Original Listing Description

Up for your consideration is a rare 1970's Starbucks “cigar band” logo mug. Over Starbucks 50+ year history...well before the production and sale of mug series such as the 1994 Collector, 2002 Skyline, 2008 Icon and a multitude of other series…there was this very first mug design. It was available in the existing handful of stores during the late 1970's and early 80's.To help validate the age authenticity of the mug listed, I’ve included two photos of a vintage Starbucks postcard sent out to it's earliest customers. I've also included two photos showing the varied styles of the plain white ceramic cups Starbucks purchased from different manufacturers some with and some without stamps at the base. All three cups have the very same, (and noticeable to the touch), decal/screened application The last four photos in the listing are of mugs and a postcard in my personal collection and are NOT included in this listing for purchase. Added only to establish authenticity The following note describing the production of this earliest style mug came from a popular Washington based Starbucks enthusiasts blog several years ago. The contributor, a former employee/buyer at Starbucks in it's earliest days, says this:I can help with some of the old logo mug info. I was buying merchandise in the late 70’s for about a decade and that white logo mug is familiar. First, just to “ground” folks, when I started, Starbucks had 3 stores and was opening a whopping 1/annually. We wanted to offer logo mugs but didn't exactly have “volume” to get anyone to make them for us. A big order might be 100-and with 3 or 4 stores, you can imagine that would last awhile. To offer merchandise like a logo mug, I purchased white porcelain mugs, (and there’s a whole story about porcelain and Pike Place), and sent them to a screening house in Tukwila, WA that screened a decal of the logo on each mug individually by hand. Hence, no logo marking at the base besides sometimes the mug manufacturers. I tended to use older diner-style mugs or straight-sided contemporary mugs, like the one shown. It was time consuming but created something “ours”. In the 80’s, (and probably after my time), we had maybe doubled to 6 stores and had enough volume to have manufacturers customize mugs for us. Hartstone along with Rosanna Imports among others including craftspeople at the Pike Place Market were some of the companies we used. It made my life easier to order from one vendor and continued to create a product that our customers wouldn't see at the Bon or some other larger retailer.Feel free to ask questions or request further pictures Shipped w/ care by an experienced Starbucks collector. (Condition: Pre-Owned)

Note: This item has been sold and is no longer available. This page serves as a historical price reference for Starbucks collectors and appraisers.