Vintage Red Line Jeans Levis 501

Vintage Levi's 501 Red Line Jeans produced from the early 1970's through 1986 seem especially interesting to collectors, but Levi's  from before 1970 generate a lot of interest and impressive auction values on Ebay. Vintage Redline Jeans on Ebay

Red line selvedge jean stitching

The "Red Line" is the red stitching on the inside of the the legs on the jeans going through the selvedge.

Vintage LEVI'S Double Red Line Selvedge Jeans

Selvedge is the woven edge of the material that was used to prevent unraveling. They have also been called "Red ears," which is derived from the Japanese word akaimimis.

How Old Are Your Levi 501 Jeans?

Blue jeans were called "Waist Overalls" before 1960. Waist Overalls with copper rivets were designated with 501 since 1890. In 1927 LS & Co began using a 10 oz. red selvedge denim made exclusively for them by Cone Mills.

Red tab on right back pocket will read LEVI'S with Large "E" before 1971 and Levi's with small "e" after 1971.

LEVI'S Big "E" Tag Pre 1971

Before WWII jeans were called "Waist Overalls" and were more associated with work. After WWII they began to be viewed as leisure clothing. The American public began using the term "Jeans" instead of Waist Overalls during this time. In 1960 Levi Strauss & Co. started using "jeans" in their advertising.

The less expensive style Levi's 201 have blue stitch selvedge.

LEVI'S 501 Values

• $2285: Searching Ebay I find sales of up to $2285 for "Vintage 30's Big E red line cinch back Levis adolescent size." Auction ended January 15, 2017.
• $1010: On another pair in November, 2016 bidding started at $99 and went to over $1000 on a seven day auction for "Vintage S 501xx LEVIS BIG E Selvedge Red lines Denim Jeans 31x31." 

For more information on Vintage Red Line Levi's Jeans check out The Levi Strauss & Company web site.

Main Street Auction Co

It use to be most Friday nights you would find me at Main Street Auction Co behind Finders Keepers in Cartersville, GA. If you follow me on Twitter you probably already realize it was one of my favorite auctions. Estate sales are it's specialty whereas the other auctions in my area offer yard sale or cleaning supplies on Fridays. But it closed it's auction house a while back. They still do on site estate sales and auctions. Below are a couple of the items I have picked up at there over the years.



Offerings range from small pieces to large furniture, antique to current home decor. It is a good auction to find quality wood furniture. American Drew, Ethan Allen and others often drift across the block. There are plenty of small items also. I have won bids on Hull and McCoy pottery, Tiara glass, Hevend China at this auction.

Winning bids range from a dollar to a couple of hundred dollars depending on the item.



Main Street Auction Company, a really good Friday night auction.

Book Review: Official Price Guide To Collecting Books, Sixth Edition

Collecting Books has forever been a habit of mine. I tend towards accumulating titles of my current interests and keeping a few of my favorites as I move on to other pursuits. Recently my interest in flea marketing and antiquing has led me into buying and selling books. After a while this led me to look for a book on the topic. The "Official Price Guide  To Collecting Books, Sixth Edition," by Marie Tedford and Pat Goudey has become my guide to the topic.

"Collecting Books" has been useful and informative guide into this foray. It uses a question and answer format with interviews with people actively engaged in the industry. Besides a good listing of authors and valuable titles there are chapters on:

• Market Review
• A closer Look at the Book Trade
• Collecting in Genres
• Bibles
• Care and Repair of Books

There is also an excellent glossary of terms relating to the Book Trade and an index. While Price Guide is not comprehensive it is a good reference for authors and titles you are more likely to come across and is easy to tote along. If I was to voice a complaint about the book it would be that the authors spend too much time bemoaning the affects of the internet on the market for collectible books. But at the same time they provide a cornucopia of information on how to use the internet for the buying, selling, collecting and research on the value of antique and vintage books.

The Official Price Guide to Collecting Books, 6th Edition is a good reference and easy to tote along on book buying expeditions.