I did a post way back on post #13 on vintage office supplies. My collection has grown since that post and I love rummaging through the contents of a desk at an estate sale. I especially love the old paper goods.
Vintage baggage tags slightly yellowed with age.
I love finding boxes of old stickers. I was especially lucky at one recent estate sale as I don't think they ever used very many of the items found in their desk and most of the boxes were full. Mailing stickers.
I love the variety of sizes and shapes with these gummed labels.
Gummed reinforcements. These old ones are much stronger than the modern day ones.
This tiny box is marked "Gummed Labels" and has a variety inside.
The boxes are half the fun. They resemble tiny books when you look at the sides. They are about two inches tall. Often they were sold as a set in a small cardboard box with a variety of the little boxes lined up.
I wish this box of alphabet tabs had the full alphabet. It only has about half the alphabet tabs in the box.
I'm a sucker for key tags too. I didn't know that was what they were called until I found a box identifying them as such.
Imagine my excitement when I ran across these big bundles of them. I really like the tiny size with the almost tarnished gray edge.
This book of labels was a favorite find. I was super excited as I paged through it and found great label page after great label page.
These old paper pads were bought for the great graphics.
I actually use these steno pads. They are a handy size and I find them super cheap at estate sales.
Who would have thought such treasures could be found in old desk drawers?
If you have an idea for a future collection challenge, leave me a note and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of ____." A new collection every Tuesday!
Love this collection. My Dad loved office supplies for some reason and I found some very cool things in his stuff.
Posted by: Linda @ A La Carte | January 27, 2015 at 06:03 AM
What a fun collection! I love paper and office supplies like these make my heart go pitter pat!
Posted by: karen | January 27, 2015 at 06:15 AM
I love old office supplies like these. I always pick them up when I find them!
Posted by: Melissa's Antiques | January 27, 2015 at 06:26 AM
I love how they look like little books collections when lined up.
Posted by: Sheryl Remy | January 27, 2015 at 08:38 AM
Love the little boxes.
I recently tried to use the hole repair circles to fix some torn holes in an old Betty Crocker cookbook and found that the glue no longer held. I had to use a glue stick -- tedious --but looked great when finished.
Posted by: janet johnson | January 27, 2015 at 10:04 AM
I think my mom had one of those large books of stickers. I have a very small collection of the little ones. I have always loved office supplies for some strange reason. Fun collection!
Posted by: Annette | January 27, 2015 at 10:54 AM
LOVE all of it!
Posted by: Kat | January 27, 2015 at 06:24 PM
Those old canning labels are great. Currants! Another fun collection - they just keep on coming......
Posted by: Shara | January 27, 2015 at 09:02 PM
I am a sucker for new office supplies so I'd probably go a little crazy if I ever found anything as cute as vintage ones!! I'm gonna pay better attention now at the sales for sure. What a fun way to decorate my office!
Guess what I did? I got my hotel reservations for Farm Chicks yesterday. I am so EXCITED!! Since it is during my birthday weekend, we splurged and are staying at the Davenport. I cannot wait!!!!
Erica
Posted by: Erica | January 28, 2015 at 04:28 AM
Oh, I remember these well going thru the parents' stuff last summer! Did you find carbon paper? I did! Remember carbon paper?
Posted by: Betty in arlington | January 28, 2015 at 06:57 AM
I love this collection! I have a collection of the little Dennison boxes and two of the large ones. One of my favorite things to find. I just posted about finding one at The Bins, of all places.
Posted by: Kathy | January 28, 2015 at 07:48 AM
This post reminds me of my grandfather's HUGE wooden desk at his work. It's now in my mother's studio. His desk was in the balcony of his women's & children's clothing store and it was filled with lots of office supplies. I'm sure many of these items would have been stashed in his drawers. This is another splendid collection.
Posted by: Musings from Kim K. | January 28, 2015 at 06:11 PM
Be still my heart!!! For some reason office supplies are a real favorite of mine. You are lucky to have found so many great items. I recently found a huge tape dispenser and metal file divider-$1.00 each at a thrift store. Made my day!!!
Posted by: Melissa | January 28, 2015 at 06:37 PM
Great collection. Love the graphics. Enjoying playing catch up with you today. Have a good one.
Posted by: Susan | January 29, 2015 at 07:19 AM
Ha! Looks like the old storage room from when I was cleaning out our old offices... lots of things left from many years ago! Love the air mail pads.
Posted by: Maureen | February 03, 2015 at 08:22 AM
Trying to start my blogging/email/life catch up now that the great booth exodus is over. I have always had an overly abundant love for office supplies. I cannot go into Staples alone, or I might come out with 27 staple removers and 42 bottles of white out. I also really love it when I find what I call "practical" vintage items in their original packaging. In other words, I love this here collection! Especially all the labels! Awesome! My mother had scads of those steno pads everywhere when I was growing up. She had gone to secretarial school and learned how to do dictation, but she kept the pads around because they were so handy and useful. She always had one in her purse. I still have 3 or 4 of hers I found when I was cleaning out her stuff after she died.
Posted by: Eddie Mitchell | February 11, 2015 at 03:51 AM
I am a sucker for this stuff. Most of the time back East, they would simply give it away!
Posted by: Butwhatami | August 24, 2015 at 05:03 PM