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The Chicago glass-ornament catalog, as an instant download. Chipped, Ground, Enameled and Embossed Glass (1895) from Rawson & Evans of Chicago is the American glass-ornament trade catalog — chipped, ground, enameled, and embossed work from the Chicago trade. The natural pair to the Pilkington catalog. Details:Complete 1895 edition scan — 44 pages Chicago glass-ornament trade catalog Chipped, gro..

The glass manufacturer’s design catalog, as an instant download. Designs for Embossed Glass (1904) from Pilkington Bros. Ltd. is the glass manufacturer’s own design catalog — embossed glass patterns from one of the great names in glass. Trade ephemera with real design value. Details:Complete 1904 edition scan — 48 pages Pilkington embossed-glass designs Manufacturer’s pattern catalog Two files i..

Esterbrook’s own pen booklet, as an instant download. Drawlet Pens (1925) is the Esterbrook Pen Manufacturing Co.’s own booklet for its Speedball-competing lettering pens — part catalog, part instruction, all period trade ephemera. A short, charming piece of pen history for lettering collectors. Details:Complete 1925 edition scan — 20 pages Original Esterbrook manufacturer booklet Pen history an..

Cards for drugstores, as an instant download. The Druggists and Dispensers Practical Show Card Instructor (1909) by William A. Thompson teaches show-card writing for the drugstore trade — the cards, phrases, and displays of the pharmacy counter. Pairs naturally with the hardware book for the niche-trade collector. Details:Complete 1909 edition scan — 116 pages Show cards for druggists and dispen..

The gold glass letter trade catalog, as an instant download. Gold Glass Letters (1910) from the Chicago Glass Novelty Co. is the trade catalog of gold glass letters, door plates, and numbers — short, visual, and pure period ephemera from the glass-letter trade. A window into how the work was sold. Details:Complete 1910 edition scan — 24 pages Trade catalog of gold glass letters and door plates P..

Cards for hardware stores, as an instant download. Hardware Show Card Writing (1913) by Albert Edwin Hurst and Clarence Joseph Nowak is the niche specialist — show cards written for hardware stores, with the trade language and layouts that sell tools and goods. A fun, specific audience done properly. Details:Complete 1913 edition scan — 222 pages Show cards for hardware stores Trade-specific lay..

The monogram millwork catalog, as an instant download. Monogram Millwork: Catalog No. 500 (1919) from the Wilbur Lumber Co. is the millwork catalog heavy on monograms and ornament — trade ephemera rather than textbook, and all the more charming for it. Borders, monograms, and millwork ornament from 1919. Details:Complete 1919 edition scan — 376 pages Millwork catalog of monograms and ornament 19..

The pen company’s commercial compendium, as an instant download. The Practical Compendium of Commercial Pen Lettering & Designs (1918) from the Newton Automatic Lettering Pen Co. is the manufacturer’s own treasury of commercial lettering and designs — pen-company showmanship meeting working trade content. A period piece with real usable plates. Details:Complete 1918 edition scan — 104 pages Manu..

Early automobile painting, as an instant download. The Practical House, Wagon and Automobile Painter (1919) by W. F. White catches the trade at the motor age — early automobile painting alongside house and wagon work. A fun historical angle with real finishing instruction. Details:Complete 1919 edition scan — 172 pages Early auto-painting content The trade at the dawn of the motor age Two files ..

The government vocational manual, as an instant download. Show Card Writing: For Disabled Soldiers, Sailors and Marines (1919) from the U.S. Federal Board for Vocational Education is the government-issued vocational manual — card writing taught as a trade to returning servicemen. Short, direct, and with unique historical provenance. Details:Complete 1919 edition scan — 12 pages U.S. government v..

The drafting company’s alphabet booklet, as an instant download. Student’s Alphabets (c1907) from the Keuffel & Esser Co. is the drafting-supply company’s own alphabet booklet — the K&E standard letterforms issued to students and draftsmen. Drafting-room precision applied to lettering. Details:Complete 1907 edition scan — 28 pages K&E drafting-company alphabet booklet Standard letterforms for st..

The earliest book on the list, as an instant download. The Treatise on Carriage, Sign, and Ornamental Painting (1841) by Orson Campbell is the earliest book on the list — trade instruction from 1841, when sign painting was still young in America. Antiquarian appeal with the earliest methods recorded. Details:Complete 1841 edition scan — 129 pages 1841 — the earliest title in the line America’s y..