Vintage Air Mail & Special Delivery Label Ephemera Lot including Northwest Orient Airlines Label
Northwest Orient Airlines / Generic Stationery (No. 101) · Collectibles & Antiques > Paper & Ephemera
Era / Decade
1950s - 1960s (indicated by 10c original price, 4-engine propeller aircraft illustration, and 'Northwest Orient' branding used during the mid-20th century)
Material
Paper, gummed/adhesive labels, and a steel paperclip
Condition
Good to Very Good for vintage paper. Shows edge wear, minor creasing, and age toning. The Special Delivery labels are held with a vintage metal paperclip.
Demand Level
Niche (High interest among junk journalers, paper ephemera collectors, and vintage airline memorabilia enthusiasts).
Resale Value
Estimated Resale Value
$10 - $18 (Low: $8, Mid: $12, High: $18) as a small ephemera lot.
Estimated Retail Value
Original retail was 10 cents for the booklet. Comparable modern reproductions or vintage stationery lots sell around $10 - $15.
Comparable Sales
Similar vintage airline labels sell for $5–$10 individually on eBay; small vintage paper label lots sell for $10–$15 on Etsy.
Description
A charming vintage lot of mid-century postal ephemera. Includes: 1) A 10-cent vintage Air Mail Labels booklet (No. 101) with classic red, white, and blue propeller plane graphics. 2) A rare Northwest Orient Airlines 'Par Avion / Superior Airmanship' air mail sticker featuring a vintage jet/prop airliner silhouette. 3) A stack of vintage red-and-white 'Special Delivery / Employ Epileptics' gummed labels held together with a classic paperclip.
Key Features
Mid-century airline memorabilia (Northwest Orient Airlines logo); classic 1950s/60s aviation graphic design; social history interest ('Employ Epileptics' charity/awareness campaign tags); perfect for scrapbooking, junk journaling, or ephemera collectors.
Authenticity Indicators
Authentic period paper stock, age toning, authentic printing fonts, and genuine vintage 'Employ Epileptics' public awareness printings typical of 1950s-1960s non-profit awareness tags. Confidence level: High.
Flaws to Note
Minor edge wear, light discoloration, corner bends, and discoloration from age/handling. Metal paperclip has slight age patina.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
Etsy (best for vintage paper ephemera and junk journal supplies) or eBay (great for airline collectibles and vintage postal ephemera).
Selling Tips
List on Etsy using keywords like 'Vintage Ephemera Lot', 'Northwest Orient Airlines', 'Junk Journal Supplies', '1950s Air Mail Labels'. Ship flat in a rigid cardboard mailer to prevent bending. Offer cheap, low-weight shipping via First Class Mail/Ground Advantage.