A Closer Look: They Came in Packages, Boxes, and Bags

Original boxes and packaging are desirable among many serious collectors of any item. Merry Mushrooms are no different. The sturdy boxes that Merry Mushrooms were packed in are just as interesting as the pieces themselves and went through design changes over the years.

​Some boxes have a small leaflet catalog tucked inside (above). Others have receipts or order slips taped to the outside. Put together, these pieces of ephemeral history help tell the complete story of our favorite fungi. A slight disclaimer; my surveys of packaging are limited to online and in person discoveries since space is at a premium at home. No room for boxes, so I collect photos instead.

To get a rough idea of a box or package's date, look to the Sears logos used during the product line's run. The early logo, used from 1964 to 1984, read "Sears" in black and inside a rectangle, or sometimes white on green. From 1984 to 1994, the logo read "SEARS" in black with white lines running through the center of each letter. Earlier boxes also often have a repeating Merry Mushrooms pattern on the outside of the box.

Enjoy the show below!