craze; supplies and demand; reproductions and forgeries; pricing; strategies for label investment; preservation & mounting; the future of collecting, auctions, exhibitions, organized clubs; labels on the Internet and World Wide Web, and much, much more

It also contains a current price guide for over five-thousand authentic labels available to collectors, decorators, artists and historians from a host of dealers online and off There is an extensive index of information on the lithographers who created label art Plus, detailed descriptions of: What labels are, Who made them, Who used them, When they were used, and what are they worth today, has been included The hobby's most complete and authoritative information source, all at your fingertips, conveniently arranged!

INTERNET FRIENDLY and Y2K COMPLIANT This book has also been designed to work hand-in-hand with the popular website: "Fruit Crate Labels (dot)Com" with it's library of information, online gallery, sales of authentic labels and ever-changing content. The book and the website work symbiotically and discuss new collecting and internet marketing strategies by dealers, the eBay virtual auction hall, and on many new web sites devoted to label collecting.

Welcome to "FRUIT CRATE LABELS(dot)COM" Original Crate Label Art and Agri- Lithographic History The most authoritative site of it's kind on the Internet, by one of the hobby's leading historians This site contains over 100 pages of detailed information, illustrations, current prices and access to everything you would ever want to know about worldwide Crate Label Art and history Here are some "Qwik-Links" to our primary areas

We are located in Northern California, above Sacramento, near Auburn And, although our offices and sample files are not accessible to the public, as we have no storefront location, and are not set up to accept visitors, we can be reached several ways Please see the ad in the back of the book, or the Copyright page in the front of the book, or, simply visit the website on the Internet.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I think it is the greatest book on labels that has ever been put together. Thank you for sharing your years of experience. It's really great." -- A reader

"One of the best books historically on the citrus industry I've seen in sixty-years in the book business. I was very favorably impressed." -- A reader

"The new Guide is more essential than any previous label books and discusses the breadth of this fast-growing collectible." -- A reader

"Your ambitious attempt to cover the entire subject succeeds in its lofty goal. Your perspective on collecting is right on target. I highly recommend it!" -- A reader

"Your book contains an amazing body of information, I’ve never found anywhere else, especially the exposure of so many new label types. It's truly informative." -- A reader

From the Publisher

It's no secret anymore that labels of all kinds are being sought for their beauty, topical diversity, ephemeral value and now monetary values, by an ever-increasing number of people. Labels as a decorator item and collector's item have been flourishing for thirty years since the late sixties. But today, an ever-growing awareness of their unique cultural significance is blossoming, too. Fruit and vegetable crate-label collecting has become a swiftly growing hobby not only along the Pacific Coast, but, in Texas, Florida and throughout much of America. Labels are being actively collected in Australia, Canada, Argentina, Holland, France, South Africa, Mexico, and Spain. Each of these countries created and used labels of their own over the last century and many people eagerly collect them today for their beauty and historical importance. Many label books and exhibits have been created.

And, what is most amazing about all this, is that labels were never meant to be saved, which is why it is so incredible and delightful that so many still exist today. New finds seem to be turning up all the time around the country. A thousand collections are now vigorously being formed around the globe and tens of thousands of people have been decorating with them for more than a quarter-century. Many fine museums already have a well developed collection, or are actively building one. Some institutions have spent considerable sums of money sponsoring major exhibits of label art and lithographic history. Since the early 1970s, publishers in the U.S. and Europe, have created dozens of "coffee-table" books featuring labels, and books about regional agriculture around the world, featuring labels. Even more books about labels are presently in the planning and production stages in California, and a book is coming out on Australian and Tasmanian apple and pear labels by a Tasmanian label collector, which has been ten years in the making. There are also ongoing projects toward an educational documentary for national public- television, now that the half-hour pilot has proven a success. I am now regularly seeing photographs of labels framed in kitchens on the pages of Better Homes & Gardens type magazines, and Architectural Digest -- Sunset Magazine. They are even in the movies and on t.v. as props in kitchens on the sets of several television shows and home shows. I have contributed label art to a half-dozen t.v. documentaries so far, in Nova Scotia, Washington, San Francisco and Hollywood, and a new production for the Discovery Channel.

Decorating with labels has also skyrocketed in the past three years, (mostly due to the Internet and ebay) and hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent on framing labels for decorating. Today, anyone can easily build a collection of hundreds of labels, or cover a wall with colorful art without spending more than a few dollars each. This is because so many beautiful, original labels were found in large numbers in recent years. Occasionally, the supplies are so great, that one could literally "wallpaper" an average home in labels, and only spend a few hundred dollars supplying the art.

It is a fact that in the past 30 years, fruit and vegetable labels have become a multi-million dollar hobby. Literally millions of dollars have been spent by collectors and dealers to purchase labels from others during the past twenty-five years. In the single fiscal year of 1992, it was calculated that about $250 thousand to $300 thousand dollars changed hands for label sales hobby-wide. But, it is much more today!

Because of this steadily increasing popularity of labels of all kinds, devoted collectors everywhere, have seen many dramatic increases in many prices. This is especially true of "rare" labels at the retail level, at swap-meets, and in trades. Simultaneously, labels in the "common" to "uncommon" range still vary from only $5.00 to about $25.00 and have become much more widely available, through an increasing number of dealers. Rare labels are increasing in price faster than ever, from $25.00 to $100.00 and up.

That is why this book has been created. It is an updated, revised, new and improved version of my two previous volumes from 1994. It contains nearly all the same historical and biographical information as my first two books (for all my new readers), and has tons of new information and price updates (for veteran collectors). The biggest additions are the new price guide and the new Internet area. By merging the two previous volumes and adding new information, eliminating the redundant information, and combining every important point from both books, this is now a single, more manageable book.

As we turn the corner on the Twenty-first Century, we leave behind 175 years of American lithographic history, hundreds-of-thousands of designs, and countless billions of printed labels, we find there are still a few remaining millions of original labels still existing -- ones that never got used.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Plastic Comb: 440 pages
• Publisher: Crate Expectations Pub; Revised edition (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964070324
• ISBN-13: 978-0964070325
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,912,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not recommended reading, April 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Pat Jacobsen's Millennium Guide to Fruit Crate Labels : A Collector's Guide and Price Catalogue (Plastic Comb)

This homemade book is a poorly written and incomplete history of labels and label collecting with more generalizations and anecdotes than facts. On the other hand, if you buy it for the lists or the graphics, you're making an even bigger mistake. The lists are out-of-date, incomplete, and in some cases wrong. The graphics are poor quality black and white Xeroxes. I would not recommend buying this book.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Summary of 50 customer comments!, July 9, 2000

By 

Pat Jacobsen (Auburn, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pat Jacobsen's Millennium Guide to Fruit Crate Labels : A Collector's Guide and Price Catalogue (Plastic Comb)

Since releasing this book in February 2000, I have had only one negative comment from a disgruntled label dealer in Yuma. However, I have had a stream of positive feedback in the form of letters and emails. Here is what my customers say about the Millennium Guide:

"The book came today. It's wonderful. I immediately sat down and read it" -- Vicki B., MO

"I received your book this afternoon. A great work." William C., CA

"Your book is getting quite a workout in our house. It is a very valuable resource tool. I can only imagine the work and dedication it took to write." Julie V., FL

"Just started reviewing my copy of your book and have already added to my knowledge base. Thanks again for your hard work." -- Bill S., CA

"Your writings are informative and delightful, and your collection is obviously magnificent." William M., CA

"I love your work! Your involvement with labels is great -- congratulations! I think what you have done is truly exciting." -- Jon B., CA

"I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated the work you did in the new book. Thanks for the great books you have written and keep up the good work." Rich K., WA

"Awesome, awesome, awesome!!! Never ever have I seen so much information jam packed into one place." -- Shannon C., CA

"I received the book Friday evening and spent eighteen hours poring over it, and I am still fascinated with all the material. You have surely completed a monumental task and I am absolutely thrilled with it! Thank you!! -- Carol S., CA

"This book paints a wonderful picture of turn-of-the-century California living. The research is extensive, the writing skillful, and the pictures enticing."-- Tom G., CA

"Thank you! I'm enjoying the book immmmmmmmensely -- hard to put it down. I can see it was a ton of work and obviously a labor of love. I have spent hours leafing through it, and find it truly enjoyable." -- Warren W., OH

"This book is a MUST for all collectors who are searching for prices and information on labels and collecting" -- Gordon M., CA

"I have no qualms about the price. This book contains more insight and information than I have seen in any other label book, or anywhere else! This is a tremendous piece of work." -- Paul W., ID

"Way to go Pat! This new book covers everything of importance about label collecting and brings each aspect into full light. Your ambitious attempt to cover the entire subject succeeds in it's lofty goal. Both novice and advanced collectors will gain much from the study of this fine release. Your perspective on the Internet and its impact on collecting is right on target. This guide should be in every collector's library and I'll highly reccommend it!!" -- John M., AZ

"Lots of information -- I like the addition of other types of labels than your first two books -- great additions! I think you should create a guide for the truly serious collectors of rare labels as well. I liked the format -- really nice and clean and easy to read. I love all the illustrations. Can't imagine any collector not loving it!" -- Susan N., OR

"Unprecedented! Your book contains an amazing body of information that I've never found anywhere else. I really appreciated the outstanding selection or rare label images, most of which I had not seen before, and the exposure of so many new types of labels. I also think you have brought this to the public in a really interesting and informative way, and opened a big door in label collecting!!" -- Dwayne R., CA