Antique 1930s King David Brand Sunkist Crate Label 🍊 — Yorba Orange Growers Association, Yorba District, Placentia CA

Step back in time with this extraordinary Antique 1930s King David Brand crate label — a sheet of paper, not a crate — a true masterpiece that captures the essence of California's golden age of citrus! The label reads GROWN AND PACKED BY YORBA ORANGE GROWERS ASSOCIATION, YORBA DISTRICT, PLACENTIA, CALIFORNIA, ORANGE COUNTY: the association grew and packed the fruit. It also carries a printer's imprint along the bottom green border, but that imprint is too small to read in any photograph taken of it, so no lithographer is named here.

Measuring a compact 11" x 10", this vintage gem boasts little to no wear, preserving its original charm for nearly a century. Imagine the stories it could tell!

The Yorba Orange Growers Association, a powerhouse in California's citrus industry, wasn't just about growing oranges – they were pioneers shaping the future of agriculture! Established in the early 20th century, these visionaries revolutionized the way oranges were developed and distributed. Want to take a trip down memory lane? The Yorba Orange Growers Association Packing House in Anaheim, California, still stands as a testament to their legacy, offering visitors a thrilling peek into the bustling world of citrus packing.

But the Yorba Orange Growers weren't lone wolves – they were part of a game-changing network of growers' cooperatives. These savvy farmers joined forces to tackle distribution challenges head-on, pooling their resources and crops to dominate the market. Talk about strength in numbers!

Now, let's talk about the star of the show – the crate label! Once as common as sunshine in California, these labels have transformed into coveted treasures. Their rarity makes them hot commodities in the world of collectibles. But it's not just about scarcity – it's about artistry! The impeccable lithography process used to create these labels is a mind-blowing feat of craftsmanship. Imagine skilled artisans meticulously designing each label on stone or metal plates – it's a level of dedication that's hard to find in today's fast-paced world!

The demand for these labels is skyrocketing faster than a California redwood! Museums and art institutes are scrambling to dedicate entire galleries to these miniature masterpieces. It's not just a trend – it's a full-blown art movement! For serious collectors, owning one of these labels isn't just a purchase – it's a must-have piece of history.

Now, picture this beauty adorning your walls. Why let it gather dust in a museum when it could be the crown jewel of your home decor? This isn't just a piece of vintage advertising – it's a conversation starter, a time machine, and a work of art all rolled into one! It'll transport your living space back to the sun-drenched orchards of 1930s California, adding a splash of nostalgia and sophistication that'll make your guests green with envy.

Don't miss your chance to own a piece of the Yorba Orange Growers legacy. This crate label isn't just a collectible – it's a portal to a bygone era, a celebration of California's citrus heritage, and a testament to the ingenuity of the Orange Growers Association. Grab this slice of sunshine before it's gone!

🏷️ What Is Printed on This Label

Read off the sheet itself, verbatim — this is the label's own printed text, not a description of it:

• KING DAVID
• BRAND
• GROWN AND PACKED BY
• YORBA ORANGE GROWERS ASSOCIATION
• YORBA DISTRICT
• PLACENTIA, CALIFORNIA
• ORANGE COUNTY
• GROWN IN U.S.A.
• Sunkist  [on the depicted tissue wrapper]
• [bottom-border printer's imprint — present on the sheet, unreadable at any magnification]

Sunkist is on this label. Lower right, overlapping the border, a tissue-wrapped orange is shown with the word Sunkist printed in script across its wrapper — the California Fruit Growers Exchange mark, and the badge of an Exchange-affiliated packing house.

The sheet names no fruit at all. The word ORANGE appears only inside the association's own name and inside ORANGE COUNTY; there is no ORANGES line, no net weight, no grade and no size. The citrus identity of this label rests entirely on the depicted wrapped Sunkist orange.

The artwork nobody had described. A crowned, white-bearded king in three-quarter profile fills a tall panel at the left, in crimson and gold robes with a jewelled collar and a gold star. To the right runs a horizontal frieze of five figures in striped kilts carrying water jars on their shoulders against dark pyramid shapes. That frieze is the whole reason the brand is King David.

There is no printed date on the sheet. The 1930s dating rests on the trade record and the owner's notes, and nothing on the object bears on it either way.