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All things graphic design, website design, illustration and photography with a few thoughts and ideas too.
Catalogue design through the ages: 1920s – 1960s
We love the style and craftsmanship of old catalogues. They give a feel for the era from which they come and also are a window into the daily lives and aspirations of the people in of that time. Vintage catalogues often reflect the graphic design style and technologies available in that era. Created in a time before computers where the catalogue designers had served apprenticeships and had a level of skill that many designers lack today.
Here is the first in what we hope will be a series of blogs showing examples of catalogue design from the Victorian period right through to present day.
A couple of catalogue page designs from the 1920’s. A period when most catalogues had illustrations of the products
Sears catalogue cover from 1939 and an internal page from 1946. There’s a marked contrast between the glamour of the pre-war catalogue versus the austerity of post war.
A very glamorous French womens clothing catalogue double page spread design from 1946.
A Kays catalogue page advertising menswear from 1950 and a Kays catalogue cover from 1957. The use of colour print is now almost everywhere through their catalogues.
A 1960 Philco catalogue page advertising televisions and a Stanley Hand Tools catalogue cover from the same period.
Check out our ‘History of UK Mail Order Catalogues – Part 1’ on our ‘catalogue designers’ site blog: click here