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Identification

Vintage Dennison's No. 240 E Quality Shipping Tags Bundle (12 Count)

Photo reference

1 uploaded photo

Overview

The item is explicitly identified by its original, intact paper band. The text clearly states it is a bundle of 12 'Dennison's TAGS No. 240 E QUALITY' manufactured by 'Dennison Manufacturing Co.' in Framingham, Mass.

Story

Produced by Dennison Manufacturing Co. of Framingham, Massachusetts, a titan of early to mid-20th-century American paper goods. The 'E Quality' line represented their standard heavy-duty commercial shipping stock, ubiquitous in mid-century logistics. The secondary market for vintage commercial ephemera is bifurcated. Crafters and junk journalers drive high volume for loose, inexpensive tags, while dedicated stationery collectors pay premiums for intact, original packaging.

Maker / Origin

Dennison Manufacturing Co.

Condition & Value

The bundle is defined by its intact, original decorative paper band, which is the primary value driver. Age-related foxing and spotting are visible on the exposed top tag, consistent with mid-century manila stock stored in variable conditions. The structural integrity of the paper band appears stable.

Full Research

See what it's actually worth.

Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Market Analysis

The secondary market for vintage commercial ephemera is bifurcated. Crafters and junk journalers drive high volume for loose, inexpensive tags, while dedicated stationery collectors pay premiums for intact, original packaging. Banded 'New Old Stock' bundles like this move steadily, though the overall price ceiling remains modest due to the high survival rate of mid-century paper goods.

Value Drivers

▲ Original, intact Dennison paper band preserves the collector premium

▲ Clear, highly displayable maker and model typography on the band

Concerns

▼ Unverified inner tag count — if tags were slipped out over time, the bundle loses its complete-set premium

▼ Visible surface foxing on the top tag limits appeal to mint-condition purists

▼ Generic commercial tags lack the crossover premium of specific railroad or steamship branded ephemera

Best Venue

List on eBay or Etsy as an intact collectible. Market strictly as a sealed historical artifact to vintage stationery collectors. Do not break or remove the band to inspect the inner tags, as destroying the original packaging will reduce the item to crafter-grade loose ephemera.

Upside Potential

If the bundle is confirmed to be completely full (12 tags) and an early production run (1920s), it could reach the $15-$20 high end, though the absolute ceiling is capped by larger 100-count boxes selling near $20.

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Also found — market-range context

Related comps outside the valuation band· 7 comps

Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.

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