The Definitive History of the Colors of Crayola
Introduction and Table of Contents
This is a 40 part feature that steps through Crayola’s
color history from 1903 up to the current day.
This is copyrighted original research done by me, Ed Welter, over the
course of the last 10 years. It took
about 10 months to put the chronology together with the help of several other
collectors and Crayola enthusiasts which I mention in the first part. I’m not affiliated with Crayola in any way
and I’ve tried to keep it to a neutral perspective. Much of the reference material consists of my
own collection and previously researched material at the National Archives,
Google Books along with various advertisements, catalogues and price lists I
have accumulated.
Each part has a link at the top to all the prior parts and a link at
the bottom to the next part.
|
Title/Link |
Years |
Features |
|
1903-1905 |
Color data, Original assortments |
|
|
1903-1905 |
The original 38 colors and what they came in |
|
|
1903-1905 |
Variations and rules for the list, Color swatches |
|
|
1904-1910 |
St. Louis World Fair, Gold Medal Line, the first list |
|
|
1911-1917 |
The first colors discontinued |
|
|
1918-1926 |
New wrapper type, Munsell acquisition, 1926
color swatches |
|
|
1927-1930 |
New colors for the color wheel, color swatch comparisons |
|
|
1931-1935 |
New wrapper type 4, Rubens changes, No 241M colors, color swatches |
|
|
1936-1939 |
No 52 assortment |
|
|
1940-1944 |
Gamboge Yellow,
WWII color source shortage |
|
|
1945-1949 |
No 48 assortment, color swatches |
|
|
1950-1957 |
Pink Beige, Color swatch comparison |
|
|
1958 |
No 64 assortment, color swatches |
|
|
1959-1971 |
No 72 assortment, Golden Rod, Flesh to Peach |
|
|
1972-1982 |
Fluorescent crayons, Fabric crayons |
|
|
1983-1986 |
So Big crayons |
|
|
1987 |
Canadian Crayola Metallics and Crayola Gemtone |
|
|
1988-1989 |
So Big (blue) crayons |
|
|
1990-1991 |
Official color retirement, new colors, Silver Swirl crayons, European
Fluorescents, Mexican colors. Crayon swatches |
|
|
1992 |
Name that Color Contest |
|
|
1993 |
New colors, Gemtones crayons, Glitter
crayons |
|
|
1994-1995 |
Magic Scent crayons, Changeables crayons,
Glitter, Glow in the Dark, Neons |
|
|
1996 |
Mr. Rogers one hundred billion commemoration |
|
|
1997 |
Hallmark Presents |
|
|
1997 |
True Blue Heroes Contest |
|
|
1997 |
Discovery crayons |
|
|
1997 |
Color ‘n Smell, Starbrite, Techobrite, Pooh crayons |
|
|
1997 |
Glitter, Pearl Brite, Color Mix-Up, Special
Brightest, Kids First, Mac & Cheese, Timberwolf,
International differences |
|
|
1998 |
True Blue colors, Torch Red, 200 colors, Scarlet Pimpernel,
Construction |
|
|
1999 |
Retro crayons, Chestnut, Indigo crayons |
|
|
2000-2001 |
Favorite colors of |
|
|
2002 |
Colors of |
|
|
2003 |
Colors of Binney & Smith, 100th
Anniversary, More retirements, C-Rex, Macaroni Grill, Chilis,
Dole 5-A-Day, |
|
|
2004 |
Spiderman, State your Own, White House crayons, Target Red crayons |
|
|
2005 |
Batman, Tri-Language, |
|
|
2006 |
Heads ‘n Tails, Colors of Ecomagination,
Silly Scents crayons |
|
|
2007 |
True to Life crayons |
|
|
2008 |
50th Anniversary of the No 58 assortment, Kids Choice,
Giant Coloring Page |
|
|
2009 |
Twistable Extreme colors, Colors of Lindt |
|
|
2010-2011 |
Fan Favorite, Carbon Black |
Reference
The Full Color List:
In order of
Introduction by year