501 Big E

The "Big E" refers to the capital E on the Levi's tab, used from 1936 to 1971. Pre-1971 examples are the holy grail of denim collecting. Characterized by hidden rivets, a single stitch on the back pockets, and a cinch back on earlier models. The selvedge denim used during this era came from Cone Mills in North Carolina. A pristine pair from the 1950s can command $10,000–$30,000 at auction.