Summer Specialties Catalog and Sample Circular

Graydon Palmer Co., 1898. Softcover. Catalog: 9 x 3 3/4; pp. 1-16; beige wraps, printed in brown; light creasing; small spot to back wrap; illustrated with photographs and drawings; very good or better condition. Sample circular: 6 x 8 1/2; single sheet, recto only; pink stock, printed in black; 11 swatches of fabric glued to the paper; glue dots bleeding through a few of the lighter-colored cloth; light fraying; very good condition.Fragile and beautifully preserved pieces of ephemera, the catalog and sample circular outline the highlights of women's fashion at the end of the 19th century. The Graydon Palmer Company of Chicago has meticulously described the various ladies' suits and sets, including the "Fancy Duck Suit" and the "Bicycle Suit." Also indicated are the fabrics used for each ware, which can be viewed, touched, and compared on the accompanying circular. The last few pages of the catalog showcase sailor hats, parasols, hair switches, and more.