As the holidays approach, children often dream of that perfect gift. What did a child dream of in the early 20th Century? Is it very different from today? Perhaps there are some similarities. We may find a few possibilities in this trade catalog.
Tag: toys
Scouring toy catalogs and selecting their favorites is a holiday tradition for some children. We took a look in our collections to see what children might have selected in 1868. As you might expect, toys from 1868 are quite different from 21st Century toys. This trade catalog gives us a glimpse into playtime for children in 1868. Even though at first glance these toys appear rather simple compared to those of today, they still have some basic similarities.
New York at Christmas time evokes many memories but as a child it meant a visit to FAO Schwarz, the oldest toy store in the United States. When a 1911 catalog from the famed toy store landed in the Book Conservation Lab it was like an early Christmas present!
It’s Baby Safety Month, and parents of every era have wanted furniture and gadgets that are safe for their children to use and enjoy.
The "Pop-up" Cinderella: including Hansel and Gretel, Goldilocks and the three bears, Puss-in-boots, 1933. Today is Teddy Bear Day. Teddy bears are such a normal part of our childhood that more »
A. Schoenhut Co., Philadelphia, PA. Illustrations of Schoenhut’s Marvelous Toys, circa 1908, clown figures. Have you been to the circus lately? Well, here comes the Humpty Dumpty Circus—made up of more »