Whether you’re writing an historical novel, researching an article or assignment, or adding zing to your memoir or family history, you’ll find a wealth of material in vintage store catalogues. Browse through general department-store catalogues, or zero in on a specialty subject like bicycles(1918), church furniture (c1915), or fancy goods (1901).
For information about products and prices, as visual references, or just for fun, these publications are oh-so-browsable. Enjoy!
1851 to 1875
- 1850 Boys' Clothing Catalogue (Boston)
- 1863 Clothing (Philadelphia)
- 1870 approx. Parlor Furniture (New York City)
- 1872 School Furniture and Equipment (Philadelphia)
- 1875 “Picture Book” Christmas Advertising (Philadelphia)
1876 to 1899
- 1880 (approx) Beds and Bedding (New York)
- 1880 (approx) Clothing and Dress (New York)
- 1883 Silver Ware, Electro-Plated Goods (Toronto)
- 1884-1885 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 1)
- 1886 Baby Carriages, Picture Frames, Mouldings (Chicago)
- 1885 Water Pumps and Plumbing (Oakville, Ontario)
- 1885-1886 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 1)
- 1886-1887 Store Catalogue (Kansas City, Missouri)
- 1886-1887 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 1)
- 1887-1888 Eaton's Fall and Winter Catalogue
- 1887-1888 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 1)
- 1888-1889 Clothing (New York)
- 1888-1889 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 1)
- 1889 Store Fixtures (Atlanta)
- 1889-1890 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 1)
- 1890 Buggies and Carriages (Alexandria, Ontario)
- 1890 Stoves and Ranges (Chown & Cunningham, Kingston)
- 1890 (approx) School Furnishings (Philadelphia)
- 1890 Carriages, Harnesses, Horses (Massachusetts)
- 1890 Watches (Toronto)
- 1890-1891 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 1)
- 1891-1892 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 1)
- 1892 Horses and Harnesses (Cincinnati)
- 1892-1893 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 1)
- 1893-1894 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 1)
- 1894 Eaton's Catalogue Spring-Summer
- 1893-94 Clothing and Dress (Boston)
- 1894 Clothing Catalogue (Troy, NY)
- 1894 Furniture (Ontario)
- 1894-1895 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 2)
- 1895 (approx) Children's Clothing
- 1895 Gifts, Jewellery, Clocks, Silver (Toronto)
- 1896 Eaton's Spring and Summer Catalogue
- 1896-1897 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 3)
- 1897 School Supplies
- 1897 Furniture (New Hampshire)
- 1897 - 1898 Eaton's Fall and Winter Catalogue
- 1897-1898 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 3)
- 1899-1890 Eaton's Store Catalogue
- 1899-1900 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 3)
- 189? John Eaton Catalogue No. 2
- 1899 Simpson's Spring and Summer Catalogue
1900 to 1925
- 1900 Farm Equipment, Hardware, Clothing (Hamilton, Ontario)
- 1900 (approx) Clothing (Boston)
- 1900 Bicycles and Machinery fittings (Toronto)
- early 1900s? Corsets and Lingerie Catalogue
- 1900-1901 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 3)
- 1901 Gifts, Toys, China and Glassware, Toiletries and Fancy Goods (Toronto)
- 1901-1902 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 4)
- 1902 Carsley Spring and Summer Catalogue
- 1902 Carsley Fall and Winter Catalogue
- 1902-1903 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 4)
- 1903 Enamelware and Tinware - Pots and Pans (London, Ontario)
- 1903-1904 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 4)
- 1904-1905 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 4)
- 1905-1906 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 5)
- 1906-1907 Shoes and Boots (Montreal)
- 1906 January - Simpson's White Goods Catalogue
- 1906 Simpson's Christmas Catalogue
- 1906-1907 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 5)
- 1907 Eaton's Catalogue Spring-Summer
- 1907-1908 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 5)
- 1908? (approx) Clothing, Lingerie, Hats (Boston)
- 1908 Eaton's Spring and Summer Catalogue
- 1908-1909 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 6)
- 1909-1910 Eaton's Catalogue Fall-Winter
- 1909 Writing and Stationery Supplies (Massachusetts)
- 1910 Homes Healthful and Beautiful (home decorating)
- 1910 (approx) Home Furnishings (Toronto)
- 1911 Silver and Gifts - Birk's (Toronto)
- 1911-12 Goodwin's Fall and Winter Catalogue
- 1911 Annual Seed Catalogue and Cultivators Guide (Toronto)
- 1911 Watches and Jewellery (Toronto)
- 1911 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reels 6-7)
- 191-? Bedding, Mattresses, etc. (Ontario)
- 191-? Farm Machinery (Ontario)
- 191-? Fireplaces (Ontario)
- 1913 Eaton's Catalogue Spring-Summer
- 1913 Flowers, Bulbs and Plants (Toronto)
- 1913 Embroidery and Lace Patterns (Toronto)
- 1913 Furniture (Ontario)
- 1913-1914 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 7-8)
- 1914 Shoes and Boots (Montreal)
- 1914 Corset Waists and Brassieres (New Jersey)
- 1914 Cameras and Camera Supplies (Ontario)
- 1915? (approx) Homes Healthful and Beautiful (home decorating)
- 1915? (approx) Women's Riding Costumes & Horses
- [1915] Church Furniture and Designs (Waterloo, Ontario)
- 1915 Outdoor Wear (Minnesota)
- 1915-16 Eaton's Fall and Winter Catalogue
- 1915 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 8-9)
- 1916 Eaton's Spring and Summer Catalogue
- 1916 Houses and House Plans
- 1916 (approx) Massey-Harris Farm Equipment
- 1916-1917 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 9)
- 1917 Eaton's Catalogue Spring-Summer
- 1917 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 10)
- 1918 Simpsons Catalogue
- 1918 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 10)
- 1918 Houses - Aladdin Homes (Toronto)
- 1918 Kitchenware (Ontario)
- 1918 Bicycles and Motorcycles and Accessories
- 1918 Christie Grant Midsummer Sale Catalogue
- 1918-19 Eaton's Fall and Winter Catalogue
- 1919-1920 Watches, Jewellery and Silverware (Guelph, Ontario)
- 1919-1920 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 11-12)
- 1920 First Nations and Home Decorating - Flooring (Canadian)
- 1920 Houses - Aladdin Homes (Toronto)
- 1920 Houses - Halliday Company (Hamilton, Ontario)
- 1920 Seed and Garden Catalogue (Toronto)
- 1920 Sails, Tents, Awnings and Camp Equipment (Peterborough, Ontario)
- 1920 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 13)
- 1920-1921 Eaton's Catalogue Fall-Winter
- 1921 Poultry Farm Catalogue 1921 Farm Catalogue (Winnipeg)
- 1921-1922 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 13-14)
- 1922 Gifts and Jewellery (Toronto)
- 1922 Bicycles (Toronto)
- 1922 Patterns and Designs - Dry Goods (Toronto)
- 1923 Barbers' Chairs and Barber Equipment
- 1923 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 15)
- 1924 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 15)
- 1924-1925 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 16)
1926 - 1950
Collections of Catalogues
- 1940 - 1979 PaperPast.com
- 1933 Christmas Wish-Books
- 1940 - 1988 Christmas Wish-Books
Individual Catalogues
- 1926 Eaton's Spring and Summer Catalogue
- 1926 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 16)
- 1928 Eaton - Mi-été [Midsummer, en francais] Catalogue
- 1927-1928 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 17-18)
- 1929-1930 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 19)
- 1930-1931 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 20)
- 1932-33 Army and Navy Fall and Winter Catalogue
- 1932-1933 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 21)
- 1934 Eaton - Printemps et été Catalogue
- 1934-1935 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 21-22)
- 1935-36 Eaton's Fall and Winter Catalogue 1936 Eaton's Spring and Summer Catalogue
- 1936-1937 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 22-23)
- 1938 Eaton's Catalogue on Microfilm at KFPL (Reel 23-24)
- 1938-39 Nerlich Catalogue
- 1939-1940 Eaton - Automne et hiver Catalogue
- 1939-1940 Nerlich Fall and Holiday Catalogue
- 1939-1940 Eaton's Catalogue on MIcrofilm at KFPL (Reel 24-25)
- 1945 Simpson's Spring and Summer Catalogue
- 1945 Eaton - Printemps et été Catalogue
- 1945-46 Dupuis Frères - Automne et hiver Catalogue
- 1945-46 Simpson's Fall and Winter Catalogue
- 1948 Dupuis Frères - Été Catalogue
- 1948-49 Eaton's Fall and Winter Catalogue
1950 to 1959
- Eaton - Automne et hiver 1950-1951
- Simpson's Spring and Summer 1952
- Eaton's Christmas Book 1956
- Army and Navy Fall and Winter 1958-59
1960 to 1969
- Dupuis Frères - Printemps et été 1962
- Eaton's Spring and Summer 1965
- Eaton - Automne et hiver 1967
- Eaton - Novembre 1968