Collector Jonny Trunk has compiled a new book featuring vintage ice lolly wrappers from the 1970s, sourced from a massive private collection.

Jonny Trunk, a pop culture collector and record-label owner, has released a new book titled 'Fancy an Ice Cream? A Collection of Vintage Ice Lolly Wrappers.' The book showcases designs from the 1970s, primarily sourced from a vast collection amassed by the late John Townsend, a hoarder whose Stockport home contained decades of British ephemera.

A Collection of Rare Ephemera

John Townsend, who began collecting as a child, filled his five-bedroom home, caravan, and summerhouse with items including sweet wrappers, crisp packets, and cereal boxes before his death in 2016. Trunk gained access to this collection and supplemented it with his own items to create the book. The wrappers are considered exceptionally rare because they were made of fragile, wax-coated paper and were typically discarded immediately after purchase.

Nostalgia and Design

The book features designs from roughly 1970 to 1980, including brands like Feast, Fab, and Mini Milk, alongside tie-ins for Star Wars, Dr. Who, and Kevin Keegan. Trunk notes that the peak period for these designs was 1972-75. While some collectors value the wrappers for their unique graphic styles and color combinations, Trunk estimates that 75% of the interest is driven by nostalgia for a time when ice cream was considered a special treat.

The Search for the Holy Grail

Within the niche collecting community, individual wrappers can sell for between £30 and £150. Despite his extensive collection, Trunk continues to search for his 'Holy Grail': a Walls’ Midnight Mint wrapper featuring an owl. He notes that identifying the original designers is nearly impossible, as these in-house creations were viewed as disposable and were never properly archived by manufacturers.