The History of Stickers

The earliest version of the modern-day sticker was created in 1935 by Stan Avery. These early stickers were really labels – Avery Labels, to be exact. They quickly caught on, and in the 1940s and 1950s, many companies began to use stickers on products and for advertising purposes. The industry grew, and the average person also began to use stickers. For example, the bumper sticker came out around this time (its invention is credited to Forest Gill) and was quickly adopted by many people. By the 1960s and 1970s, stickers were being used not only for labels but for many other purposes, including for political campaigns (bumper stickers were particularly popular for this purpose), for directions, and as decorations. There were even collectible stickers (a trend that continues today). In the modern era, stickers are available in more shapes, styles, sizes, and designs than ever before. There are even fluffy, mirror, and 3D stickers available, and many people decorate and personalize possessions like water bottles and laptops with stickers that express their personalities and opinions. It’s safe to say that stickers aren’t going anywhere any time soon!