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 a mirror into the past.

As opposed to an ordinary publisher’s catalog, The Gateway to Bookland, 1923-1924 is a large (7-/2 x 10-1/4”) 48-page booklet for parents, distributed by booksellers (in this case, Chamberlin & Shropshire, New London, CT) to help select books for children. This edition features a magnificent color cover by Edna Cook and color and black and white illustrations throughout. In addition to the descriptions of many books, this also includes two individual order sheet (one with notes “To Mothers and Fathers” on the verso) and an addressed envelope to the bookseller. In VG condition; internally Fine, but with the cover starting to separate from the text block.