Method and apparatus for superposed application of shipping labels over packing slips

A label arrangement, comprising:

• a first and a second label each having a substantially identical sheet of material defining a face side and an oppositely facing back side, the first label having different information printed thereon than that printed on the second label;
• the sheet further including a center section attached to a border section disposed outboard from the center section, with the center section being attached to the border section by a line of weakness;
• the first and second labels each having an adhesive pattern attached thereto on the back side of the sheet in the border section, with the adhesive pattern having an inboard edge thereof which is spaced outboard away from the line of weakness by an adhesive-free zone having a width of the adhesive-free zone;
• the first label being adapted for attachment to a substrate by the adhesive pattern on the back side of the border section;
• and
• the second label being adapted for automated attachment to the front side of the border section of the first label by the adhesive pattern on the back side of a border section of the second label, in such a manner that the second label is superposed over the first label with the second label substantially completely covering the first label;
• wherein, the first and second labels are supplied from a single source;
• wherein the first and second labels are supplied from a common backing strip configured to present the first and second labels sequentially for automatic removal from the backing strip and subsequent application to a substrate;
• and
• wherein the common backing strip is configured to be attached to machine-powered rollers to facilitate automated placement of the first and second labels, the first and second labels being removably attached to the common backing strip using adhesive.