Labels of F.M. Ball & Company. . . Canners of fruits and vegetables. [Sample catalogue].

Oakland, CA: F.M. Ball & Co., [ca. 1958]. Oblong 4to. (13.25 x 5 in.) [128 labels, each with stock number, most w/ date to far right margin], with designs for labels on glazed paper stock printed in vivid colour lithography. Blue textured softcoovers, gilt lettering stamped on front cover, punch-bound at gutter margin w/ Acco slide fastener (minor shelfwear, slight wear to corners), still NF copy. First edition, thus, of this remarkable and very scarce salesman sample catalogue for labels that were intended for canned fruits, Ballcrest tomatoes, apricots, Thompson seedless grapes, tomato puree, Vita-Diet peaches, apricots, All Good apricot nectar, peeled whole new potatoes, Kadota figs, Adelina tomato paste, Great Value whole tomatoes, whole apricots, Bake-rite pie fillings,fruit cocktail, a few vegetables, and many other types of produce. The labels were intended for cans and jars ranging in size from 5.5 fl. oz. up to 1 quart 14 fl. oz. in size. The labels all feature images of the glistening fruit, and freshly canned produce within, often plated, and the company even included the Vita-Diet canned fruit and vegetable product line with no sugar, only artificially sweetened by Sucaryl, developed and introduced in 1951 as a sweetener for diabetics and others on restricted diets. Unfortunately, it was later shown to increase cancer risks in the 1960s, and finally banned in 1969 along with other cyclamate products. F.M. Ball & Co. began as a grocery wholesaler and cannery in Spokane, WA founded by Frank Mark Ball (1876-1952), who by 1915 had moved the company to Oakland and San Francisco with cannery operations in Oakland, and offices in San Francisco. Over the succeeding decades the company quickly expanded, and produced and distributed not only canned goods, but dehydrated and freeze dried foods, packaged foods, and other groceries throughout the northern California. No copies located in Worldcat.