Bloomingdale's Illustrated 1886 Catalog

This is more or less what it says on the tin. It is a nice visual reference, and gives a sense of what products were on sale in 1886. It is not nearly as detailed a catalogue as the Sears or Wards catalogues from the late Victorian era, but Bloomingdales was a major name, and for those interested in fashion or household affairs of the period (a passion of mine) this is a staple to have in the library.

This book offers a revealing glimpse into our commercial culture of consumerism as it was just getting started 120 years ago. It is amazing the things you could buy in 1886! Medicines were marketed to meet every possible insecurity or physical shortcoming. The sale ads are just as persuasive as they are today. A five dollar watch for three dollars! We often do not realize how influential the culture of this era, the Victorian era, was on how we live today.

If you want a broad-spectrum look at the goods of this period, you should first buy 1897 Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalogue or Montgomery Ward Catalogue of 1895 (Dover Pictorial Archive), but if your primary interest is clothes--particularly the kind worn by stylish city-dwellers--this one will be an important source of information. Lavishly illustrated with detailed engravings, it lists ladies', children's, and men's clothing--everything from corsets to bathing suits to bridal gowns, plus accessories of all kinds--as well as ruching, lace, embroideries, sewing notions, carpet, dress goods, baby buggies, and even a selection of books. Every item includes a description and price.

This is a gift for a friend that saw my copy and love it. It is a GREAT resource/reference book for anyone interesting in what was available to men, woman, and children in 1886.

An okay catalog. Not as good as others. For someone interested in dress and clothing of that time period. Good illustrations though.

Great fun and a good resource for those of us that are involved with art and costuming in theater, television and film.

My boyfriend loves Bloomingdales so I got this book for Christmas. He really enjoyed it and he is hard to please. Haha.

How fun it is to look at the styles and prices in this catalog! Of course there is no one aroundto verify it.