Global Airline Luggage Labels Special Collection, 1920-1960

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Summary

Title:
Airline Luggage Label Special Collection
Dates:
1920-1960
Abstract:
This collection contains luggage labels from a variety of global airlines. The majority of the labels date from before World War II.
Extent:
1.2 Cubic feet 3 binders
Language:
and English
Preferred citation:

[Item], [Collection], Archives, San Diego Air & Space Museum

Background

Scope and content:

This series contains various airline luggage labels and related stickers and baggage tags from international locations, including: North and South America, Australia, Asia and Europe.

Biographical / historical:

Interesting design and oftentimes colorful airline labels were in abundance in the golden age of air travel, and their function extended to displaying and conveying the glamour of air travel. It also highlighted those who could partake in the as yet exclusive lifestyle of traveling by air. The labels themselves, small “works of art,” also doubled as airline advertisement, and the popularity of these labels were at a peak in the 1920s up to WWII. After WWII, traveling by air became much more economical, and the appeal and glamour of air travel all but disappeared. For example, in Britain during the war, most airlines became part of the military, when the focus on colorful labels also disappeared. As airlines and routes developed, the use of labels/tags became more utilitarian and focused on tracking and identification. Today, collecting labels is a hobby that started in the 1930s.

Acquisition information:
Acquired by museum before 1978 fire; original donor name lost.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Cindy Chen
Date Prepared:
2011
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2015-10-28T13:33-0400

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open to researchers by appointment.

Terms of access:

Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.

Preferred citation:

[Item], [Collection], Archives, San Diego Air & Space Museum

Location of this collection:
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 234-8291
archives@sdasm.org
Website