Shelf Life: Modern Package Design 1920-1945

by Jerry Jankowski

Shows and describes antique packaging for cosmetics, grooming products, food, beverages, health care products, cigarettes, auto care products, office products, games, puzzles, and art supplies

Genres: History

120 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1992

Reviews

[Hester · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this is a serious sounding history of modern package design, 1920 -1945, it is a collection of incredibly fun images. While modern design could be serious (see the homages to Modigliani and Tolouse Lautrec on p 15), most of these are just fun. Jankowski sneaks in his instruction; before reading this, I never would have seen the connection between the elegant cosmetics cases of the 1920s and the cartoon robots on the Tekno-Krazy board game box.
I wish there had been a little more historical context; there are a couple pages of scented body powder, but I do not know how it was used, as modern women use spray perfume instead. He showed a flit canister, but didn't show any of Dr. Seuss' Flit cartoons, even though it was the appropriate era. I wonder how he would have categorized them.
Two of my favorites are the Whiz instant sealer canister on the back and the His talcum powder dispenser on the cover.

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writer is a bit of a dink (way too many sentences that sound like they came out of some book report or a college paper). But the book has a nice design, and a lot of the stuff was very fun to look at indeed.