Wrappers might be throwaway but all of them are designed to draw us in, to make us choose one product over the other. Ironically it seems that older ones have a greater variety, from a time when there was presumably less choice. Back in the day, they perfected the art of turning the tiniest, most mundane, item into a gift to oneself.
Razor Blades
In 1921, when the exclusive Gillette patent for razor blades expired, the market was flooded with competitors, all sharper and longer lasting. Wrappers evolved and were emblazoned with masculine graphics, superhero-like logos and some very nice patterns. The best collections on the internet are here and here.
Chocolate
The average Brit eats around 24lbs of chocolate in a year, and worldwide the industry value is greater than the GDP of 130 countries, so it's no wonder that there are endless brands and varieties to choose from. This website collates chocolate wrappers from the world. Of course the old ones are the best.
Sweets
The patterns, colours and graphics on these old Russian candy wrappers are so sweet they alone will rot your teeth. Many of the old manufacturers no longer exist, making these gems a super collectible memory of the era. Lots more here and here.
