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If there is one thing we love, it is beer. If there is another thing we love, it is old things. This passion includes whiskey, wine and women...and design. This collection of vintage beer bottle labels ranges from pre-prohibition to the 1970's and epitomizes some of the best dressing up of our favorite beverage from each period. Keep and eye out for some old classics, including an ancient Budweiser label and the old stand by, Pabst Blue Ribbon.

We recently interviewed Thor Kampfer of usbeerlabels.com, owner of one of the largest collections of beer labels in the United States. Here is what he had to say about the his experience in the beautiful world of beer labels.

How did you get started selling beer labels?

I started collecting beer labels and other beer advertising when I was about 10 years old. Over the past 30+ years I’ve come to specialize in vintage U.S. beer labels (pre-1960) and I have amassed one of the largest U.S. beer labels stocks in the world, so when the internet evolved, selling the duplicates online was a natural progression of my hobby.

Where do you find the labels in your collection?

Many of the labels in my collection come from buying old beer label collections that were popular to assemble during the 1930s and 1940s. I also find beer labels at ephemera (paper) shows, printing archives and of course on eBay.

What is the most valuable label you own?
I have many one-of-a-kind and rare pre-1900 beer labels. It’s tough to value one-of-a-kind beer labels, but in general they are worth over $250 each.

I noticed that some of the older beers have funny names, like "Family Beer" or "Old Age Beverage", what is the strangest name you have come across?

Most of the stranger beer label names come from foreign brands, and many of them I can’t repeat. As far as U.S. beer labels go I would say Mr. Giggles, Happy Peppy and Old Rip are among my favorites from the 1940s.

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usbeerlabels.com

usbeerlabels.com

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usbeerlabels.com

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usbeerlabels.com

usbeerlabels.com

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usbeerlabels.com

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usbeerlabels.com

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usbeerlabels.com

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usbeerlabels.com

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usbeerlabels.com

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usbeerlabels.com

usbeerlabels.com

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