Hi Timothy,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Wrangler is a brand that originated from the Blue Bell Overall Company, which began in the early 20th century. In 1947, Blue Bell introduced the Wrangler brand specifically for Western wear, especially targeting rodeo cowboys. By 1959, Wrangler jeans were firmly established as a go-to brand for working cowboys and rodeo stars. They competed directly with Levi’s and Lee, offering functional and stylish alternatives.

Sanforization was a process that pre-shrunk fabric to limit further shrinkage after washing (developed in the 1930s). Wrangler advertised "Sanforized" denim to assure customers the jeans would shrink less than 1%. This was a major selling point in the 1950s, giving them an edge over brands whose jeans shrank unpredictably.

While these were made in quite a large volume, they are rare survivors so it is particularly astonishing to see a never-worn pair with the original factory tags. Given the price WORN jeans of this vintage are selling for at auction, I would not be surprised to see this pair sell for between $4,000 -6,000 at an auction house like Augusta Auctions that specializes only in vintage and antique couture and fashion but which has an extensive client base that includes costume curators, production house costumers and vintage clothing collectors.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A pair of circa 1959 Wrangler Blue Bell Sanforized Denim Jeans
Lot #11MWZ
Size: 34x34
CONDITION: Unworn, new with retailers tags
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$ 4,000-6,000*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia