1950-1951 Junge's "Bread For Energy" Bread Label Store Advertising Display with Johnny Lujack, John Wayne, and Rocky Marciano

Sold For:

$2,040

Year:

1950

Auction:

2025 Spring

Lot #:

3081

Category:

Advertising and Photographic Displays

As if the bread labels featuring athletes and movie stars issued in the early 1950s weren't rare enough, the rarest item relating to the "Bread for Energy" labels is actually the store advertising display. How many of these have survived can probably be counted on one hand. There probably weren't many made and distributed to stores even in 1950-1951. This cardboard retail display sign includes what is essentially an uncut sheet of sixteen (of the forty-two different subjects in the set) "Bread for Energy" labels, mounted as part of the design of the cardboard sign. The headline reads "Hey Kids - Your Favorite Baseball Star on every loaf of...Junge's Bread." One colorful bread label appeared on the end of each National Baking Company bread loaf as a packaging seal. The stars appearing on this display in four rows are Johnny Lujack, Bing Crosby, Tim Holt, Buddy Young, Robert Mitchum, Kid Gavilan, Edgar Bergen-Charlie McCarthy Show, John Wayne, Rod Cameron, Leo Gorcey, Joe Fulks, Bob Hope, Gene Stanlee, Rex Allen, William Bendix, and Rocky Marciano. The cardboard sign (14 x 22 inches) is technically in overall Good condition, with obvious flaws including light creasing, small tear on the left edge, and minor stains front and back. However, most of the flaws are relegated to the border areas and the player images are generally clean and bright. Ideal for display, this is a tremendous advertising item relating to this rare regional bread-label set, and is also truly the equivalent of an uncut sheet of these rare bread labels. The size/weight of this item requires that there will be an additional shipping charge for this lot.