Catalogue of Old Cataloguestm
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Aldens/Chicago Mail Order Co.
Aldens
has an interesting history. They were founded in 1899 as Chicago Mail Order
Millinery.
“Millinery” was dropped from the name in 1906, and the name was finally
changed to Aldens.
As we recall, the name “Aldens” came about from a men’s suit line.
“Henry Alden” was represented as the men’s fashion buyer and later, his
wife “Jane Alden” the buyer or “stylist” for the women’s line.
However, they were both phantoms, the products of advertising schemes. The
“Aldens” became so popular that the name of the company name was changed to
Alden. The Schandig family was actually the owners of the company in the late
1930s. Wicks Lumber Company wound up with them in the ‘70s and folded them in
1982.
General Catalogues,
Sale Catalogues, Christmas
Catalogues
In date order.
General Catalogues
07183-M0405CUEE-
Catalogue- ALDENS, Chicago, Ill. S/S 1956. Fashions for entire
family, household textiles, etc. See above for the history of Aldens. This is a
very nice catalogue. Complete lines of clothing and shoes for entire family.
Remember those crinoline petticoats of the 1950s? How uncomfortable they must
have been on hot days! Household textiles, etc. Heavily illustrated throughout
in color and sepia tones. Excellent condition. This is the nicest Aldens
catalogue we’ve had in sometime, no spine curve and with only a light stain
near spine to distract. 6-5/8”x 9-5/8x 482pp. $49.00
Pictures
Sale Catalogues
01093- Catalogue- CHICAGO MAIL ORDER, Chicago, IL, Flyer 'Y', Summer 1932. Sale
Catalogue. The major mail order houses made a practice of binding a few copies of each
catalogue in hard covers for executives and key people so that the piece would stand up to
frequent use. The title of catalogue and person’s name was stamped in gold on black
leatherette boards. This is just such an item. (Although this copy does not have them, in
some cases, sales statistic forms facing each page were also bound in.) Well preserved,
colorful contents of ladies' clothing. An important item for any collection!
Excellent condition.
6-3/4" x 9-3/4" x 56pp. $125.00
Christmas Catalogues
01888- Catalogue- ALDENS, Chicago, IL, Christmas 1982. Beautiful and colorful
"milestone" catalogue about the size of a Sears Xmas catalogue. The cover
is mortise-cut
in five diamond shapes to reveal candid shots of family around Christmas tree enjoying
their presents. Fashions, toys, games, wide range of gifts for entire family. Founded in
1899 as Chicago Mail Order Millinery ("millinery" dropped from name in 1906),
this was Alden's last year in business. Wicks Lumber Co. had acquired them earlier, pulled all
the liquid assets out and folded 'em up. Sad but true. Near mint. 8" x 10-3/4" x
586 pp. $65.00
01889-M0793ELEE-
ALDENS,
Chicago, IL, Christmas 1982. Beautiful and colorful “milestone” catalogue
about the size of a Sears Xmas cat. The cover is mortise-cut in five diamond
shapes to reveal candid shots of family around Christmas tree enjoying their
presents. Fashions, toys, games, wide range of gifts for entire family. Founded
in 1899 as Chicago Mail Order Millinery (“millinery” dropped from name in
1906), this was Alden’s last year in business. Wicks Lumber Co had acquired
them earlier,
pulled
all
the
liquid
assets
out
and
folded
‘em up.
Sad but true. Excellent condition.
8” x 10-3/4” x 586pp. $60.00
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