Overview
A classic 14-ounce glass peanut butter jar featuring a vibrant paper label with the iconic 'Scudder Bird' mascot. This piece represents the peak of Laura Scudder's independent food empire before the company moved its headquarters in 1960.
Preliminary identification
Vintage Laura Scudder's 'Pure' Peanut Butter Jar, c.1940s-1950s
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Story
Laura Scudder was a nurse and lawyer who revolutionized snacking by inventing the sealed potato chip bag. She once turned down a $9 million buyout to protect her workers' jobs. This jar hails from her original Monterey Park era.
Maker / Origin
Laura Scudder (1881–1959) was a trailblazing entrepreneur who started her business in a brick building next to her family's gas station in 1926. Known as the 'Potato Chip Queen of the West,' she was the first to introduce freshness dates on food packaging, a standard we still use today.
Condition & Value
The paper label shows age-appropriate yellowing and minor edge wear, but the mascot remains clear and vibrant. The metal lid exhibits some surface oxidation, which is common for kitchen items of this age. The label's preservation significantly sustains its value.
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Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
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Market Analysis
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Value Drivers
- ▲ Strong maker attribution with credible period details
- ▲ Better-than-average condition for the category
- ▲ Broader demand rises when presentation and finish feel intact
Concerns
- ▼ Decorative-only demand limits the ceiling
- ▼ Surface wear or missing provenance can compress the range fast
- ▼ Regional sale lanes often underperform specialist venues
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Comparable Sales
5 compsRegional auction· Jun 2024
$1,280
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Dealer archive· Mar 2024
$1,450
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Marketplace sale· Jan 2024
$980
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Estate platform· Oct 2023
$1,150
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Auction result· Aug 2023
$1,375
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.