Souvenir tablecloths
Most of us have cherished memories of family vacations, traveling through the United states by car, stopping at quirky tourist attractions. Today, vintage souvenir linens are very collectible, increasing in value every year as more and more collectors are drawn to the charm of these pieces of our past. Not only are they collectibles you can use, but they also convey a real sense of nostalgia of days gone by. They are a gentle reminders of the United States of our childhood- quaint roadside attractions, and rural small towns that today are rapidly disappearing. Collectors are attracted to the pleasing combination of strong graphics, bright colors and the dizzying array of designs and textures. Many different styles of state and city souvenirs were produced so there are literally hundreds of possibilities to collect. All states at one time sold souvenir tablecloths and tea towels. Although some examples are harder to find than others.
Although State Souvenir tablecloths were produced as early as the 1920s, they rapidly increased in popularity and by the late 1940s the combination of consumer demand and new car production reinvigorated American car culture and more people traveled by car on vacation. Americans were eager to take to the road to discover America, buying souvenir linens from the states they visited. It is easy to find examples of these souvenir linens with their original tags still attached, since they were put away in the linen drawer soon after the family returned from vacation.
By the late 1950’s you could even find a tablecloth featuring the “western states” and one picturing the entire United States on one cloth. The earlier 1920s state tablecloths were smaller, usually 34″ or 38″, and not as detailed as the later ones. Usually just one color and stamped with a simple design. By the late 1940s, state tablecloths were produced in a larger sizes of 52″ and 64″, with coordinating napkins for use at the family kitchen table. They also were printed with bold, multi-colored designs. State Souvenir tablecloths are an example of a “cross collectible”. Both the vintage printed tablecloth collector and the souvenir collector share a love of these pieces of American memorabilia.
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The most highly sought after state tablecloths are those that were not as popular as tourist destinations. Souvenir linens from the states of Georgia, North and South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee are harder to find and can be valued as high as $575.00. California, Florida, New York, Alaska, Nevada, Hawaii, and Wyoming, as well as the states that route 66 cut through were the most popular destinations. These souvenir state tablecloths are easier for the collector to acquire. Occasionally, you will find a Startex, Hardy Craft or Simtex label on these tablecloths, demonstrating their immense popularity, as the large tablecloth manufacturers responded to the market demand for souvenir linens.
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Souvenir tablecloths and towels were also produced and showcase a specific popular tourist destination or city. You can find tablecloths featuring “Lake Michigan,” “Yellowstone Park” as well as “Washington D.C” and “Los Angeles,” just to name a few. These are a little harder to come by and are a delightful addition to state souvenir tablecloth collections.
We can use the records of the popularity of tourist attractions to generally determine dates for the linens. Trying to date the souvenir linen by the graphics is difficult, as designers used older model cars and graphics of people for 25 years or more. As the tourist industry in each state changed, so did the souvenir linens design
. Dude ranches, auto camps and small tourist venues came and went as the tourist landscape changed in each state. This is a great way to date your vintage souvenir linen. The tourist attractions were updated regularly so a quick check on the history of a specific tourist destination is a more accurate tool to date your souvenir. 
Filed under: Collecting Tablecloths
