For book-lovers, publishers’ catalogs are an ultimate piece of ephemera. Usually issued at least twice a year, catalogs featured both new and upcoming titles and back stock. Book descriptions often included illustrations, story summaries, publication dates, book sizes, page numbers and prices. Sometimes, order forms were included for bookstores and libraries, the principle recipients of the catalogs. Catalogs were disposable and the certain knowledge that a new, updated version would be appearing within a few months meant that they were trashed after use. Vintage examples are chock full of collector information and provide a mirror into the past.

While not a publisher’s catalog, this beautiful collection of 84 children's books published between 1953 and 1954 was selected by a panel of ten jurors including Nancy Larrick, Ursula Nordstom, and Lucille Ogle. Each citation includes an illustration from the book plus concise bibliographic info including type face, plate-maker, paper, binder, and more. The cover features a great illustration by Garth Williams. In Fine condition. 7-1/2 x 5-1/2.”