Montgomery Ward 1875 Appraisal

1875 Montgomery Ward & Co. Catalogue No. 13

This is an original paper-bound Montgomery Ward & Co. mail-order catalogue, specifically Catalogue No. 13 for the Spring and Summer of 1875. The cover features black woodblock-style typography and a central illustration of the company's grand four-story headquarters located at 246-254 Kinzie Street, Chicago. The text explicitly markets toward the 'P. of H., Farmers, Mechanics,' reflecting the company's early ties to the Grange movement. Physically, the booklet shows significant signs of age and handled wear, categorized as poor to fair condition. There is prominent green-toned staining or possible mold growth along the left spine edge and bottom right corner. A significant tear or loss of paper is visible in the lower center of the cover art. The edges are frayed and rounded, with overall foxing and yellowing of the paper stock indicative of late 19th-century wood-pulp paper. As an early piece of American retail history, it represents the pioneer years of the mail-order industry, predating the massive 'big books' of the later 19th century. Despite the condition issues, it remains a rare primary source of 1870s fashion, dry goods, and mercantile pricing.