Packaging through the Centuries

Packaging was designed to sell, unlike packing which was designed to transport and preserve.  "To package" something became a verb in the American language.  The story of packaging is the story of all the new products for sale.  The package itself became distinctively American, an American salesman.

Wrapping things, objects -  began with anything handy. Leaves  or hollowed out gourds held objects from market before the package became part of the sale.  Paper began in the 16th century as a wrapping medium.  Scented paper in the 17th held medicinal items to mask to the smell.  Even coats of arms were print on tobacco paper wrappers.  Wine bottles carried the tavern logo on the paper wrapper.

Probably one of the first packaging uses was for tea.  The tea merchant would advertise for the customer to "bring a convenient box." (I have a velvet-lined tea box from Colonial America.  And it has a key to lock it because tea was expensive.) The 18th century groceries, drugs and cosmetics were packaged in convenient forms for the consumer.  Still, these were primitive wrapping with no sale appeal but simply for covering the items for transport.

The slow progress of packaging vs packing had several reasons.  The main reason was the scarcity of paper itself.  Paper was expensive.  It was made by hand,  sheet by sheet and not suited to waste in wrapping produce or tobacco.

Next time...Commonplace Paper
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Today in Pioneer History: "On February 10, 1846, the Mormons began their exodus to Utah.  With their leader assassinated in Illinois and their homes under attack, the Mormons of Nauvoo, Illinois begin a long westward migration that eventually brought them to the safety of the Salt Lake Valley in Utah.