"Book of the Week" will be a weekly post where each week a different book relevant to the antique or craft business will be briefly reviewed. These will be books that we have found most useful and/or interesting throughout our years in this business.
This week's book is: 1897 Sears Roebuck and Co. Catalogue
Published by: Skyhourse Publishing
Introduction by: Nick Lyons
The one thing that is most important in the antique business, whether you are buyer or seller, is information. Everyone who has been around antiques or collectibles in any fashion for any length of time has at least one story of the unscrupulous antiques dealer. Whether it is at a regular yard sale, a flea market, or a major shop or mall, there is always the chance that you could meet a seller who does not put the highest value on morals. The best defense against this scenario is to gain as much knowledge and scour as much information as possible. One of the best places, by far, to further your knowledge of antiques and collectibles is the vast offering of books, identification guides, old catalogues, or niche guides that are currently on the market.
It is impossible for any one person to know everything there is to know about every item they will have the opportunity to purchase. However, we can give ourselves the best advantage possible by having at least a working knowledge of the major areas of collecting. One of the best resources for identification alone is the 1897 Sears Roebuck and Co. Catologue.
Look at this catalog as a nineteenth century wish book. Nearly anything a person could have desired in 1897 could be found in this catalog. Whether you were a skilled laborer in need of tools of the trade, a well-to-do businessman looking for the latest in entertainment, or a housewife needing everyday household items, you could find it in this book!Every General Store, Railroad Depot, etc., likely had one of these for their customers.
Today, this reprint of that wish book is nearly as valuable as it was more than 100 years ago. Flip to any page, and a wealth of information jumps out at you. The "Table of Contents" alone reads like the inventory or any shop or mall. Beginning on page 53, you will find hardware. On page 181, it is men's clothing. Cameras and equipment are on 479. The list of goods goes on and on.
Once you have decided what type item you need information on, and have made your way to that page, practically every item on the market during that time is at your fingertips. From part or model number, product description, to size and weight,every feature you need to identify today's antiques is listed. For kicks, the 1897 price per unit and bulk price is listed, as well. Just a minute or two browsing through this book, its value to the antique dealer and collector alike, becomes evident. Browse with a specific item in mind, such as "The Hawkeye Junior Camera", and you will quickly find why this is a must have book.
The negotiation (You know, the part of this business we all love but won't admit), centers on one thing: information, the possession of it and the exchange of it. The one sure way to put yourself into position to gain the best deal or protect yourself from a potential bad deal is to gain as much knowledge as you can. If knowledge is power, it can only serve us all well to at least have access to as much information as we can get our hands on.
The 1897 Sears Roebuck and Co. Catalogue is as good a place as any to start learning!
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