Historical information

These labels come from the business of Giffen Russell and Company, a wine and spirits store in Fairy Street, Warrnambool. Giffen Russell commenced business in 1878 and was joined by Joseph Powell as a partner in 1881. The business of Giffen Russell and Co. was operating in the early 1900s and still went by that name in the 1940s with H.L.Lynch the proprietor at that time.

Significance

These labels are of considerable interest as they show the extent of the goods sold by Giffen Russell, a prominent wine and spirits dealer in Warrnambool in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Physical description

.1 A sheet of white paper with a gilt edge and black printing
.2 A sheet of white paper with a blue border and blue printing
.3 A sheet of paper with blue printing and decoration on a green background
.4 A sheet of white paper with a blue border and blue printing
.5 A sheet of white paper with a decorative blue border and blue printing
.6 A sheet of white paper pasted on to a piece of card. The printing is gold and blue surrounded by decorative patterns, including bunches of grapes

Inscriptions & markings

.1Australian Gin bottled by Giffen Russell & Co. Warrnambool
.2 Finest Virgin Olive Oil Product of Italy
.3 Pure Australian Wine Frontignac bottled by Giffen Russell & Co. Warrnambool
.4 Raw Linseed Oil bottled by Giffen Russell & Co,
.5 Finest Brown Malt bottled by Giffen Russell & Co. Warrnambool
.6 Seppelts Invalid Port bottled by Giffen Russell, Merchants, Warrnambool