Louis Vuitton Labels: History and How to Date Them
Appraise a photo of yours, free.
Louis Vuitton has made luggage in Paris since 1854 and launched its Monogram canvas in 1896 to fight copying. Its bag models have known start dates, and the house made no clothing line until 1998, which rules out many "vintage" claims at a glance.
Company history
Wikipedia records that Louis Vuitton founded the company in 1854 on Rue Neuve des Capucines in Paris and introduced flat-topped trunks in 1858. To protect against copies it changed to a striped canvas in 1876, and in 1896 the company launched the Monogram canvas. The Keepall bag was introduced in 1930 and the Noé in 1932. Our designer label fakes guide notes the monogram was created specifically to fight counterfeiting and that Louis Vuitton only began a clothing line in 1998.
Label timeline
| Label or clue | Approximate dates | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Louis Vuitton trunks | From 1854 | The original business |
| Striped canvas | From 1876 | Pre-monogram anti-copy design |
| Monogram canvas | From 1896 | Nothing in monogram is earlier |
| Keepall | From 1930 | Earliest possible date for the style |
| Noé | From 1932 | Earliest possible date for the style |
| Clothing line | From 1998 | Louis Vuitton clothing before 1998 is not genuine |
What it helps date
- A "vintage 1970s Louis Vuitton" logo dress is almost certainly not what it claims: designer label fakes, vintage or reproduction checklist.
- Vachetta leather condition moves value: condition grading.
Values
Our hats and handbags values guide gives a Monogram Speedy 30 at $200 to $320 fair, $350 to $600 good and $650 to $1,000 excellent (Vintage Bag Value), and an all-types vintage Louis Vuitton bag median of $258 (Flipper Vintage). Cracked, peeling or very dark vachetta takes $100 to $300 off. Prices are estimates as of 2026.
check sold prices for louis vuitton vintage speedy on eBay
Sources
Not sure what you have? Appraise a photo
Free vintage label dating cheat sheet, by email:
Guides that mention Louis Vuitton
- Auction Houses That Sell Vintage Costume and TextilesWhich auction houses sell antique costume, couture and vintage fashion, what each accepts, how consigning works, and when auction beats selling online.
- How to Spot Fake Designer Labels on Vintage ClothingTell a genuine vintage designer piece from a counterfeit, licensed product or adaptation by checking the label, construction, fabric and history.
- Vintage Hat and Handbag Values: Hermès, Chanel, Coach, Leiber and More2026 price ranges for vintage handbags (Hermès, Chanel, Coach, Leiber, mesh, Lucite) and hats (Stetson, Daché, Schiaparelli), from sold data.
- Is It Vintage or a Reproduction? A ChecklistA clue-by-clue checklist for telling genuine vintage from reproductions: zippers, seams, thread, fibers, buttons, labels, tees, designer tags and aging.
- Where to Sell Vintage Clothing in 2026Compare eBay, Etsy, Depop, Vinted, Poshmark, The RealReal, consignment and auction houses by fees, audience and the vintage pieces each sells best.
Related
- Vintage Clothing Condition Grading: Mint to Fair and What Each CostsThe dealer condition scale for vintage clothing (mint, excellent, very good, good, fair, poor), what each grade means and its typical price discount.
- How to Spot Fake Designer Labels on Vintage ClothingTell a genuine vintage designer piece from a counterfeit, licensed product or adaptation by checking the label, construction, fabric and history.
- Vintage Hat and Handbag Values: Hermès, Chanel, Coach, Leiber and More2026 price ranges for vintage handbags (Hermès, Chanel, Coach, Leiber, mesh, Lucite) and hats (Stetson, Daché, Schiaparelli), from sold data.
- Is It Vintage or a Reproduction? A ChecklistA clue-by-clue checklist for telling genuine vintage from reproductions: zippers, seams, thread, fibers, buttons, labels, tees, designer tags and aging.