The Holiday Trade – A Look Among The Dealers, 1875

Digging through the old newspapers today, I found an interesting story describing the holiday items for sale at some of the stores downtown in 1875 during a period of economic hard times for many people.

The article provides quite a few extended details about the stores and items for sale, so I thought I’d share it. Set your iBrattleboro time machine for early December, 1875, and let’s go shopping in downtown Brattleboro.

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The Holiday Trade – A Look Among The Dealers

It is undoubtably the case that there are less people this year who feel like making an outlay for expensive holiday gifts than in many former years, but it is also true that as the joyous Christmas season approaches people of all classes begin to think about the form which their remembrance of their kindred and friends shall take, and in response to the demand thus created the store windows, shelves and counters are beginning to put on their gay holiday attire.

A brief tour among the dealers will be enough to convince one that the preparation for the holiday trade has been made in a manner which accords with the spirit and feeling of the times.

It is, perhaps, natural that one of the first places to attract the attention of persons looking for holiday goods should be the store of Cheney & Clapp, for the reason that their very extensive stock of goods embraces a greater variety of articles adapted to this trade than almost any other in this vicinity. The leading attraction to visitors to this concern will undoubtably be their large line of rare and beautiful illustrated books.

They have a full stock of James R. Osgood & Co.’s late publications, well known to be among the finest published in this country. Prominent among these are copies of their famous Heliotype reproductions of Studies from Raphael and of Toschi’s Engravings from Correggio – two entirely unique volumes which all interested in the progress of art in this country should examine.

Other choice volumes from Osgood & Co., are Poetical Localities of Cambridge, with Heliotype illustrations, and Whittier’s Mabel Martin of which mention is made elsewhere. Roberts Brothers new books may also be found, including Jean Igelow’s Shepherd Lady, and a lot of beautiful juveniles, such as Nine Little Goslings, Jolly Good Times, Mice at Play, etc.

The stock of English illustrated books is very fine and includes Michelet’s Insects, Tropical Nature, The Land of the Pharaohs, etc., as well as such charming juveniles as The Peep Show, Child Land, The Natural History Scrap Book, &c., &c.

Nor should we forget to say that Messrs. Cheney & Clapp’s stock of Bibles is more extensive than ever before. They have all the standard Oxford editions, all sizes of the famous Bagster edition, and family Bibles in variety. From such books as those mentioned their stock runs through all grades to the smallest picture books “for youngest readers.”

In the way of choice engravings, chromos, photographs, mottoes, illuminated texts, stereoscopic views and stereoscopes their stock leaves nothing to be desired.

A package of stationery is always a welcome gift and here will be found all the desirable novelties, with gold pens and writing desks to match. Work boxes and baskets, brackets and book shelves, bronze goods and parlor games in variety are on exhibition, with novelties of all sorts.

Their line of diaries embraces every grade. In toys their stock is carefully chosen and very complete. One of the most important branches of Cheney & Clapp’s trade is that of picture framing. Any desired style of frame may be obtained here and customers are always sure of having work done in a tasteful and satisfactory manner.

The young men composing this firm manifest a commendable enterprise in conducting their business, their goods are chosen with a rare appreciation of the wants of the public, and it is not too much to say that whoever purchases a Christmas gift at their store will find it in the best taste and satisfactory alike to giver and recipient.

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Visitors to the well-known house of M.T. Van Doorn & Son will find a notable addition to the line of goods heretofore kept by them in the shape of a full stock of silver-plated ware from the Meriden Britannia Company and the always-reliable Rogers Bros. These goods are very elegant in design, and Van Doorn & Son’s assortment comprises a great variety of tea sets, ice sets, cake baskets, card receivers, pickle dishes, napkin rings, knives, forks, and spoons, together with many fancy articles suitable for presents. All of them are artistic and beautiful in design and reliable in their manufacture.

Among other fancy goods to be found here we notice a large assortment of alabaster vases, toilet sets, smoking sets, tete-a-tete sets, Bique groups, etc. Among the goods which pater-familias will more especially desire to look at are new decorated and gold band French chine sets, and several entirely new patterns in Granite ware.

To their large stock of lamps, chandeliers, and other kerosene fixtures, Van Doorn & Son have also added gas fixtures in variety.

Last, but not least, we have seen there a large line of goods we don’t know much about, but which we are sure all good housewives will embrace an early opportunity to look over. We believe these articles are familiarly called novelties in kitchen furnishing goods, but farther than this we can only say that they comprise a great many things which we are sure our grandmothers never thought of, but many of which are very pretty, and all of which are very useful.

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One of the most attractive lines of goods that we have ever seen for the holiday trade is the large collection of fine bronzes which Thompson & Ranger now have on exhibition. These beautiful goods are elegant in design and perfect in manufacture and finish. We notice among them some beautiful figures of the famous artists, Rembrant and Rubens, and so charming are they that, in examining them it is hard not to forget the tenth commandment.

There are also among them several delightful representations of animal life. We were particularly struck with a group of deer, and another of California quail, to say nothing of dogs, horses, etc., etc. The collection also comprises some fine antique pitchers and other desirable ornaments.

But while thus ministering to the artistic taste, Thomas & Ranger have not forgotten to put in their usual full assortment of silver plated ware, as well as old solid silver goods. This firm has the special agency for this place of the Gorham Manufacturing Company’s solid silver ware, and it is well-known that there are no better goods made. Such goods as these, together with the full line of opera glasses, watches, jewelry, &c., to be found at this well-known store are of standard value, and are always more than acceptable as presents.

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E.J. Carpenter, who started the news and periodical business here more than a quarter of a century ago, “still waves,” and at his office on Elliot street is to be found a large and well selected stock of toys, fancy articles and stationery, which are always to be had at reasonable prices. But what better selection could be made as a gift for young or old, than a year’s subscription for one of the many magazines or newspapers to be found upon the table?

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O.J. Pratt has received an unusually large and attractive stock of fancy and staple dry goods for the holiday trade, which are worthy of special attention.