One of the great pleasures of going through the Oxford Companion to Beer is finding little gems of information that you did not know about before and the latest one that I have found (I am only in the B section) is about this breweriana group by the name of the Labologists Society.
Here is a short bio from their website….“The common paper beer bottle label was first introduced when the heavy duty on glass was repealed. As a result bottled beers began to feature more prominently in the brewer’s repertoire. The label has come a long way since the original, small, simple, strikingly beautiful examples of the designers art began appearing around the 1840’s.
Although the collection has not been discovered yet, acquisitive individuals being a type always present in society, the first collector of beer bottle labels must have begun conserving labels from that time.
In 1911 a young collector called Norton Price remembered as a boy soaking labels (some now unique) from returned bottles in his father’s off-licence, and during both World Wars, when soldiers were forbidden to mention details of their postings in letters home, a simple beer bottle label from a local bar secured in a small album, served as an aide-memoir for future reference.
However it was not until 1958 when three label collectors got together, originally with financial support from Guinness Exports Ltd., Liverpool, that the Labologists Society was formed with the idea of uniting collectors world-wide. Today the interest in Labology is truly international with clubs and societies in the Americas, Australasia, the Far East and throughout Europe.”
They also host a yearly “Label of the Year” charity contest. A great way to highlight the art of the label and help some people out.
Their website is being worked on so I will be returning to see if the gallery is up because that would be a fun way to while away the time.
Will you please give me a POSTAL contact address. I wish to send you details and information concerning the BREWERY COLLECTIBLES FIRST WORLD CONVENTION to be held in MARTIN, Slovakia from 3rd – 6th October, 2013, and for which I have been appointed UK Co-ordinator. Many thanks.
By the way……aSsUPER website. Congratulations
You can send any info my way at beersearchparty@gmail.com or to my address 128 North Everett Street, Glendale, California 91206
Dear Sir :
I am collector of beer paper labels,
I send you my best regards,
Prof. Juan Carlos Cesarini
Av. Rivadavia 7589 , Piso 10
C 1406 GMF – Buenos Aires
Argentina