Editing Sticker

{{Short description|Type of label with adhesive on one side}}
{{Other uses|Sticker (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Bananas on countertop.JPG|thumb|[[Brand name]] sticker used to label fruit]]

A '''sticker''' is a type of  [[label]]: a piece of printed paper, [[Polyvinyl chloride|plastic]], vinyl, or other material with temporary or permanent [[pressure sensitive adhesive]] on one side. It can be used for decoration or for functional purposes, depending on the situation.

Stickers can come in many different shapes and sizes and also vary widely in color and design. They are often adhered to items such as lunchboxes, paper, lockers, notebooks, walls, cars, windows, used as [[name tag]]s, and so on.  

The term "[[sticker price]]" refers to the historic practice of adhering a [[Monroney sticker|large sticker]] to the window of a new car listing its base price, options, shipping charges, etc. (from which a discount was often negotiated).

== History ==
Notices, advertisements, and [[Flyposting|posted bills]] applied to surfaces with tacks or [[Wheatpaste|paste]] have been widespread, although sometimes strictly regulated. An early example is the Peukestas order, a papyrus notice posted in Egypt around 331 BCE.<ref>Schubert, Paul (2022) 
[https://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:164919 Posting a Public Notice on Papyrus: A Frequent Phenomenon?] ''Aegyptus'' vol. 102, p. 203–218</ref>

[[File:Man_posting_an_advertisement_for_La_publicité_en_France_par_Emile_Mermet.jpg|thumb|Posting an advertisement]]

In the 1750s [[Simon François Ravenet]] developed the [[decalcomania]] process by which engravings and prints via a transfer paper are affixed to pottery, wood, metal or glass.<ref>Glazier, Richard (1899) ''A Manual of Historic Ornament'' London: Batsford p. 106</ref><ref>Baker, Whitney (2015) [https://books.google.com/books?id=7q8fDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA277 Sticking Point: History of Decals] ''Collections'' Vol 11 #4:275–290</ref>

Two important advances were gummed [[adhesive]] paper by [[Rowland Hill]] in 1839, and [[pressure-sensitive adhesive]]s in 1845.<ref>Akyar, Isin (2011) [https://books.google.com/books?id=jIqfDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA310 ''Wide Spectra of Quality Control'']</ref>

===User-moistened stickers===
The adhesive [[Penny Black|postage stamp]] appeared in 1840, then pharmacy bottle labels in 1850,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=6zJbAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA330-R1 Medical Label Warehouse advertisement] ''The Medical Times'' 1850 p330</ref> and other gummed and cut paper labels by the 1860s,<ref>Mack, Horace (1879) [https://books.google.com/books?id=OeA4AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA225 ''History of Columbiana County Ohio'']</ref> which needed to be moistened with water to activate the adhesive before being affixed. Another early application was [[ex libris (bookplate)|book plate]]s and library tags.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=PkoFAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA186 ''American Literary Gazette and Publishers' Circular''] 1867 v9 #7:186</ref>

[[File:Suitcase_with_luggage_labels_(178491614).jpg|thumb|Suitcase with luggage labels]]
Steamer trunk [[luggage label]]s which appeared in the 1870s represented an early status symbol.<ref>Hartov, Oren (2024) [https://www.analogshift.com/blogs/transmissions/hotel-luggage-label-history ''A History of the Hotel Luggage Label''] Analog:Shift</ref>

In some areas of the U.S. voters used stickers to enter pre-printed candidate names onto election ballots.<ref>[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83020847/1882-10-27/ed-1/seq-1/#words=stickers State Campaign] MA ''Springfield Republican'' 1882-Oct-27 p1 5th column</ref> <ref>
[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83040340/1882-11-24/ed-1/seq-7/ "Stickers"] KS ''Iola Register'' 1882-Nov-24 p7</ref>

In 1886 continuous gummed paper tape was introduced for parcel sealing, then later available decorated around 1919.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=91jOAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA27 ''Stationery Trades' Journal''] Nov 1927 pp12,27</ref>

In 1891 [[Trading stamp]] store loyalty programs began.

By 1896 the [[Return address]] pre-printed gummed label was being offered by printers.

The [[Brussels International Exposition (1897)]] in Belgium commissioned a series of stickers to promote the exhibition.

Around 1900 [[Avery Dennison|Dennison]] Manufacturing Company offered gummed seals in gold, silver, red, green and blue, soon followed by gold [[Five-pointed star|stars]], and flag stickers.<ref>
[https://books.google.com/books?id=5kY_AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA413 ''Proceedings of New York State Teachers Association''] p413</ref> 

By 1902 stickers began to proliferate,<ref>
[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84020274/1902-10-24/ed-1/seq-4/ Epidemic of "Sticker Lips"] ''St. Louis Republic'' 1902-Oct-24 p4</ref> including dedicated businesses such as St. Louis Sticker Co.<ref>[https://www.ebay.com/itm/126913439250 1903 St. Louis Sticker Co.] St. Louis I Am A Sticker ebay.com</ref> <ref>
[https://books.google.com/books?id=T9186MX8so8C&pg=PA168 Stickers St Louis Sticker Co] ''Printers Ink Monthly'' 1926 V12 #5 p168</ref> 

In 1904 [[Christmas seals]] were first issued in Denmark.

Example early sticker campaigns in U.S. include Red Sticker Union Made campaign,<ref>
[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86063459/1906-04-13/ed-1/seq-3/ The Red Sticker] NE ''Wageworker Union'' 1906-Apr-13 p3</ref> [[American Red Cross]],<ref>[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87062268/1918-06-20/ed-1/seq-5/ Movement Reaches New York] ''Pensacola Journal'' 1918-Jun-20 p5</ref> and European Child Relief Fund.<ref>
[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84022871/1921-01-26/ed-1/seq-6/ Yes Mr. Hoover] [VT Barton] ''Orleans County Monitor'' 1921-Jan-26 p6</ref>

Sticker red [[Heart symbol|hearts]] are sold by 1911.<ref>
[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82016014/1911-02-04/ed-1/seq-16/#words=stickers KS ''Topeka State Journal''] 1911-02-04 p16</ref>

Sometime after 1912 [[Cracker Jack]] included prize may have been [[temporary tattoo]] sticker, and later by breakfast cereal and bubble gum offerings.

Around 1914 the [[Industrial Workers of the World]] advocated their causes via [[Silent agitators|stickerettes]]
<ref>
[https://www.jstor.org/site/stlawu/iww-stickerettes-history/?so=item_title_str_asc History of I.W.W. "Silent Agitators" or "Stickerettes"] St. Lawrence University</ref>

Fruit origin stickers began in 1917,<ref>
[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92070582/1917-02-17/ed-1/seq-8/ Blue Sticker] [NM Albuquerque] ''Evening Herald'' 1917-Feb-17 p8</ref> then later by [[Fyffes]] and widespread with 1990 [[Price look-up code|PLU code]]s.

In 1919 a business in Buffalo, New York, applied stickers on receipts with the word "thanks" and a smiling face.

Automobile window decals, such as National Park emblems,<ref>Francis, Michael H. & Reynolds, Bobby (2023)  [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZPcJEQAAQBAJ&pg=PA205 Stickers & Decals] ''Yellowstone Collectibles'' Page 205</ref> became popular in 1920s.<ref>
[https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87093407/1924-08-06/ed-1/seq-1/ New Sticker Disease] ''Seattle Star'' 1924-Aug-6</ref>

In 1967 Topps began the [[Wacky Packages]] initial series of collectible moisten and stick cards.

===Self-adhesive stickers===
[[R. Stanton Avery]] is credited with creating the first self-adhesive sticker in 1935, with commercial sale in 1940 under the name "Kum Kleen Price Stickers", under the former "Avery Adhesives" company in Los Angeles, where its original use was for labeling on various goods and products.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=The Amazing History of Labels: When Were Stickers Invented? |url=https://www.avery.com/blog/the-amazing-history-of-labels-when-were-stickers-invented/?msockid=04394fe1fb776e1b1cdb5b08fa156fd8 |access-date=25 July 2019 |website=www.avery.com/blog/}}</ref>

Example sticker types include:
* 1942 war time gas rationing allocation<ref>Hendricks, Nancy (2018) [https://books.google.com/books?id=GxjOEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA248 ''Popular Fads and Crazes through American History''] p248</ref>

* 1940s [[bumper sticker]]s used to advertise travel attractions

* 1958 Automobile Information Disclosure Act prescribed a [[Monroney sticker]] be affixed to the window of every new car sold in the U.S.

* 1959 C-Line Products "Hello, my name is ..." [[name tag]]

* 1968 [[Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland]] "Save the Reef" bumper sticker<ref>
Manning, Paddy (2019) [https://books.google.com/books?id=h5WnDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1937 ''Inside the Greens''] p1937</ref>

* c. 1971 [[Robert Crumb]] [[Keep On Truckin' (comics)|Keep on Truckin']] sticker

* 1973 Topps resumes the [[Wacky Packages]] series as peel-and-stick

* 1977 Creative Teaching Press issues [[Scratch and sniff|scratch 'n sniff]] stickers<ref>
Galin, Neil A. & Peppler, Amy (2006) ''Vintage Scratch & Sniff Sticker Collector's Guide''</ref>

* 1976 [[Hello Kitty]] character stickers

* 1977 the white oval [[International vehicle registration code]] on rear of vehicle could be represented as a sticker
[[File:DkSkilt.svg|thumb|Denmark VRI]]

* 1988 Janet Boudreau's rippling flag “I Voted” sticker offered at U.S. election polling locations<ref>[https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/history/info-2024/i-voted-sticker.html I Voted sticker] ''AARP Magazine'' 2024</ref>

* 1989 [[Andre the Giant Has a Posse]] [[street art]]

== Use ==
[[File:Advertisement for fitness studio in Germany.jpeg|thumb|upright|Ad sticker for a boxing studio in Germany, in the style of [[guerilla marketing]]]]

Stickers are widely used when an object requires identification with a word or idea. [[Brand]] stickers may be attached to products to label these products as coming from a certain company. They may also be used to describe characteristics of the products that would not be obvious from simple examination, or to clarify either a printing error or change in the product of some kind, such as the country of origination, shift in a product's ingredients, a shelf life date, or [[copyright]] notice, without having to scrap pre-existing packaging for such a small change. A [[label dispenser]] is often used as a convenient way to separate the sticky label from its liner or backing tape.

Stickers placed on [[automobile]] bumpers, magnetic and permanent, called ''[[bumper stickers]]'', are often used by individuals as a way of demonstrating support for political or ideological causes. Identification of vehicle registration and last service details are two examples of stickers on the inside of most car windscreens. The term "window sticker" is generally used for vinyl labels which are stuck to the inside of a vehicle's window, as opposed to water-resistant stickers that are stuck to the outside of a vehicle but can be affixed to anything.

Stickers are also used for embellishing [[scrapbooking]] pages. Kinds of stickers sold for this purpose include acrylic, 3D, cardstock, [[epoxy]], fabric, flocked, sparkly, paper, puffy, and vellum. While in the earlier days of scrapbooking stickers were sold mostly on 2"x6" sheets, now{{When|date=July 2017}} 6"x12" and even 12"x12" size sheets are very common.

[[File:Stickerart.jpg|thumb|Sticker vandalism in [[São Paulo]], Brazil]]

They are frequently distributed as part of [[Promotion (marketing)|promotion]]al, and [[political campaign]]s; for example, in many [[voting]] [[districts]] in the [[United States|U.S.]], stickers indicating an individual has voted are given to each voter as they leave the [[polling station|polling place]], largely as a reminder to others to vote.  Observers may clap hands, honk a horn or otherwise applaud a good sticker.

In the 16th century French aristocracy wore stickers on their face to hide blemishes.<ref>{{cite web |title=That Time the French Aristocracy Was Obsessed With Sexy Face Stickers |url=https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/sexy-face-stickers/}}</ref>

Temporary stickers are used today to indicate whether someone is free of certain health symptoms, been vaccinated, or otherwise cleared some security protocol.

Stickers are also used as a form of [[guerilla marketing]], as well as serving as a ubiquitous form of visual and physical vandalism.

Stickers are also printed for use as temporary tattoos.

=== Discount stickers ===
{{Excerpt|discount sticker}}

== Collecting ==
[[File:Troca de cromos da panini - 1.jpg|thumb|right|Sticker trade in Brazil for [[Panini Group|Panini]]’s [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018 World Cup]] sticker album]]

At their simplest stickers can be beginner-friendly [[collectables]], serving as a gateway to the collecting hobby.

Forming a partnership with [[FIFA]] in 1970, [[Panini Group|Panini]] first produced a World Cup [[sticker album]] for the [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970 World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Brand collaborations |url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/marketing/licensing/brand-collaborations.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508222147/https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/marketing/licensing/brand-collaborations.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 8, 2015 |access-date=8 September 2018 |agency=FIFA.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Panini World Cup 2018 stickers: When is the iconic sticker album release date? And how much will it cost? |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/panini-world-cup-2018-stickers-when-is-the-iconic-sticker-album-release-date-and-how-much-will-it-a3795621.html |access-date=8 September 2018 |work=London Evening Standard}}</ref> Initiating a craze for collecting and trading stickers, since then, collecting and trading stickers has become part of the World Cup experience, especially for the younger generation.<ref name="Guardian"/><ref>[https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/06/06/panini-world-cup-sticker-album-history-tradition “The Magic, Global Craze and Tradition of Panini's World Cup Sticker Albums”]. ''Sports Illustrated''. Retrieved 2 September 2018</ref> UK newspaper ''[[The Guardian]]'' states, "the tradition of swapping duplicate [World Cup] stickers was a playground fixture during the 1970s and 1980s."<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |title=Panini World Cup sticker book |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/29/cost-to-fill-panini-world-cup-sticker-book-is-734-says-maths-prof |access-date=3 September 2018 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Beauty mark]]
* [[Decal]]
* [[Pressure-sensitive tape]]
* [[Prize (marketing)|Prizes]]
* [[Release liner]]
* [[Sticker album]]
* [[Sticker (Internet)]] – emoticon-like pictures
* [[Water slide decal]]
* [[Tattoo]] 

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Stickers}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Stickers| ]]
[[Category:Stationery]]