As part of the extensive digital collections available through Calisphere, a project of the University of California Libraries, the Riverside Public Library offers this delightful collection of vintage citrus labels. Many of these labels date back to the early twentieth century or even earlier, just a few decades after the transcontinental railroad was completed, which enabled citrus crops from southern California to be easily transported to buyers in distant parts of the US. At the time of this writing, visitors are treated to 140 digitized labels in this collection, showcasing the distinctive graphic design trends in California during this time period. While the citrus labels are beautiful to look through, they also hold more than their aesthetic value. As the collection's notes explain, "[the] citrus label collection can provide researchers with examples of the evolution of art advertising and local business history."
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