Justin White Label Pre-Ban Sea Turtle Cowboy Boots
Size: Men’s 11 D
Maker: Justin (White Label)
Material: Genuine Pre-Ban Black Sea Turtle Vamps, Black Leather Shafts with Gold & Blue Starburst Stitchwork
Condition: Very Good Vintage Condition (Pull Tabs Professionally Repaired)
The Boots
A serious pair of Justin White Label cowboy boots in genuine pre-ban black sea turtle leather. The full sea turtle vamps display the hide’s unmistakable large, raised scutes in deep black with a glossy, almost lacquered finish — thick, dimensional, and heavily textured with the characteristic web-like veining between each scale. The turtle leather wraps generously from the pointed toe up over the instep and around the heel counter, giving full exotic coverage across the entire lower boot. The scales are large and well-defined, with the kind of deep three-dimensional texture that no embossed leather can replicate.
The black leather shafts carry elaborate starburst and feather stitchwork in gold and blue thread — bold, angular patterns that radiate outward from central star motifs on all four panels. The stitching is dense, multi-layered, and crisp, combining sharp geometric starburst points with flowing feather fronds in a design that’s unmistakably Justin White Label. The pull tabs are finished with matching sea turtle leather accents — a detail that ties the exotic vamps to the shaft beautifully. A couple of the pull tabs have been professionally repaired and are fully functional.
Construction is top-tier Justin: pointed toes, black stacked heels with rubber caps, leather soles, and tan leather lining throughout. The White Label designation placed these at the upper end of Justin’s production line — a step above their standard offerings in both materials and craftsmanship.
Pre-Ban Sea Turtle
Sea turtle leather has been banned from commercial trade under CITES and the Endangered Species Act for decades. These boots represent a material that is permanently unavailable for new production — no bootmaker on earth can legally source sea turtle hide today. The distinctive large-scute pattern and thick, dimensional texture of sea turtle leather made it one of the most visually dramatic exotics ever used in cowboy boots. Surviving pairs in good condition have become increasingly collectible, and once they leave the secondary market, they’re gone for good.
Condition
These boots are in very good vintage condition. The black sea turtle vamps are glossy and intact with all raised scutes well-defined, securely attached, and showing excellent depth and sheen throughout. There is light creasing across the instep consistent with careful use, but the scales remain tight and undamaged. The black leather shafts are supple with the gold and blue starburst stitchwork fully intact and crisp on all panels. A couple of the pull tabs have been professionally repaired — the repair work is clean and the tabs are fully functional. The leather soles show moderate wear and the black stacked heels remain solid and level. A strong, well-maintained pair with the exotic leather in excellent shape.
