Vintage 1960s Big City Brand California Bartlett Pears Crate Label 🌃 — Lambert Marketing Co., West Sacramento CA — Printed ZIP 95691

Step back in time with this extraordinary Antique 1960s Big City Bartlett Pears Crate Label, carrying LAMBERT MARKETING CO. inside a shield device — printed with no verb beside it, so the sheet does not say what part they played; the only printing credit on the label is LITHO. IN U.S.A. at the left of the bottom band and SAN FRANCISCO at the right, with no house name legible between them of West Sacramento, California! This vibrant piece of Americana measures a generous 10 1/2" x 7 1/2" and boasts pristine condition with little to no wear, making it a collector's dream.

Imagine the bustling scenes of the 1960s as these eye-catching labels adorned wooden crates filled with luscious Bartlett pears, ready to be shipped across the nation. The Lambert Marketing Company, a powerhouse in the Golden Age of California fruit packing, brought these delectable pears from the Sacramento Valley pear district — El Dorado County is not printed anywhere on this sheet; the only place on the object is West Sacramento to dinner tables everywhere.

Founded in 1931 by the visionary William A. Lambert, with R.V. Lambert at the helm as president, this West Sacramento-based company was at the forefront of the fruit packing industry. Their strategic location, with access to both river ports and rail connections, made West Sacramento a crucial hub for distributing the finest produce the West Coast had to offer.

But what really sets this label apart is the breathtaking artistry behind it. Picture a team of talented commercial artists, their skilled hands bringing to life the vivid colors and intricate designs through the magic of chromolithography. This specialized printing technique, involving stone or metal plates, resulted in unparalleled quality that modern methods simply can't match.

As World War II raged on, commodity restrictions and wood shortages forced many packers to switch to cardboard boxes. Wood-crate labels were in decline by the 1960s, though plainly still in use when this one was printed — its own address carries a ZIP code, so it cannot predate mid-1963, making this 1960s Big City Bartlett Pears label an increasingly rare find.

Today, these labels are more than just pretty pictures – they're windows into a bygone era, each one a unique piece of folk art. Museums and art institutions are clamoring to add these treasures to their collections, recognizing their immense historical and artistic value.

Imagine this stunning label gracing your walls, a conversation starter that transports you and your guests to the golden days of California's fruit industry. It's not just decor; it's a slice of history, a testament to the ingenuity and artistry of a generation past.

Don't miss this chance to own a piece of West Sacramento's rich agricultural heritage. This 1960s Big City Bartlett Pears crate label isn't just a collectible – it's a time capsule, a work of art, and a statement piece all rolled into one. Elevate your space with this rare find and let the vibrant colors and nostalgic charm of the Big City Bartlett pears transport you to a simpler time.

🏷️ 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:

• BIG CITY
• CALIFORNIA
• BARTLETT PEARS
• CONTENTS 4/5 BUSHEL
• LEAPS AHEAD  [around a roundel of a jockey on a leaping white horse, lower left]
• PRODUCE OF U.S.A.
• LAMBERT MARKETING CO.
• MAIN OFFICE  WEST SACRAMENTO  CALIF. 95691
• LITHO. IN U.S.A.
• SAN FRANCISCO

The ZIP code is printed on the label — CALIF. 95691. Five-digit ZIP codes began in July 1963, so the address line itself puts this printing at 1963 or later. That is hard positive support for the 1960s date and it had never been cited.

LEAPS AHEAD runs around a yellow roundel at the lower left showing a jockey in silks on a white horse clearing a rail fence — a printed slogan and emblem never mentioned anywhere.

The artwork that gives the brand its name: an orange sky over a stylised night skyline of skyscrapers in blue, red, purple and green with lit windows, above a deep-blue foreground band. Described on no island.

The bottom band's printing credit is exactly as read — LITHO. IN U.S.A. at the left, SAN FRANCISCO at the right, and no house name legible between them. The city is printed; the printer's name is not.