Label Misspelling: Goldmine for Collectors?

When is a specialty brew lager not good for market shelves? When the can misspells the beer as “lagar.” Officials at Japan’s Sapporo Breweries Ltd. were forced to halt the release of its new “Kaitakushi Beer Tailored” line after it was discovered that the word “lager” in a scroll on the front of the can had that misspelling. Junko Fukuchi, a spokeswoman for Sapporo, admitted that the error, though very small and easily overlooked, was “embarrassing.” The company isn’t saying how many cans of the 6-percent beer were produced, and said it is considering different options, including correcting the error on the original can and re-releasing it.

Labeling and other production mistakes can make an everyday item collectible. “Misprints are always collectible because they are so limited,” said Terry Kovel.

“We cannot sell it as it is, but we have not yet decided what we are going to do,” Fukuchi said in the South China Morning Post. “We do not want to simply dump the cans that we have produced — and we have been inundated with offers from our customers to help out by drinking them.” Other suggestions are that cans that have already been filled could be donated to health workers and others helping to combat the coronavirus. (If that happens, we suggest those workers save the cans for future collectability!)

Photo: South China Morning Post

TST Beer Set

Q: We inherited this tankard and mug set and I’m interested in finding out the manufacturer’s name. We really appreciate any help you can provide.

A: This “TST” mark with a small star at the bottom was used by Taylor, Smith & Taylor of Chester, West Virginia. The pottery was in business from 1901 to 1982. This mark was used from 1908 to about 1915. This shape tankard and stein is called Chester, which was made about 1915. Monks are often pictured on beer steins and related items. During the Middle Ages most people drank beer instead of water, which was often unsafe to drink. Monasteries made beer for their own use and to sell to support themselves. Hall China used this same decal on a white background on one of its beer sets sometime after 1930. Anchor Hocking bought Taylor, Smith & Taylor in 1973. The factory closed in January 1982.