Posted by Chuck Davis on December 22, 2002
Billy BobAt the suggestion of Mike Jackson John Studden decided to do the "Peace Time" font-- inspired by the cigar label (see image). John elected to call the font "Labelle" and proceeded to relay the following story...
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The history surrounding the Peace Time label is a tragic love story. The original creator of the Peace Time cigar label was a poor Cuban immigrant named Juan Valenzuela working for the infamous cigar tycoon Diego Montoya. Diego's daughter Labelle worked in the factory rolling cigars while Juan worked in the graphics department. Juan began to pay closer attention to Labelle and eventually Mr. Montoya forbade him to see his daughter (for he wanted her to marry a rich man). After repeated warnings to Juan, Mr. Montoya cut Juan's right hand off while he was sleeping at the factory.(At that time some of the poor workers slept at the factory on giant tobacco leaves.)
After a few feeble attempts (see image) to reproduce the Peace Time label he had originally created, Juan was forced to leave his artist position at the factory. He then took work as a tattoo artist at a local tavern where his inferior tattoos went unnoticed by many a drunk sailor. Seething with hatred, Juan swore revenge against Diego. 3 years later in 1952, Labelle married a well-to-do Fuller Brush salesman and gave birth to a son... born with a deformed and completely useless right hand.
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Additionally, there are many erie coincidences surrounding the creation of this new Labelle font...
** John's name is derivitave of "Juan"
** John has 4 letters, Juan has 4 letters
** John knows someone named Jaun who was born in 1942-- 6 years before the tragedy!
** John has both hands but draws as if he has one
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Just thought you'd like to know.
--Chuck
http://www.letterheadfonts.com
Poor Juan invented the original TRASH font. Today he'd be more popular.
Denver Chapter of the Letterheads