Food Packaging Collectible Appraisal

Vintage Ceylon Tea Packaging Label (Russian Market)

This item is a vintage tea packaging label, likely from a tea box or packet, featuring a prominent graphic of a white elephant against a dark blue background. The label is rectangular in shape and appears to be made of paper or light cardboard. The main text, in Cyrillic script, reads "ЦЕЙЛОНСКИЙ ЧАЙ КОЛЛЕКЦИОННЫЙ" (Ceylonskiy Chai Kollektsionnyy), which translates to "Ceylon Tea Collection." Another notable graphic is a stylized green 'BIO TEA' logo within the elephant's body. In the upper right corner, there's a small depiction of a lion with a sword, which is the national emblem of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), indicating the origin of the tea. The bottom of the label includes manufacturing details, also in Cyrillic. 'УПАКОВАН 09.99.' suggests a packaging date of September 1999, and 'СРОК ГОДНОСТИ 18 МЕСЯЦЕВ' indicates an 18-month shelf life. 'БЕС - 75 г.' likely refers to the weight, 75 grams. There's also a 'РСТ' mark, a Russian conformity mark for product quality and safety. The overall condition shows some visible wear, including minor scuffs and slight discoloration, consistent with its age and being a piece of vintage paper ephemera. The colors are still relatively vibrant despite the age. The craftsmanship is typical of mass-produced food packaging from the late 20th century. Given the 'Made in India' context provided separately, it's interesting to note that while the tea is 'Ceylon' (Sri Lankan), the packaging or possibly the product's final assembly might have occurred in India, catering to a Russian-speaking market.