‘The Serpent’ lead labels. The Serpent labeling machine was marketed by nearly all the big horticultural outlets. I have details shown in a catalogue of Joseph Bentley Ltd & also the Army & Navy Stores C 1940. The No1 was introduced in about 1930 & by 1940 they had produced the No 3. In 1938 the No 2 model was priced at £3 18shillings. In 1940 the No 3 model was priced at 27 shillings & sixpence so a price drop in two years. W (6mm).

English. Circa 1900. A bakelite stoppered tube flattened on one side. The seeds could be placed in the tube.

English. Early 20C. Zinc. 5 1/2 inches ‘for pots or rock work’. Sold by W M Wood and Son in 1909 as Woods’ Plant-Club Label in 3 sizes. The prices increased as the price of Zinc increased.

French. C1900. 5 Terracotta labels.

French. Late 19C. 3 Zinc with early ink written names.

French. C1900. 15 white porcelain plant labels.

English. Early 20C. 2 packs of zinc plant labels bound with white paper printed ‘Excelio Ltd. Birmingham’ non-corrosive garden labels. 25 for 6d.

French. 1910. Sub-image is from catalogue of Moser & Fils pepinieristes a Versailles. 1914.

French 1880. This is very rare item is a flat glass tube sealed at manufacture with a plant name on a white card within. The tube is waisted at each end where a wire was placed to tie the label to the shrub. Sub-image is from catalogue of Moser & Fils pepinieristes a Versailles. 1914.

French. 1910.A flat glass tube pointed at one end and stoppered with a flat cork at the open end. We are not sure if the tube contained the named seeds. L (12cms) x W (1.1 cms).

British. Mid 20C. Complete boxed set Horticultural Labels by Excellex. “This is the golden box of ‘Excellex’ horticultural labels”. Includes a large variety of plastic and zinc labels wrapped in Excellex printed paper bands and several grades of lead wire and 4 bottles of waterproof ink.

English. Pair of Lead Plant Labels. Printed ‘Athyrium Alpess’ and ‘TR’.

English. 1926. Flexible metal stem with celluloid. Unwritten x 4. ‘Kilrest super label. Ref: Carters 1926 catalogue. Special Kilrest ink was also offered. 4.75 inches (12cms).

French. 1910. Flat glass tubes pointed at one end and stoppered with a flat cork at the open end. We are not sure if the tube contained the named seeds. Ref: Vilmourin-Andrieux & Cie catalogues 1909 and 1910. Etiquette en verre avec bouchon liege and in English also described as ‘glass label with cork top’.

English. Early 20C. Zinc. 12.5 inches. (5.5 and 9.5 also available). Sold by W M Wood and Son in 1909 as Woods’ Plant-Club Label. Kirkstall. in 3 sizes. The prices increased as the price of Zinc increased.

made by Joseph Bourne and Son c1850 on commission by Prof C G B Daubeney Professer of Botany at Oxford University for conifer collection at Botanical Gardens Oxford

English. Early 20C. Zinc. 9.5 inches. (5.5 and 12.5 also available). Sold by W M Wood and Son in 1909 as Woods’ Plant-Club Label in 3 sizes. The prices increased as the price of Zinc increased.

French. 20C. with steel wires.

English C1920. 6 Metal. Toogoods.