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🍋 Vintage 1950s Splendid Lemons Crate Label – Ivanhoe, California

This original 1950s Splendid Lemons crate label is a preserved example of mid‑century California citrus packaging, produced by the Klink Citrus Association of Ivanhoe in Tulare County, one of the most important citrus‑growing regions in California’s Central Valley.

Lithographed by Western Litho Co., the label reflects the bold color, confident typography, and optimistic visual language that defined post‑war agricultural branding. During this period, citrus labels were designed not only to identify produce, but to project freshness, abundance, and regional pride to buyers across the country. 🎨

Measuring 12" × 9", this label was created for short‑term commercial use, originally applied to wooden citrus crates shipped by rail and truck to wholesale markets nationwide. These labels were never intended to survive beyond a single shipping cycle, making untouched examples increasingly scarce today.

This piece remains New Old Stock (NOS) — unused, unmounted, and exceptionally clean. Color remains strong and vibrant, with crisp edges and an intact surface, offering a rare look at the label exactly as it would have appeared when first issued in the 1950s. 🌟

Crate labels from Tulare County are especially sought after by collectors, as the region played a central role in California’s citrus industry during the mid‑20th century. Labels like Splendid Lemons combine agricultural history, regional identity, and commercial graphic design into a uniquely American art form.

Today, vintage citrus crate labels are recognized as collectible folk art and advertising ephemera, valued for both their visual impact and their connection to California’s agricultural past. This example stands as a well‑preserved artifact from a time when produce branding was bold, regional, and visually ambitious. 🍊

📐 Details

Era: 1950s
Producer: Klink Citrus Association, Ivanhoe, CA
Lithographer: Western Litho Co.
Region: Tulare County, California
Size: 12" × 9"
Condition: New Old Stock (unused, unmounted)
Material: Lithographed paper crate label