Starbucks Aspen mug: Discovery Series
The Aspen mug from Starbucks' Discovery Series sets the town name in light blue over a dark green circle, with ski gondolas, a hot air balloon, aspen trees and snowy mountains. Snowshoes, two dogs, a hiker and a sleigh fill the other sides.
- Series
- Discovery Series
- Place
- Aspen, Colorado, USA
- Type
- Mug
- Released
- Not confirmed
- Capacity
- 14 fl ozstandard mug size
- SKU
- Not confirmed
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The sign that cut Aspen's four mountains to three
According to the Supreme Court's opinion, Aspen Skiing Company once had a sign changed in the Aspen Airways waiting room at Denver's Stapleton Airport. The old sign showed the four mountains around Aspen and the words "Four Big Mountains." The new one kept the picture but said three [1]. The company owned three of the four. It had let the shared all-Aspen lift ticket die when Aspen Highlands, the fourth, turned down a fixed share of the revenue well below its historical average [1]. Highlands, opened in 1958 by Whipple Jones [2], sued in 1979. A jury put its damages at $2.5 million, and the court entered judgment for treble damages [1]. The Supreme Court affirmed on 19 June 1985 [1]. A year later the Silver Queen went up Aspen Mountain, the longest single-stage gondola in the world [2]. The gondola cabins on the Aspen mug (2) may be hers.
The mug does not label its drawings, so connecting this one to the story is our reading.
What's on the mug
- 1Lettering
ASPEN in light blue capitals over a dark green circle.
- 2Gondolas
Ski gondola cabins hang from cables and tall pylons above the lettering.
- 3Hot air balloon
A blue-and-yellow checked hot air balloon floats at the left.
- 4Aspen trees
Yellow-green trees with dark markings stand at the right of the circle.
- 5Mountains
Snow-capped blue mountains with dark pines sit below the lettering.
- 6Snowshoes Side view
Two woven snowshoes stand upright at the left of the side.
- 7Two dogs Side view
Two seated dogs wearing packs sit side by side, one blue and one yellow.
- 8Hiker Side view
A hiker in a blue hat and backpack strides to the right.
- 9Skier Side view
A skier in a blue jacket pushes along at the left of the side.
- 10Frozen pond Side view
A frozen pond with reeds and low hills sits at the top of the side.
- 11Horse and sleigh Back view
A yellow-green spotted horse pulls a blue sleigh with a driver across the back.
- 12Bird on the horse Back view
A blue-grey bird with spread wings perches on the horse's back.
- 13Champagne glasses Back view
Two champagne glasses tilt toward each other at the right edge.
- 14STARBUCKS wordmark Back view
The vertical STARBUCKS wordmark runs beside the handle on this side.
The three photos together cover most of the outside of the mug at an angle. The area behind the handle is out of view.
Collector notes
- In all three photos the mug sits on its dark box, and part of the STARBUCKS DISCOVERY SERIES print shows along the bottom edge.
- The gondolas and the balloon are on the front, the snowshoes, dogs and hiker on the side, and the horse-drawn sleigh on the back, so one photo cannot show every scene.
Before you buy
The three photos show the lettering and gondolas on the front, the snowshoes, dogs and hiker on the side, and the horse-drawn sleigh on the back, so no single view shows every scene. Aspen also appears in the You Are Here series, so check that a listing names the Discovery Series.
