Skip to content
{"Bottom bar":{"textstyle":"static","textpositionstatic":"bottom","textautohide":true,"textpositionmarginstatic":0,"textpositiondynamic":"bottomleft","textpositionmarginleft":24,"textpositionmarginright":24,"textpositionmargintop":24,"textpositionmarginbottom":24,"texteffect":"slide","texteffecteasing":"easeOutCubic","texteffectduration":600,"texteffectslidedirection":"left","texteffectslidedistance":30,"texteffectdelay":500,"texteffectseparate":false,"texteffect1":"slide","texteffectslidedirection1":"right","texteffectslidedistance1":120,"texteffecteasing1":"easeOutCubic","texteffectduration1":600,"texteffectdelay1":1000,"texteffect2":"slide","texteffectslidedirection2":"right","texteffectslidedistance2":120,"texteffecteasing2":"easeOutCubic","texteffectduration2":600,"texteffectdelay2":1500,"textcss":"display:block; padding:12px; text-align:left;","textbgcss":"display:block; position:absolute; top:0px; left:0px; width:100%; height:100%; background-color:#333333; opacity:0.6; filter:alpha(opacity=60);","titlecss":"display:block; position:relative; font:bold 14px Georgia,serif,Arial; color:#fff;","descriptioncss":"display:block; position:relative; font:12px Georgia,serif,Arial; color:#fff; margin-top:8px;","buttoncss":"display:block; position:relative; margin-top:8px;","texteffectresponsive":true,"texteffectresponsivesize":640,"titlecssresponsive":"font-size:12px;","descriptioncssresponsive":"display:none !important;","buttoncssresponsive":"","addgooglefonts":false,"googlefonts":"","textleftrightpercentforstatic":40},"None":{"textstyle":"none","textpositionstatic":"bottom","textautohide":true,"textpositionmarginstatic":0,"textpositiondynamic":"bottomleft","textpositionmarginleft":24,"textpositionmarginright":24,"textpositionmargintop":24,"textpositionmarginbottom":24,"texteffect":"slide","texteffecteasing":"easeOutCubic","texteffectduration":600,"texteffectslidedirection":"left","texteffectslidedistance":30,"texteffectdelay":500,"texteffectseparate":false,"texteffect1":"slide","texteffectslidedirection1":"right","texteffectslidedistance1":120,"texteffecteasing1":"easeOutCubic","texteffectduration1":600,"texteffectdelay1":1000,"texteffect2":"slide","texteffectslidedirection2":"right","texteffectslidedistance2":120,"texteffecteasing2":"easeOutCubic","texteffectduration2":600,"texteffectdelay2":1500,"textcss":"display:block; padding:12px; text-align:left;","textbgcss":"display:block; position:absolute; top:0px; left:0px; width:100%; height:100%; background-color:#333333; opacity:0.6; filter:alpha(opacity=60);","titlecss":"display:block; position:relative; font:bold 14px Georgia,serif,Arial; color:#fff;","descriptioncss":"display:block; position:relative; font:12px Georgia,serif,Arial; color:#fff; margin-top:8px;","buttoncss":"display:block; position:relative; margin-top:8px;","texteffectresponsive":true,"texteffectresponsivesize":640,"titlecssresponsive":"font-size:12px;","descriptioncssresponsive":"display:none !important;","buttoncssresponsive":"","addgooglefonts":false,"googlefonts":"","textleftrightpercentforstatic":40}}
  • cb-header-14
  • cb-header-13
  • cb-header-12
  • cb-header-11
  • cb-header-10
  • cb-header-09
  • cb-header-08
  • cb-header-07
  • cb-header-06
  • cb-header-05
  • cb-header-04
  • cb-header-03
  • cb-header-02
  • cb-header-01
  • cb-header-14
  • cb-header-13
  • cb-header-12
  • cb-header-11
  • cb-header-10
  • cb-header-09
  • cb-header-08
  • cb-header-07
  • cb-header-06
  • cb-header-05
  • cb-header-04
  • cb-header-03
  • cb-header-02
  • cb-header-01
Responsive WordPress Image Slider Plugin

The Catalog Blog

Cool things from 20th-century American Catalogs

  • Hers
  • His
  • Kids
  • Around the House
  • Tools of the Trades
  • The Great Outdoors
  • Higher Tech
  • Gifts & Gizmos
  • The Wish Book
  • 1900s
  • 1910s
  • 1920s
  • 1930s
  • 1940s
  • 1950s
  • 1960s
  • 1970s
  • 1980s
  • 1990s

Category: 1990s

Forgeries and Treasures
Posted on April 28, 2020

J. Peterman, 1992
Forgeries and Treasures

J. Peterman Booty, Spoils & Plunder, 1992 It takes real chutzpah to sell something in a catalog and admit it’s a forgery, but John Peterman did it in this 1992 catalog. Then again, J. Peterman “Booty, Spoils & Plunder” was no ordinary catalog, and John Peterman is no ordinary copywriter. Not only are these Chinese … Continue reading Forgeries and Treasures

90’s Kids
Posted on February 4, 2020February 3, 2020

Toys'R'Us, 1997
90’s Kids

Were you a Toys’R’Us kid? Did you happily leaf through the sale catalogs that once were stuffed into Sunday newspapers? Then you’re a dinosaur too! Continue reading 90’s Kids

G is for Giant
Posted on October 29, 2019

LGB Model Trains, 1990
G is for Giant

Model trains come in different sizes or gauges, from the minuscule Z-gauge to the mighty G-gauge. G might may well stand for “Giant”. These are some big model trains. Continue reading G is for Giant

Not Your Biggest Fan
Posted on May 28, 2019May 27, 2019

Sears, 1993
Not Your Biggest Fan

Some designs are timeless. Some designs are of a moment. And sometimes that moment passes quickly. This ceiling fan, for example. Continue reading Not Your Biggest Fan

Word Magic
Posted on May 16, 2019May 16, 2019

J. Peterman, 1995
Word Magic

J. Peterman: Booty Spoils & Plunder, 1995 Do you need any of this stuff? A jacket, a chair, a set of…basket-things. I doubt it. But read the copy – Go ahead, zoom in, I'll wait. Now. You still may not need it, but do want any of this? Aren't you at least a bit curious? … Continue reading Word Magic

The Battle of the Century – SNES vs. Sega Genesis
Posted on April 8, 2019

Sears, 1992
The Battle of the Century – SNES vs. Sega Genesis

In the 1990s Mario loyalists were pitted against the Sonic crowd – the playground was bitterly divided over which videogame system was the best. Continue reading The Battle of the Century – SNES vs. Sega Genesis

The Trouble with Tech
Posted on December 20, 2018December 19, 2018

Sears, 1992
The Trouble with Tech

Who doesn’t love the idea of getting the latest tech as a holiday gift? And yet… Continue reading The Trouble with Tech

Where are the fruitcakes of yesteryear?
Posted on December 18, 2018

Sears, 1992
Where are the fruitcakes of yesteryear?

I hadn’t realized Sears sold fruitcakes at Christmas as late as 1992… Continue reading Where are the fruitcakes of yesteryear?

Tricks and Treats
Posted on October 29, 2018

Abbot Magic Catalog, 1997
Tricks and Treats

Abbot Magic Catalog #25, 1997 I ask you – how many catalogs feature products named a “modernistic amputation?” Only catalogs for magicians, that’s what. Want to saw a lady in half? Escape from chains? Make a Ghost walk? The Abbot’s catalog will reveal all the secrets. Actually, they never reveal the secrets in the catalog … Continue reading Tricks and Treats

Diff’rent Strokes: Goodbye, Sears
Posted on October 15, 2018October 15, 2018

Sears Roebuck, 1993
Diff’rent Strokes: Goodbye, Sears

Today, once-mighty Sears Roebuck declared bankruptcy. Times change. Like these boys’ outfits. Continue reading Diff’rent Strokes: Goodbye, Sears

Posts pagination

Page 1 Page 2 Next page

Menu

  • Hers
  • His
  • Kids
  • Around the House
  • Tools of the Trades
  • The Great Outdoors
  • Higher Tech
  • Gifts & Gizmos
  • The Wish Book

We're celebrating all the abundance and excitement found in vintage 20th century American catalogs: the exotic, the fashionable, the surprising, the latest, the coolest, the cheapest, the oddest, the choices.

Not just Sears and Montgomery Wards, You could buy anything from a catalog in the 20th century: from a box of raisins to a house, from a computer to a car, from a billy club to an inflatable brassiere. The old-time printed catalogues which arrived in the mailbox showed the 20th-century American Consumer just how to consume.

The Catalog Blog: Original Content Copyright 2025