Levi's 501 66 Early 1970s Deadstock Jeans, Small e, Selvedge, Button Stamp 8, Rigid Indigo, W28 L31, with Flashers
Levi's 501 66 Early 1970s Deadstock Jeans, Small e, Selvedge, Button Stamp 8, Rigid Indigo, W28 L31, with Flashers
- Dispatch
- Prepared and sent from Tokyo within 7–14 days, often sooner, or as arranged
- Arrival
- United States · usually 4–7 days after dispatch, insured and tracked
- Import
Duties and customs · View the estimate
A guide for this piece: about $179, based on the 10% US charge on the declared value of goods made in Japan.
The final figure is set by US Customs and depends on where the piece was made and the kind of object it is. Many antiques over a century old carry no ordinary duty; most jewellery and leather goods add a single-digit rate.
With EMS, any charge is collected by your postal service on delivery. For pieces of significant value we can often arrange duties prepaid before dispatch.
How the estimate is reached · Ask for a figure on this piece
- Sizing
- Measured flat by hand, waist, rise and inseam, in centimetres · Find your size · Ask before you buy
- Replies
- Within one Tokyo business day · Ask the curator team
- Guarantee
- Authenticity guaranteed · How we grade
Couldn't load pickup availability
All sales are final. Please read our refund policy before purchase.
Considered offers only. The Desk replies personally to figures made in good faith; those set far below the asking price receive no reply.
Examined in Tokyo, one price, insured to your door. How buying from Japonista works · Join the Circle, free
A deadstock 1970s Levi's 501 from the 66 early period, unworn and unwashed in rigid indigo, with its paper patch, small e red tab and original flashers attached.
The Piece
Collectors call the 501s made from about 1973 to 1976 the 66 early, a name usually traced to the 1966 date printed on their labelling. They are the last of the selvedge 501s with single-stitched back pockets and fully rope-dyed denim, the point at which the 501 is still recognisably the classic jean before later cost cuts. Unworn examples are increasingly hard to find.
This pair has never been washed. The denim is a deep, rigid indigo with a slight slub, and the paper patch is crisp and complete, printed 501 with the W28 L31 size stamp and Made in U.S.A. The red tab carries the small e, the top button is stamped 8 on the back, and the hems show the red-line selvedge inside the cuffs. The Shrink-to-Fit and guarantee flashers are still attached at the back pocket.
As rigid shrink-to-fit denim it will shrink on its first soak, so the tagged size will tighten; many collectors keep pairs like this untouched, while others enjoy the rare chance to start an original 1970s fade from zero.
Measures about a 27 inch waist flat before washing, with a 72 cm inseam.
Details
- Designer: Levi Strauss & Co.
- Season: 1970s, 66 early
- Model / ref: 501, small e, button stamp 8
- Material: Cotton selvedge denim, rigid
- Colour: Rigid indigo
- Made in: USA
- Tagged size: W28 L31
- Measurements: Waist 69 cm (34.5 cm flat) · Hip 52.5 cm flat · Rise 28 cm · Inseam 72 cm
- Included: Jeans with original flashers
Condition
- Deadstock, unworn and unwashed.
- Original flashers attached.
- Paper patch complete and crisp.
- Light storage marks possible on rigid denim; please view all photographs.
Condition grade S on the Japanese scale; see Japanese condition ranks, explained.
Authenticity & Care
The labels, materials, stitching, hardware and construction are examined together and documented in Japan before dispatch; anything that cannot be confirmed is stated plainly in the description. Every piece carries the Japonista authenticity guarantee. If you choose to wear it, soak in cold water first to pre-shrink, then hang to dry.
Delivery from Japan
Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Every sale is final; please ask anything before you buy, and see our published policy.
Every figure above is taken by hand with the pair laid flat, in centimetres. Measure jeans or trousers that already fit you the same way and allow a centimetre or two of margin, the quiet safeguard on a final sale. Our jeans and trousers size guide reads waist and inseam in inches and centimetres, and for anything it leaves open the curator team replies within one Tokyo business day.
Considered offers are welcome through Send an Offer, and each one is reviewed personally. Pieces over $1,000 may be reserved over several payments with Layaway Privilege™.
Continue browsing: Japan Luxury Archive · Levi’s
Untouched Eras, Hunted
If you are looking for other deadstock eras or sizes, our Hunting Salon can search Japan's collectors and specialist dealers for you. Our Hunting Salon™ locates a specific reference across Japan’s private collector circles, then inspects, documents and delivers it to you. Begin a Hunting Salon™ request →
Collectors also search: Levi's 501 66 early · deadstock Levi's 501 · 1970s Levi's 501 unworn · Levi's small e selvedge · Levi's 501 W28 deadstock · vintage Levi's shrink to fit · Levi's 66 single stitch · rigid vintage Levi's
Chosen for you