Crayola crayons are a staple of childhood and a classic American icon. With 120 colors in its biggest box, Crayola offers a rainbow of options for creative coloring and art projects. But which color has the longest history with this iconic brand? Let’s take a look at the origins of Crayola crayons to determine which hue takes the crown for oldest Crayola color.
The History of Crayola Crayons
Crayola crayons were invented in 1903 by cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith. The pair owned a chemical company, Binney & Smith, which produced colorants for industrial uses. Seeing the need for art supplies for children that were safe and affordable, Binney and Smith decided to leverage their experience with pigments to create the first Crayola crayons.
The first Crayola crayons box had just 8 colors: black, brown, blue, red, purple, orange, yellow, and green. These original hues were made with pigment and petroleum. Unlike earlier coloring sticks made with toxic additives like lead and carbon, Crayola crayons were non-toxic and safe for children. Their bright colors and smooth texture made them an instant hit.
| Original 8 Crayola Colors – 1903 |
|---|
| Black |
| Brown |
| Blue |
| Red |
| Purple |
| Orange |
| Yellow |
| Green |
The product line was officially named “Crayola” in 1904. The name combines the French word “craie” (meaning chalk or crayon) and “ola” for oleaginous or oily. This name references the petroleum used in early Crayola crayon production.
Growth of the Crayola Color Palette
The Crayola color palette grew dramatically over the next decades, as the brand responded to consumer demand for more color choices and special effect crayons.
– In 1904, 4 glitter crayons were introduced: gold, silver, copper, and aluminum.
– In 1913, 6 fluorescent crayons debuted.
– In 1926, the No. 52 box with 22 colors became standard.
– By 1944, the No. 64 box with 48 colors was created.
– In 1958, the No. 64 box added 8 more colors, bringing the total to 56.
| Crayola Color Milestones |
|---|
| 1903 – Original box with 8 colors |
| 1904 – Glitter crayons added |
| 1913 – Fluorescent crayons debut |
| 1926 – 22 color box introduced |
| 1944 – 48 color box created |
| 1958 – 64 color box has 56 colors |
This rapid expansion meant Crayola had to create dozens of new unique crayon colors. While the original hues remained staples, new pigments were sourced and invented to fill each new box.
Identifying the Oldest Crayola Color
So which of the original Crayola colors has the longest brand history? Let’s consider the 8 original hues from 1903:
Black – A neutral and classic color, black has been included in every Crayola assortment since 1903. This shade is useful for outlining, shading, and blending other colors. Made from carbon and charcoal pigments.
Brown – This earthy tone joins black as a mainstay neutral color. Made from raw umber and iron oxide pigments. Brown is a versatile mixer and useful for coloring skin, wood, animals, dirt and other organic subjects.
Blue – A primary color, blue is a must-have for any color palette. Crayola’s original blue is made with ultramarine blue pigments. This vivid shade is ideal for coloring the sky, water, clothing, gems and more.
Red – Another primary, red is included in every Crayola box. Vermillion and red iron oxide create this bold red. It excels at coloring apples, strawberries, hearts, fire trucks, and other red objects.
Purple – Since 1903, purple has brought a regal hue to Crayola assortments. Historically, purple pigment was hard to produce synthetically, making this color more exclusive. Crayola’s violet comes from ultramarine blue and carmine red pigments.
Orange – A vibrant secondary color, orange mixes yellow and red. An original Crayola color, this sunny shade uses cadmium yellow and cadmium red pigments. Orange is perfect for pumpkins, oranges, fall leaves, and warm images.
Yellow – No crayon box is complete without yellow, a primary color. Crayola’s original lemon yellow comes from cadmium sulfide pigments. This cheery hue depicts sun, bananas, rubber ducks, and more.
Green – Crayola’s first green is a cool, medium green made from a mix of phthalocyanine and chromium oxide pigments. The combination of yellow and blue, green is indispensable for coloring plants, trees, frogs, and environmental scenes.
So which of these 8 colors came first? Technically, all original hues debuted together when the first Crayola box launched in 1903. However, there is one standout contender for the oldest color based on pigment history.
Ultramarine Blue – The Oldest Crayola Color
Crayola’s original blue and purple hues are both made with ultramarine blue pigments. This vivid pigment has been prized as a precious material since the Renaissance era. Made from grinding lapis lazuli gemstones, ultramarine blue was more valuable than gold in medieval times.
Crayola was able to introduce affordable mass-produced versions of blue and purple by using synthetic ultramarine blue pigments developed in the 19th century. This revolutionary substitute replicated the intense color of handmade ultramarine using chemistry instead of rare stones.
While all original Crayola colors have been around since 1903, ultramarine blue has the longest color heritage. The vivid intensity and regal heritage of this historic pigment make Crayola’s original blue the oldest color in the Crayon box. From lapis lazuli to ultramarine to modern crayons, this brilliant blue has decorated artworks for centuries.
Next time you use a blue crayon, remember you are employing the same prized pigment used by Michelangelo, Raphael, and other Old Master painters!
Conclusion
Reviewing the timeline of Crayola products reveals that all original hues debuted together in 1903. But tracing the pigment origins indicates ultramarine blue has the longest history of the first Crayola colors. This vivid, enduring blue dates back many centuries to the rare lapis lazuli gemstone used in Renaissance art. Crayola modernized this regal color by adopting affordable synthetic ultramarine pigments in their first crayons. Thanks to this breakthrough, children could access this lavish shade for the first time.
Ultrawide blue thus edges out its 1903 boxmates as the oldest Crayola color due to the centuries-long pedigree of its signature pigment. Generations have admired the brilliant beauty of lapis-derived blues. By cleverly commercializing this timeless color, Binney & Smith brought ultramarine to the masses in an instant childhood classic.
So the next time you see that iconic Crayola blue crayon, remember its royal roots!
