Crate Label, Corinthian California Emperor Grapes, Original Lithograph, Vintage NOS

Before supermarkets. Before plastic wrap. Before everything was the same everywhere — there were crate labels.

This is an original California grape crate label — a 1930s–1940s lithograph printed by Louis Roesch Co. of San Francisco for Lawrence E. McGee, grower and packer of Exeter, California. It has never been used. Never folded. Never attached to a crate. It is New Old Stock in excellent mint condition, sourced from the collection of Lorie Cairns, one of the pioneering dealers in vintage label collecting.

The label is extraordinary. A sailboat under full sail cuts across the composition, a large blue anchor beside it — and the blues are the thing: aqua, navy, teal, and powder, four distinct tones that together build a seascape in a space barely four inches tall. Against them, the orange mast and lettering hold the warmth. The name Corinthian is a nod to the Greek maritime tradition — the Corinthian style of sailing designating a skilled, independent sailor who races purely for the love of it. Louis Roesch Co., printing fine California labels since 1879, understood exactly what they were making here.

This is a strip label, long and horizontal, made for narrow frames — and it is one of the most graphically striking in the format. Frame it solo in a slim 5x14 for a nautical statement piece, or pair it with other strip labels in a coastal or summer-themed arrangement. The blues work beautifully against white walls, natural wood, and rope or linen textures. One available.

A wonderful gift for a sailor, a coastal decor enthusiast, a vintage label collector, or anyone who appreciates bold mid-century graphic design with genuine provenance.

A note on crate label collecting: Original lithographic crate labels from this era are increasingly scarce. NOS examples like this one — never used, never folded, in original unused condition — represent the best of what survives. Collectors prize them for their graphic quality and the window they open onto a vanished chapter of American agricultural and commercial history.

• Brand: Corinthian Brand / Lawrence E. McGee, Grower and Packer, Exeter, California
• Lithographer: Louis Roesch Co., San Francisco, California (est. 1879)
• Type: Grape crate label (strip)
• Made in: USA
• Dated: circa 1930s–1940s
• Dimensions: 13.0" wide | 4.0" tall
• Condition: New Old Stock (NOS) — unused, excellent mint condition. Age-appropriate yellowing consistent with period. Please review all photos carefully — we cannot accept returns.
• Framing: Ideal for a narrow or panoramic frame — ready to display