Borsalino Soft & Stiff Felt Hats with Celled Paper Labels

[habigman]

As of 03/03/2025 there Are Three Celled Paper Label types.  There is only one example of the Type 3 and the oldest Borsalino.  Dimensions for Types 1 and 2 can vary. 

 

Type 1 (Sweatband Date Stamped 05/17/1929)

 

 

Type 2 (No Date)

 

 

Type 2 is slightly longer and less wide than Type 1. The Type 2 cell size and alignment are also different. The Type 2 dimensions are more similar to later non celled paper labels. Sometime during the 1930s the Celled Paper Labels were dropped. I am not sure how far back the Celled Paper Labels go.

 

Type 3 

The only example so far. The main Cells are not offset and no Borsalino Grand Prix Paris 1900 on the left side. This is probably the oldest Cell Paper Label (so the oldest of any kind) found so far. 

 

The following are the Celled Paper Label Borsalinos I found in the Borsalino Brotherhood. Unfortunately some of the photos are lacking in quality.

 

Echter Borsalino "Fico" "Lama", French Size Point 6, date stamped May 18, 1929, German Market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Type 1, Date Stamped 05/18/29)

 

[habigman]

Continued.

 

Echter Borsalino "Bismuto" "Sanboca", French Size Point 6 1/2, date stamped May 17, 1929, German Market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Type 1, Date Stamped 05/17/29)

 

 

Borsalino "F" "Giorgette", French Point Size 6, Italian Market.

 

 

 

[habigman]

Continued.

 

 

(Type 2)

 

 

Borsalino Qualità Extra Extra Superiore "Moka" "Lotamo", U.S. Size 7 1/8, American Market.

 

 

 

 

(Type 1)

 

 

Borsalino Qualità Superiore "Nichel" "Cronaca", French Size Point 5 1/2, Asian Market.

 

 

 

(Type 1)

 

[habigman]

Continued.

 

Borsalino Qualità Superiore "?" "Ganma", U.S. Size 7 1/2, American Market.

 

 

 

 

(Type 1)

 

 

Borsalino Qualità Superiore(?) "Minetta" "Calabrese", U.S. Size 7 3/8, American Market.

 

 

 

 

 

(Type 1)

 

[habigman]

Continued.

 

Borsalino Qualità Extra Superiore "F" "Malmino", French Size Point 6, Italian Market.

 

 

 

 

 

(Type 2)

 

 

Borsalino Trionfo "Airone ? X" "Naiasca", French Size Point 4 1/2, Italian Market.

 

 

 

 

 

[habigman]

Continued.

 

(Type 2)

 

 

Borsalino ? "Durra" "?", French Size Point 5, French Market.

 

 

 

 

(Type 1)

 

 

Borsalino Qualità Superiore "F" "Georgette", French Size Point 5 1/2, Italian Market.

 

 

 

 

 

[habigman]

Continued.

 

(Type 2)

 

 

Borsalino Qualità Superiore " " "Sanlota", U.S. Size 7 1/8, American Market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Type 1)

 

[habigman]

Continued.

 

Borsalino ? " " "Stregone", French Size Point 3 1/2, Dutch Market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Type 2)

 

 

Borsalino Qualità Extra Superiore "Misto Nebbia" , French Size Point 5 1/2, Italian Market.

 

 

 

 

[habigman]

Continued.

 

(Type 2)

 

 

Borsalino Qualità Superiore "F" "Malmine", English Size 6 7/8, Israel Market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Type 1)

 

 

Borsalino Qualità Superiore "F" "m.Favaro" "c. nera" "Rizzo", French Size Point 5, Italian Market.

 

 

[habigman]

Continued.

 

 

 

 

(Type 2)

 

 

Borsalino ? " " "Fenello", English Size 7 1/8, Canadian Market.

 

 

 

 

 

(Type 1)

 

[habigman]

Continued.

 

Borsalino ? " " "?", French Size Point ?, Italian Market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Type 1)

 

[habigman]

Continued.

 

Brasiliano Extra, Borsalino " " "?", French Size Point 3 1/2, ? Market.

 

 

 

 

 

(Type 1)

 

 

Borsalino Qualità Superiore "?" " ", U.S. Size 7 1/4, American Market.

 

 

 

 

 

(Type 1)

 

[habigman]

Continued.

 

 

Echter Borsalino Qualità Superiore "Bismuto" "Sanboca", French Size Point 5 1/2, German Market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Type 1 but smaller overall dimensions)

 

[habigman]

The following hats that belong to Tonio have an additional "Campione/Sample" Paper Label on the sweatband with "Refer.", "Modello.", "Colore.", "Feltro." and "Qualita." entries.  The "Modello." and "Colore." entries are also referenced on the Celled Paper Label. 

 

Borsalino Qualità Superiore(?) "Minetta" "Calabrese", U.S. Size 7 3/8, American Market.

 

 

 

 

 

The "Modello./Model"  is the upper left cell of the paper label.  The "Colore./Color" is the lower left cell.  I will have to see if I can find these two "Modello./Model" numbers in the old Borsalino documents.  

 

 

 

Borsalino Qualità Superiore "F" "Georgette", French Size Point 5 1/2, Italian Market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is interesting is the "Feltro/Felt. Charlait"  is the same for both the Soft Felt and the Stiff Felt. I couldn't find anything specific regarding "Charlait" and felt but the term was also used by French Hat companies.  Borsalino still uses the term "Charlait" today but appears it to be a model type or style. 

 

https://www.borsalino.com/products/small-brimmed-charlait?variant=19229538025572

[habigman]

(Type 3)  

The only example so far. The main Cells are not offset and no Borsalino Grand Prix Paris 1900 on the left side. This is probably the oldest Cell Paper Label (so the oldest of any kind) found so far. Thank you Tonio on the FL for taking the photos.

 

 

 

[habigman]

Borsalino "Rizzo?", french size point 5 1/2, Swiss Market

(Type 2)

Echter Borsalino "Sandurbar", Point 6 1/2, German Market.

(Type 1)

Borsalino (?), Swedish Market

 

(Type 2)

Borsalino "Sanpuccini", French market

(Type 2)

Borsalino "Nutria" "Midasti", French Market

 

(Type 2)