Samples
Coffee,Dry and General Goods,Advertising,Mail Order Samples
United States: c.1880. A sample of coffee beans sent from an unknown dry goods store or coffee roaster via the mail c.1880. The beans are housed in their original metal tin with wooden top, which screws securely onto the tin via a metal screw. Printed label marked Howe's Sample Mail.....
Price: $350.00
Sandpaper,Salesman's Dummies and Sample Books
Troy, New York: Behr-Manning, c.1935. A sandpaper sample book produced by the Behr-Manning company, makers of "quality abrasives" and sharpening stones. This sample book contains approx. eighteen (18) sandpapers organized by grit, ranging from extremely fine coarse for use in a variety of projects. This set ranges from to 80.....
Price: $250.00
woman's work, design, sample book,
Bocholt, Belgium: 1961. Large format with pen and ink cover decoration. Includes ten (10) pages with seventeen (17) different samples. Each sample is captioned identifying the work and is accompanied by a magazine cut-out showing an example of the work on a garment. 11” x 14 ½”. Meticulous work. Minimal.....
Price: $350.00
Paints and Varnishes,Sample Books and Sets
United States: N.p, 1930. Original printed booklet containing free sample chips of "Nicholson's Peerless Japanese Transparent Water Colors", marketed to customers as "The Self-Blending Colors". A rare survival. Manufactured specifically for photograph tinting, lantern slides, and half-tone printing. The samples include rusty reds, blues, and greens. Printed booklet measures approx.....
Price: $150.00
Personal Archive, Business History
An Archive of over 600 pieces of Jacob Meck (1859-1930), prominent merchandising entrepreneur, postmaster, and cigar manufacturer, Meckville, Berks County, PA, 1864-1911. Jacob Meck, of Pennsylvania, was one of 11 adult children born to Benjamin and Elizabeth Ruth. He operated a grocery store beginning in 1879. He was the postmaster.....
Price: $1,150.00
Salesman's Sample Book,Paper Manufacturing
Irvington, N.J. Artcote Papers, Inc., 1940s-50s. A mid-century salesman's sample book with eighteen (18) samples of gold and silver papers produced by Artcote Papers, Inc. of Philadelphia. Each sample is labeled with order number, weight or other identifier (e.g. "heavy", "gummed"), and trimmed size. Would most likely have been used.....
Price: $200.00
Salesman's Sample Books and Dummies,Printing Ink,Printing Arts,Glassine
Boston, Massachusetts: Barta-Griffin Company, c.1950. A book of dozens of printing ink samples by the Barta-Griffin Company, including: standard colors; label colors overprinted with varnish; standard process colors; halftone inks; dull finish halftone colors; magazine black; and standard bond colors. There are also fifteen (15) samples of printing inks on.....
Price: $350.00
Interior and Exterior Decor,Wall Paint and Coverings,Promotional Materials,Faux Periodicals
Grand Rapids, Michigan: Alabastine Co, 1922. The May-June issue of "Brush & Pail", a periodical promoting paint products sold by the Alabastine Company. Founded in 1879, the company manufactured and distributed paint derived from gypsum, and marketed it as a safer alternative to contemporary wall coverings. The content is largely.....
Price: $200.00
Art Deco,Parisian Design,Material History,Salesman's Sample Book
Paris, France: Marquise de Sevigne, c.1930. An exquisite and extensive salesman's sample book of twenty-two (22) luxury chocolate box cover designs, produced in France for the Parisian chocolatier and confectioner Marquise de Sevigne. Each sample is accompanied by a typewritten stock label with its model name, number, price, and the.....
Price: $1,600.00
Historical Memorabilia
Connecticut Courant, 1864. Facsimile reprint of the first issue of the Connecticut Courant originally published: Hartford, Conn. Original printed by Thomas Green, 1764. A sample issue of a projected weekly newspaper, to be issued Mondays, commencing 19 Nov. 1764. Printed with traditional letter forms, with the exception of a modern.....
Price: $300.00
Pens and Writing, Correspondence, Gibson Girl, Royal Family, Abraham Lincoln, Edwardian
England and United States: c.1910. A fine collection of one hundred sixty one (161) items relating to the sale of pen nibs in Edwardian England and America, comprised of: one hundred fifty (150) chromolithographed labels for pen boxes of those 45 are unique; one (1) illustrated advertising cover; two (2).....
Price: $2,800.00
Salesman Sample Books and Dummies,Billheads and Letterheads,Lithography,Papermaking,Offset Printing
United States: 1890s-1957. A set of five (5) salesman sample books of letterheads and billheads, including dozens of samples published between the 1890s and 1957. Provides a comprehensive look into how businesses and individuals advertised their brands via their correspondence, and also a look into job printing at this time.....
Price: $300.00
ABAA-RBMS-2026,Calling Cards,Social History,Visiting Cards
Ohio: Various, 1870s. An exceptional grouping of five (5) salesman's sample sets, produced by printers to showcase their calling card designs. The cards together show an important, but somewhat forgotten, piece of material history, when leaving a calling card was an important practice in polite society. Each calling card set.....
Price: $250.00
Sewing Instruction
United States: c.1930s. An instructional sewing manual, starting with the basics ("Thread is made from cotton, flax, wool or silk") and ending with an intermediate sewing pattern ("Kimona", i.e. a Kimono with French seams). Includes nine (9) typewritten leaves with instructions, alongside sewn fabric examples to illustrate. Information on appropriate.....
Price: $325.00
Civil War,Pro-Union Sentiment,Illustrated Covers,Ephemera,American Iconography
Boston, Massachusetts: J.M. Whittemore & Co., 1861. J.M. Whittemore & Co. was a job printer and publisher known for producing handsome and patriotic covers (illustrated envelopes) with traditional American iconography such as the American flag, Columbia, and military symbolism, often printed in red and blue. The present group of ephemera.....
Price: $425.00
Paints and Varnishes,Hospitals,Breweries,Hygienic Environments,Salesman's Samples,Mail-Order Advertising Samples
San Francisco, California: Eagle Paint & Varnish Co, c.1910. An advertising leaflet with eleven (11) samples, each approx. 0.25" by 2.25", of different colored "Keg and Wall Enamels". The keg enamels are marketed to brewers and distillers for use on kegs and vats, while the wall enamels are marketed to.....
Price: $150.00
Labor Saving,Homemaking,Domestic Work
Akron, Ohio: The Kristee Products Company, c.1940. Illustrated catalogue for home products sold by the Kristee Products Company, offering a range of economical and labor saving items for housewives. Includes everything from bath mats and mitten dusters to car polish, shampoo, and corn removers and water bottles. Each item is.....
Price: $250.00
Marketing to Women, Inclusiveness in Cosmetics,Beauty Industry, A shade for every women
Memphis, Tennessee: Keystone "The Reliable Co." c.1930. A remarkably well-preserved box of La Jac brand face powder in the shade "Teezem Brown", with a small illustrated envelope sample of powder in the shade "Harlem Tan". Both appear unused, unopened, and still contain the product. The brand employs an attractive and.....
Price: $300.00
ABAA-SPRING-2026,
Springfield, Massachusetts: Milton Bradley, 1940s. A colorful flight of paper samples from Milton Bradley, ranging from "Butterfly Papers" to "Tinted Drawing Papers", "Puratone Art Papers", and "Tonal Paper". There are six (6) sample books in total, each with at least a dozen sample papers (most having many more), all secured.....
Price: $1,000.00
covers] [sample books
Boston, Mass: W. C. Dodge Paper Co, 1910s. Blue stamped cover, tied together with brown yarn. Sample book for covers, contains samples of seven distinctive colors, describes paper weight and finish. 9" x 6" Cover and samples in good condition, crease in back cover.
Price: $65.00
Ribbons and Tapes,Material Culture,Manufacturing
Nottingham, England: P.P. Payne and Sons Ltd., c.1960. A c.1960 salesman's sample book of tapes and ribbons manufactured by P.P. Payne and Sons Ltd. of Nottingham, England. Advertises decorative ribbons, tape for tying up garden plants, garden tape for florists to secure bouquets with, and ribbons for gift wrapping. Materials.....
Price: $250.00
Sketch Design
1897. A book titled Design that begins with a few sketches of elements of design. This is followed by some factual writings on specialty fabric and design houses in the northeast, followed by numerous poetry verses and quotes from notable authors and poet. The book concludes with ten (10) fine.....
Price: $225.00
Printing and Publishing,Advertising & Promotion
Worcester, MA: Maynard, Gough & Co., 1860s. A handsome examples of printing used to promote work done by Maynard, Gough & Co., New England publishers active in the 1860s. They specialized in "Hotel Printing" (i.e. note and letter paper, envelopes, billheads, and cards). Measures approx. 5" by 6"
Price: $150.00
Printing Ink,Sample Books,Printing and Publishing
New York, New York: Superior Printing Ink Co., Inc, 1940s. An attractive sample booklet of printing inks, providing a rainbow of options for printers and publishers to choose from, dating from around the 1960s. Includes several metallics. All are labeled (e.g. "Supergloss Peacock Blue LB 8758" for easy ordering, and.....
Price: $225.00