1888 "Santa Claus" Butler Brothers Wholesale Christmas Catalog. Original self wrappers.  13 1/2 by 10 inches. 47 pages (48 if you include the rear cover). Some soiling and minor chipping to covers, spine partially split. Interior clean with no tears or markings. Front leaf (cover) and center leaf detached. Laid in is a one page insert of late arrivals. Please see the photographs, which can be enlarged.

Butler Brothers had sales rooms or warehouses in New York and Chicago and were noted for selling a moderately priced line of goods to smaller stores throughout the country. Stated on the front of the catalog is the fact that they had in 1886 registered Santa Claus as a trade mark. The toy and doll pages are probably of most interest. For the merchant's Christmas window, they offer two very nice mechanical toys, a merry-go-round at $5.00 and a Blondin Bicycle Rider at $4.00. Aslo for the window is a 24 inch papier mache Santa at $1.95. Their highest priced doll was $1.65. They also sold Christmas cards and ornaments, books, china, lots of glassware, watches, lamps, some rather high priced cylinder music boxes (the highest at $47.00), bisque & china novelties, a ball of soap shaped and decorated to resemble a baseball, pocket books, clocks, silver-plated ware, pocket knives, jewelry and more.

An 1890, 60 page edition of this catalog has been rather nicely reprinted, but the 1888 one in this auction is an original.

This is guaranteed to be as described and pictured and is returnable within 7 days if it is not. Please email any questions, and see the terms of sale below. Postage is at cost. Customs forms will be accurate. Good Luck !