Vintage 1950s Mad River Brand Washington State Apples Crate Label — Mad River Orchard Co., Entiat WA, Stecher-Traung

Step back in time with this breathtaking vintage 1950s Mad River Apples Crate Label, a true gem packed by Mad River Orchard Co. in Entiat, Washington. This stunning piece of Americana is not just a label; it's a window into a golden era of fruit production and artistic marketing!

Measuring an impressive 10 1/4" x 8 3/4", this label shows little to no wear. It's as if it's been frozen in time, waiting for you to bring it back to life!

Feast your eyes on the original apple box label that captures the essence of the Pacific Northwest. The design showcases the tumultuous Mad River, surrounded by majestic mountains, cascading waterfalls, and towering evergreens. It's not just a label; it's a miniature landscape painting! Did you know that Mad River Orchard Co. only created two designs for their labels? This makes each one even more special – you're looking at one of only two color variations ever produced!

As Mad River Orchard Co, Inc. expanded, so did their reputation. By the mid-1950s, they were cultivating over 240 acres of prime orchard land. Their expertise in growing, packing, storing, and selling apples and pears became legendary in the industry. Imagine the pride these labels carried as they adorned crates of the finest fruits, traveling across the country!

These crate labels are more than just pretty pictures – they're coveted artifacts of a vanished era. Once ubiquitous, they're now increasingly rare, making each discovery a thrilling event for collectors and history buffs alike. The impeccable lithography process used to create these labels is a lost art form. Skilled artisans used stone or metal plates to design and print each label, resulting in unparalleled quality and vibrant colors that have stood the test of time.

The demand for these vintage labels is skyrocketing! Museums and art institutes are dedicating entire galleries to showcase these miniature masterpieces. By acquiring this label, you're not just collecting – you're preserving a piece of American agricultural and artistic history. It's an investment in the past and the future, as these labels continue to appreciate in value and cultural significance.

Can you picture this extraordinary piece of vintage advertising gracing your walls? Instead of being locked away in a museum, this label could be the conversation starter in your living room, kitchen, or office. It's a slice of nostalgia that brings warmth, character, and a touch of rustic elegance to any space. Don't miss this chance to own a piece of the past – a tangible connection to the golden age of American orchards and the art of fruit crate labels!

📋 What Is Printed On This Label

Every line of type on the sheet, transcribed from the label itself rather than paraphrased:

• MAD RIVER
• BRAND
• Washington State
• APPLES
• CONTENTS 1 U. S. BUSHEL BY VOLUME
• PRODUCE OF U.S.A.
• PACKED BY MAD RIVER ORCHARD CO., ENTIAT, WASH.
• (C)STECHER-TRAUNG S. F., CALIF.

Printer: the lithographer is named on the sheet — ©STECHER-TRAUNG S. F., CALIF., set in microtype in the margin.

The printer signed it. A pale-blue microtype line in the lower-right corner of the blue field reads ©STECHER-TRAUNG S. F., CALIF. Stecher-Traung of San Francisco printed the sheet; Mad River Orchard Co. packed the apples — the label says PACKED BY, and that is the whole of the relationship it claims.

Printed and uncited until now: the yellow script line Washington State above APPLES, CONTENTS 1 U. S. BUSHEL BY VOLUME, PRODUCE OF U.S.A., and BRAND under the wordmark.

The picture. A broad white-water cascade breaking over dark purple-grey boulders between mauve cliffs, a yellow-green conifer at the left edge, and two photographically rendered red Delicious-type apples with green leaves overlapping the water at the lower right.