Another thing I like about them is that they’re ethnically diverse for the most part — and in a good way. Vintage cigar labels were often filled with negative interpretations of African Americans. But vintage fruit crate labels seem to be more egalitarian. As a result, you’ll see Latin Americans and African Americans presented in relatively positive contexts. Having said that, I know some people might rankle at the term “Aunty” being used along with the image of an African American woman, because that term was used during slavery. But if you remember the time these labels came from and how far we’ve come in the interim, it might be easier to appreciate that particular label for its artistic value.

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Noble depictions of American Indians were abundant, yet degrading stereotypes existed in almost equal numbers. Cubans faired well, however, because as cigar makers they had more control over the packaging. I found only a few images of Asians — respectful or otherwise — and was surprised to not find more since travel to Asia was becoming popular in the era these images hail from. I also found that Europeans and people from the Middle East were generally portrayed in a positive light.

It was challenging, though, to find African American characterizations that didn’t make me cringe. I won’t describe some of the things I saw. Take my word for it; they were offensive. But that’s a reflection of the time the labels came from. Fortunately, I also was able to find some that presented African Americans in a respectful manner, and you’ll see those below.

Regardless of the subject, what impresses me most about these labels is that they’re such wonderful examples of fine art. It’s amazing to me that so much talent, time and effort was put into creating images that were eventually headed for the trash. Thankfully, some still live on in digital form!

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