Stickers Through History: Where Stickers Came From and What They’re Used For Today

Stickers are everywhere.

They live on laptops, water bottles, packaging, street signs, notebooks, and probably at least three objects within arm’s reach of you right now. They’re fun, practical, collectible, disposable, and oddly sentimental, all at once.

But stickers didn’t start out as fun. They started as a solution to a problem: how to attach information to something without tying it, sealing it, or carving into it.

The history of stickers and custom stickers goes back far further than most people realise. What began as handwritten labels and gummed paper has evolved into a global industry used for branding, art, activism, logistics, and self-expression.

This article explores:

• Where stickers actually came from

• How adhesive labels evolved into modern stickers

• When stickers became cultural and creative tools

• What stickers are used for today

And why, somehow, they’re more relevant than ever

At their core, stickers are pieces of material, usually paper, vinyl, or plastic, with an adhesive backing that allows them to stick to surfaces.

They can be:

• Decorative

• Informational

• Functional

• Promotional

Modern stickers use pressure-sensitive adhesive, meaning they stick when pressed onto a surface and don’t require water or glue.

Stickers vs Decals (Quick Clarification)

Stickers are often confused with decals, but they’re not the same thing.

• Stickers apply directly with pressure

• Decals use water or heat to transfer a design

If it peels and sticks, it’s a sticker.

The idea behind stickers existed long before modern materials.

Ancient Civilisations and Early Labels

In ancient Egypt, merchants are believed to have used handwritten papyrus labels attached with natural adhesives like starch paste or tree sap.

These early labels:

• Identified goods

• Displayed prices

• Marked ownership

While primitive, they served the same purpose stickers do today, attaching information to objects without altering them permanently.

Other cultures used:

• Wax seals

• Clay stamps

• Tied tags

Different methods, same concept.

The real turning point came in the 1800s.

Postage Stamps and Gummed Paper

In 1839, Sir Rowland Hill introduced adhesive paper as part of postal reform. This led to the first postage stamps, small paper labels with gum on the back that needed moisture to activate.

This was revolutionary.

For the first time, labels were:

• Pre-made

• Standardised

• Easy to apply

Businesses quickly realised the potential beyond mail.

By the mid-to-late 1800s, adhesive labels appeared on:

• Bottles

• Books

• Medicine packaging

• Library systems

They still required water or glue, but they introduced the idea of ready-to-use information tags, an essential step toward modern stickers.

As printing improved, labels became more colourful and eye-catching.

Advertising Enters the Picture

In the early 1900s, companies used adhesive labels on:

• Fruit crates

• Product packaging

• Shop displays

These labels were designed to stand out in busy markets. They weren’t peel-and-stick yet, but they were unmistakably early stickers.

The Birth of Sticker Collecting

People began saving:

• Stamps

• Product labels

• Promotional seals

Sticker collecting didn’t start with kids, it started with consumers holding onto interesting labels.

Everything changed in 1935.

The First Self-Adhesive Sticker

Stanton Avery invented the first self-adhesive label using pressure-sensitive adhesive and a removable backing.

This eliminated the need for:

• Water

• Glue

• Messy application

Stickers could now be peeled and applied instantly.

This invention laid the foundation for custom stickers as we know them today.

Once stickers became easy to use, they escaped packaging.

Bumper Stickers and Public Messaging

In the 1940s, stickers began appearing on cars. Early bumper stickers allowed people to:

• Share political views

• Promote businesses

• Advertise travel destinations

For the first time, stickers became a tool for personal expression.

Vinyl Replaces Paper

Vinyl emerged as a durable alternative to paper, making stickers:

• Weather-resistant

• Longer lasting

• Suitable for outdoor use

This expanded where and how stickers could be used.

By the 1970s, stickers were everywhere and not just on products.

Stickers in Schools and Homes

Stickers became:

• Classroom rewards

• Collectibles

• Decorative items

Sticker albums became a global phenomenon, and collecting stickers became a cultural ritual.

New Sticker Types

This era introduced:

• Scratch-and-sniff stickers

• Puffy stickers

• Holographic stickers

Stickers weren’t just labels anymore. They were experiences.

The 1990s were the golden age of stickers.

Brands tied stickers to:

• TV shows

• Music

• Movies

Kids traded them. Teens decorated everything they owned. Collectors archived them carefully.

Sticker culture went mainstream and never really left.

The internet changed everything.

Anyone Could Make Stickers

Online printing services made custom stickers accessible to:

• Small businesses

• Artists

• Individuals

You no longer needed a factory or a brand deal. You just needed a design.

Stickers as Branding Tools

As e-commerce grew, stickers became a staple for:

• Packaging

• Shipping

• Brand identity

They were cheap, effective, and memorable.

Modern stickers aren’t just physical.

Digital Stickers

Messaging apps popularised digital sticker packs, turning stickers into:

• Emojis with personality

• Shareable culture

• Visual language

Stickers as Art and Activism

Street artists embraced stickers for their speed and portability. Stickers became:

• Protest tools

• Art pieces

• Gallery exhibits

The line between art, branding, and activism blurred.

Today’s sticker industry is evolving again.

Many companies now focus on:

• Eco-friendly materials

• Non-toxic adhesives

• Sustainable production

Stickers are adapting to modern values without losing their core purpose.

Stickers are everywhere for a reason.

Common Uses of Stickers

• Branding and marketing

• Product packaging

• Logistics and organisation

• Education

• Journaling and planners

• Street art and activism

Why Stickers Still Work

Stickers are:

• Affordable

• Visual

• Easy to distribute

• Easy to ignore until they aren’t

They’re one of the few marketing tools people actually like receiving.

Same idea. Better execution.

• Stickers began as handwritten labels

• Postage stamps popularised adhesive paper

• Self-adhesive stickers emerged in 1935

• Stickers became tools for expression and culture

• Today, custom stickers are everywhere

They’ve been sticking around for thousands of years, for a reason.

Whether you’re a brand, artist, collector, or chaos enthusiast, custom stickers are still one of the most effective ways to share a message.

They’re small. They’re sticky. And they last far longer than most things designed to be thrown away.