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 Book Land, 1930-1931 is a large (7-/2 x 10-1/4”) 56-page booklet for parents, distributed by booksellers (in this case, Fowler, Dick and Walker, Wilkes-Barre, PA) to help select books for children. This edition features a magnificent color cover by Mary Ponton Gardner and color and black and white illustrations throughout. In addition to the descriptions of many books, this also includes an individual order sheet. In VG+ condition with just a bit of wear.