Stickers: Their History & Importance
For a very long time, people have been obsessed with stickers. Stickers can be seen almost everywhere: on packaging, on laptops, on vehicles, in children’s books, and more. For many of us, stickers seem like they’ve always been here, a fun way to label something or express ourselves. But when did we actually create stickers, and what are all the ways that stickers are used? We discuss that in this blog!
What Is A Sticker, Technically?
According to the Oxford dictionary, a sticker is an adhesive label or notice that is generally printed or illustrated. However, you shouldn’t be fooled by the definition, there is plenty of contention regarding what a sticker is. The Cambridge dictionary is more specific, defining stickers as “a small piece of paper or plastic with a picture or writing on one side and glue or another similar substance on the other side so that it will fasten to a surface”. Depending on who you ask, you could get a plethora of answers about what a sticker is, though most people can name one when they see one.
A Brief History Of The Sticker
Ancient Egypt seems to have created the very first version of the sticker. sticker (along with a whole host of other cool stuff). They used papyrus (paper as we know it today) and had some adhesive material used to paste it places. It was most often used to display prices for goods in the market, but calling these stickers may not jive with most people.
Fast forward to 1839, Sir Rowland Hill, an educator, inventor, and social reformer, created the very first postal stamp. Hill was known for his avid support for sweeping reforms of the postal system and invented stamps as we know them today as part of that effort. These stamps could be licked then placed, which was part of the innovations that made sending letters safer, cheaper, and more convenient.
While the Ancient Egyptians and Sir Rowland Hill were both responsible for great inventions, many would argue that they weren’t exactly stickers. As we’ve stated earlier, some people are really stringent about their stickers. To see when the sticker as we conventionally know it today being invented, we’ll need to move to the 20th century.
In 1935, R. Stanton Avery, an inventor, created what most of us would agree is a sticker. He created the first self-adhesive sticker, which distinguishes it from Sir Rowland Hill’s invention. From then on, stickers were improved into their modern-day iteration.
The Science of Modern Day Stickers
Stickers in the modern day are the best they’ve ever been, but what are they actually made of? What makes stickers…well, sticky?
Stickers are normally made of a combination of adhesive and sticker paper. Sticker paper usually comes in four main types: matte, opaque glossy, clear glossy, and vinyl. Each type of sticker paper comes with its own benefits like being waterproof.
What Are Stickers Used For?
Given the nature of stickers, there are seemingly infinite uses for them. For creative purposes, stickers are fantastic as a way to express yourself. Putting stickers on bags, laptops, notebooks, and more could give help people express some of their hobbies and likes.
Let Labeltech Provide Your Stickers
At Labeltech, we offer a variety of sticker types for individuals and businesses alike. Contact us today or visit our site to learn more!
