A traveler might be lost without luggage, and luggage might be lost without a label. These reproductions of vintage luggage labels date from an era before supersonic jets, e-tickets, and suitcases that fit into the overhead bin. Stylish declarations of social status, they recall an age when travel promised luxury, adventure, and excitement.
This treasury of antique luggage labels contains 53 colorful stickers from the heyday of the genre, which flourished from 1910 to 1940, until World War II brought tourism to a virtual halt. The privilege of travel belonged chiefly to the wealthy in the first half of the twentieth century, and these elegant stickers recall the grand hotels of Rome, Cairo, London, Amsterdam, Zürich, and other cities, in addition to carriers from around the globe, including Air France and Matson Steamship Line.
Today these labels document a bygone age, and their reflections of a more gracious era in travel as well as their visual appeal make them highly prized by collectors. They’re also a great way to add a touch of well-traveled sophistication to any arts and crafts project.