TidesNet—Online Collections Entry Detail

DescriptionAn original sardine label design for the Admiral Brand of American Sardines in mustard sauce packed by the R.J. Peacock Canning Company of Lubec, Maine. The design was produced by the American Can Company in the early 20th century. It is one of several hundred such original sardine label designs in the collections of the Tides Institute that the institute acquired from Barney Rier of Lubec, Maine in 2008. The label designs represent a wide range of sardine companies operating in the area (including in New Brunswick, Canada) and an equally wide range of imaginative high quality graphic designs. Barney Rier had amassed an extraordinary collection of original equipment, artifacts and historical documents relating to the sardine industry of this region. For many years, he displayed much of his collection in a sardine museum building next to his house along Route 189 in Lubec. The American Can Company, based in New Jersey, operated can manufacturing plants across the United States beginning in the late 19th century and in the early 20th century they established two such can manufacturing plants in this region, one in Eastport, Maine and one in Lubec. Barney Rier acquired his collection of original sardine labels from the American Can Company when their operations in Eastport and Lubec went out of business. Artist: Unknown artist Sardine Can Label Old Accession Number: 733 Description: Packed by R. J. Peacock Canning Company, Lubec, Maine.