From below:
In addition, there is a label on the inside of the jeans that reads:
“The only kind made by white labor.” Levi’s told the WSJ the company
introduced the slogan after the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which
barred Chinese workers from entering the US at a time of rampant
discrimination. In fact, Levi’s even had an anti-Chinese labor policy in
place during this time.
NB: Note the reference to "white", not, say, American (Chinese persons
who built the western USA railroad system, amongst other things,
typically were not USA citizens, but imported specifically as
low-cost "disposable" workers). In reality, despite statements to the
contrary by various entities, white supremacy still is rampant in the
USA, and a core practice of the Trumpite Republiklans.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/140-old-pair-levi-found-163000508.html
Robb Report
A 140-Year-Old Pair of Levi’s Was Found in a Mine Shaft. They Just Sold
for Over $87,000.
88
Rachel Cormack
Thu, October 13, 2022 at 9:30 AM·2 min read
Turns out gold isn’t the only valuable thing you can find in a mine.
A pair of vintage Levi’s discovered in an abandoned mine shaft in the
American West recently sold for $87,400 at an auction in New Mexico. The
jeans, which date back to the 1880s, were unearthed by self-described
“denim archaeologist” Michael Harris several years ago before they were
snapped up by a pair of vintage-clothing dealers at the Durango Vintage
Festivus on October 1.
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“I’m still kind of bewildered, just surprised in myself for even
purchasing them,” Kyle Haupert, who bought the jeans with Zip Stevenson,
told The Wall Street Journal.
Levi's Jeans from 1880s
The jeans are covered with smatterings of wax.
As Levi’s of this age rarely come up at auction, they are especially
sought-after among collectors. This particular pair, which are
apparently still in a wearable condition, features splatters of wax from
the candles miners used to light the narrow tunnels. Other notable
details that are specific to jeans of this era include a cloth patch
along the beltline, a buckleback adjuster along the seat, suspender
buttons and a single back pocket.
In addition, there is a label on the inside of the jeans that reads:
“The only kind made by white labor.” Levi’s told the WSJ the company
introduced the slogan after the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which
barred Chinese workers from entering the US at a time of rampant
discrimination. In fact, Levi’s even had an anti-Chinese labor policy in
place during this time.
“It’s wild to see that,” Haupert added. “That’s how old these jeans are.”
The slogan and policy were both scrapped in the 1890s, according to a
Levi’s spokesperson, who added that the brand is “wholly committed to
using our platform and our voice to advocate for real equality and to
fight against racism in all its forms.” The Chinese Exclusion Act was
repealed in 1943 and later condemned by Congress in 2011-2012.
The auction of the jeans was a clear highlight of the four-day Durango
Vintage Festivus. Indeed, one video of the bidding has been viewed more
than 7,000 times as of writing. Collectors probably won’t find the final
hammer price that surprising, though. Levi’s from the 19th century
routinely attract thousands at auction. In 2018, a pair from 1893 sold
for nearly $100,000 through a private sale to a buyer in Asia. Just
imagine what your Big Es could be worth in a century.