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Category: vintage History

Luggage Labels-A Lost Travel Art

I love travelling and and whenever I travel I always try to take a piece of that location home with me (it’s usually a postcard or magnet). For generations before me though, trips ended up being documented thru the gorgeous illustrations on Luggage Labels. But they were not placed there as a way to remember where you have been, there were other reasons these labels existed….

vintage luggage - Steamer trunk

For today’s post I want to share a brief history of those reasons and then showcase some stunning examples of vacations gone by in sticker form.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

“What do we find on old luggage? We find the traces of… the places visited. We will follow these, and with them, we will tour the world, not in 80 days like Phileas Fogg, but much faster still.”


– Gaston-Louis Vuitton
Vintage luggage labels

Source: Etsy

The Brief History of the Luggage Label

19th Century-The Golden Age of Travel. Why? It was the industrial revolution and more reliable modes of transportation like trains and oceans liners were allowing more and more people to travel and see the world.

The golden age of travel. Image from 19th century of people traveling

If you decided to make a trip via a grand ocean liner, luggage labels were created in order to keep track of all the luggage being brought on-board (trains typically used tags). They tended to indict the class of cabin for the traveler as well as as the destination of the ship (Source).

Vintage Cruise Ship Luggage Label CUNARD LINE State Room Baggage

Source: Ebay

Hotels during this time utilized these stickers as a way for their porters to know which boat or train the guest was travelling on, but they soon evolved into a great way to advertise ones lodgings to people all over the world. The labels would become more and more sophisticated in design to stand out for the thousands of other hotels and destinations doing the same.

Vintage Hotel-Rest Adr. De Haas Amsterdam Holland Souvenir Luggage Label - Vintage Suitcase Travel Label

Source: Etsy

When air travel started to be accessible to travelers around the 1920s, they too jumped on the label advertising popularity to capture the “experience” of seeing the world from the air.

Braniff Airways circa early 1930s vintage luggage label

Braniff Airways circa early 1930s via National Air & Space Museum

By the 1960’s and the advent of jet planes, luggage labels disappeared as travel became more of a form of mass transit to be endured, and though baggage tags (not labels) are still utilized, many are very generic and not at all exciting (Source).

FUN FACT: Did you know that luggage labels were originally affixed with gum and so if you were to try to remove the label you would damage it (of course)? So when you find a mint condition label it’s because the traveler would ask for a second or even third that was never placed on the luggage, as a souvenir from their trip (Source).


Vintage Luggage Label Art Examples:

(please note that at time of posting the labels sourced from etsy and ebay were for sale)

BOAC British Overseas Airways.

Vintage BOAC British Overseas Airway Luggage Labels

Source: Etsy

1930s Hotel Splendide in Lugano, Switzerland.

1930s Genuine Original Unused Luggage Steamer Trunk Label Grand Hotel Splendide Lugano Switzerland

Source: Etsy

Sport Hotel, Gerlos Platte Austria – 1950s.

Sport Hotel, Gerlos Platte Austria - 1950s luggage label

Source: Ebay

1939 Golden Gate International Exposition San Francisco-World’s Fair.

1939 Golden Gate International Exposition San Francisco-World's Fair.

Source: Pinterest

Luggage Label for the Hotel Oasis Alger.

Luggage Label Hotel Oasis Alger Vintage Original

Source: Ebay

Intourist, Caucasus Soviet Union.

Intourist CAUCASUS Soviet Union - vintage luggage tourist travel label vintage

Source: Ebay

The Excelsior Hotel was part of the CIGA chain from 1920 to 1985. The label below is believed to be from the 1930’s or 40’s; they came from a collection of labels gathered by twin boys who traveled Europe with their parents and acquired as many labels as they could get their hands on, not just hotels they stayed at.

Genuine 1930s-'40s Original Unused Luggage Steamer Trunk Label Hotel Excelsior Rome

Source: Etsy

1940s Vintage TWA (Transcontiental Airlines). Artwork by George Petty.

1940s Vintage TWA (Transcontiental Airlines). Artwork by George Petty.

Source: Etsy

Hotel Victor, Copenhagen Denmark -1960s (This one is fun!)

Hotel Victor COPENHAGEN Denmark - vintage luggage label

Source: eBay

Hotel Union, Bucuresti Romania.

Hotel Union BUCURESTI Romania - vintage luggage label

Source: eBay

Hotel Splendid, Monte Carlo Monaco.

Hotel Splendid MONTE CARLO Monaco - vintage luggage label

Source: eBay

Strand Hotel, Darligen Switzerland-1960s.

Strand Hotel DARLIGEN Switzerland - vintage luggage label 1960s

Source: Ebay

Friends! What did you think of these lovely labels (Gosh the Typography alone is outstanding)? Did you have any favourites in the bunch? Do you have a collection of your own? Please share in the comments below.

Liz

Guest Post: “An Ode to Patsy Cline’s Fashion”

Hi everyone and welcome to another guest blog I’m excited to feature. Today’s post is from Adrienne at Nostalgiaville a fun 1950s party supply, clothes and memorabilia website.

Adrienne reached out looking for a place to spread her vintage blogging wings and as a newbie at one time myself I could not say no to helping out a fellow blogger with a talent for writing.

So without further adieu here is “An Ode to Patsy Cline’s Fashion” just in time for Patsy Birthday on September 8th.

Vintage Photo of Patsy Cline at the piano and up close photo.

Patsy Cline

Since the 1940s, Patsy Cline has gently guided many through the tribulations of heartbreak.

Be it confusion or frustration, infatuation or rejection, Cline sweetly sang just the right things to help with whatever emotions that arose in young women’s hearts at the time – all while looking fashionable as all get out.

With a contralto croon that defined the Nashville sound and continues to inspire female vocalists in all genres today, Cline was a mid-century star until her tragic passing in 1963 at the age of 30. 

Let’s get some things straight: Patsy Cline isn’t just a woman scorned making country pop tunes. The complex vocalist proved herself a true badass at an early age.

Cline was incredibly young – in her teens – when she first secured recurring performances. Not only was she navigating the country music scene as a youngin’, she was also a woman – a major setback that came with the times. Nevertheless, Cline used her gender to her advantage – donning iconic dresses handmade by her mother for most of her career and charming the likes of more than a few men.

More proof of Cline’s badassery? The woman was hit head-on in Nashville while driving with her brother. Even still, she sang at the Grand Ole Opry shortly after the crash. Here she is with crutches at her performance.

Patsy Cline Singing with Crutches Vintage Photo

Whereas many young women in popular culture at the time were donning applique poodles on their skirts with bobby socks and saddle shoes, Cline set the trends for women in the rising alternative pop country scene by opting for bold boots and fringe.

Cline was known for her handmade dresses, almost all of which were sewn by her mother, Hilda Hensley. Cline designed many of her dresses herself, too.

Vintage Country & Western Fashion: Patsy cline wearing a fringe dress vintage country style
Source: Patsy Cline Museum Facebook

Some sketches of Patsy’s dresses mocked up by Patsy and her mother.

Vintage Country & Western Fashion: Some sketches of Patsy’ Cline's dresses mocked up by Patsy and her mother.
Source: Patsy Cline Museum Facebook

Fringe, fringe and more glorious fringe.

Vintage Country & Westerrn Fashion: Patsy Cline in a Fridge Dress vintage photo

Dress made of cotton printed with whimsical images of posters which Cline wore when she performed at The Grand Ole Opry circa 1960. Part of an auction of items that sold at Christies Auction.

Vintage Country & Westerrn Fashion: Patsy Cline Vintage Dress with Posters on it

Here’s another roundup of Cline’s closet, which at one time was available for purchase here. The teal chiffon dress with the corset was designed for Cline by Helen Rose, a famous Hollywood designer known for her costume design. To say Cline’s attire is anything costume-y is a true crime – these outfits were masterpieces.

Vintage Fashion: Lot of Patsy Cline clothing for sale
Source: Christies

Cline was also lucky enough to be able to don the regal gowns of Hollywood after her success, while sticking to her roots with more conservative A-line dresses for her performances.

Patsy Cline Country Music Superstar & her dress.
Source: Patsy Cline Museum Facebook

Patsy Cline at the Mint Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Circa 1962.

1960s Vintage Photo: Patsy Cline at the Mint Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Circa 1962
Source: Wikimedia

And we absolutely cannot discuss Patsy Cline fashion without showcasing this iconic dress:

Country fashion is no stranger to flamboyant adornments – check out the fringe and rodeo-themed applique on that bright red getup! Honestly… an inspiration. Rhinestones and some boots tie this sassy look together!

Vintage Country & Westerrn Fashion: Patsy Cline in a fridge skirt & western fringe shirt.

Gone too soon, Cline left her mark on country music – be it setting the stage for the rhinestone cowboy (and girl) style or quelling the woes of heartbroken listeners.

Thanks for the music.

Patsy Cline Album Cover.

Thank you for the wonderful article Adrienne and Happy Birthday Patsy!

Question Time: Are you a Patsy Cline fan? If so share your favourite song in the comments below.

FURTHER READING: Vintage Women’s History Blog Posts (Archived posts)