Shipping and packing label system

A label system adapted to be applied to a substrate, said system comprising:

• an underlying first label and an overlying second label overlying the first label,
• said labels each including a central portion and opposite side retaining portions outboard of the central portion,
• each of said labels presenting opposite end margins, with the central portion and each side retaining portion separated by a corresponding line of weakness to permit separation of the central portion from the side retaining portions along the lines of weakness,
• said labels presenting respective front and back faces,
• said underlying first label including adhesive applied to the back face to permit adhesive attachment of the first label relative to the substrate,
• said overlying second label including adhesive applied to the back face to permit adhesive attachment of the second label to at least one of the first label and the substrate,
• each side retaining portion of the second label being disposed adjacent the corresponding side retaining portion of the first label, with each line of weakness of the second label extending alongside the corresponding adjacent line of weakness of the first label,
• said overlying central portion being removable from the overlying side retaining portions to expose the underlying central portion of the first label,
• said overlying second label including a removable tear strip located along an edge of the overlying central portion and cooperating with the lines of weakness of the second label to provide user access to facilitate separation of the overlying central portion from the side portions,
• said removable tear strip being separable from the overlying central portion,
• said tear strip and said overlying central portion being separated by a common line of weakness so that separation of the tear strip facilitates separation of the overlying central portion from the side portions,
• said lines of weakness of the overlying second label and said common line of weakness cooperating to define adjacent boundaries of the overlying central portion to facilitate removal of the overlying central portion after the tear strip has been removed.

A labeled package assembly to be shipped to a recipient, said labeled package assembly comprising:

• a package containing at least one item to be received by the recipient;
• and
• a label system applied to the package, wherein the label system carries publicly displayed package address indicia associated with the recipient and hidden package contents indicia listing the at least one item,
• said label system including an underlying first label and an overlying second label overlying the first label,
• said overlying second label carrying the package address indicia, and the underlying first label carrying the package contents indicia,
• said labels each presenting respective front and back faces,
• each of said labels including adhesive applied to the back face that adheres the label to the package,
• said overlying second label including a central portion and a side retaining portion outboard of the central portion, with the side retaining portion presenting an innermost margin,
• said central portion and said side retaining portion being separated by a line of weakness along the innermost margin to permit separation of the central portion from the side retaining portion along the line of weakness,
• said overlying second label including a removable tear strip located at least partly along an edge of the central portion and cooperating with the line of weakness of the second label to provide user access to facilitate separation of the central portion from the side retaining portion,
• said central portion concealing the package contents indicia until being at least substantially removed from the side retaining portion to expose the underlying first label,
• said removable tear strip being separable from the central portion of the second label,
• said tear strip and said central portion being separated by a common line of weakness so that separation of the tear strip facilitates separation of the central portion from the side retaining portion.