I have fond memories every Christmas season waiting for the big Sears Wish book to arrive at our doorstep so I could circle all the toys that I wanted Santa to bring me. It was a big deal in my home and the only time my brother and I would not fight as we turned each page together pointing and squealing with delight at everything that appeared before us.

The Sears wish book still exists today but other Christmas Catalogues that appeared long before Sears did were the Canadian department stores Eaton’s and Simpsons (which would later join forces with the American store Sears to become Simpsons-Sears).

Just like I dreamed of the toys in the Sears Wish book, Children before me dreamed about Christmas morning when they looked at the pages of the Eaton’s & Simpsons catalogues, knowing that they would receive only a few gifts from their pages but were still very excited none the less.

For today’s blog I wanted to share some festive vintage cover photos from these catalogues because they are to darn wonderful not to share. Lets browse shall we?

Vintage Christmas Catalogue / Catalog Covers

Christmas 1903-Eaton’s featured a wonderful looking Gibson Girl, all fantastically decked out in reds and furs. This is some delightful artwork.

1905 catalog I believe is focusing in on all the toys that the kids are dreaming of getting as they write Santa their wish lists (seen to the right leaving with their letters).

1906 Simpson Christmas Gifts Book. Santa is a bit scary looking in this photo I must say.

Eaton’s Catalogues were also distributed in the Western Provinces and from my understanding usually had a different image then central Canada.

This 1937 Sears Christmas book I think is my favorite of all the images shown here. The excitement on these children’s face is perfect and exactly how I remember being on Christmas morning. I also am loving the little boys head of curls, adorable!

1944 Sears Christmas Book-Dolls and Stuffed Animals for every good little good girl & boy.

1947 Sears Christmas Book with mini Santa or a very big present and regular sized Santa.

Punkinhead

Eaton’s launched Punkinhead, the teddy bear with the thick woolly tuft of hair, for the Christmas season of 1948.

The story of the little bear who eventually gets to be in Santa’s Parade charmed children for the next decade and everyone would cheer for Santa’s little helper in the Parade.

Eaton’s distributed story booklets of the sweet little bear’s adventures and featured Punkinhead on records and television commercials (Source).

All I want for Christmas is a cute and cuddly-Punkinhead! 1956 Eaton’s Christmas Catalog.

Cute Giraffe alert! This is such a great image, I want a hug from Santa now. Simpsons-Sears Christmas Catalogue.

Eaton’s 1959 Christmas Catalog. Is there a message in this image? Because why is Santa being a puppeteer to these children? Maybe Santa equals the stores/retail and they run the show?? ohhhh maybe. Or maybe it’s just a picture and nothing more? Who knows.

So many fun catalogue images, I could go on and on but I will end it here today.

Question for todays blog: Do you have a memory of looking thru a Sears book or maybe an equivalent department store for your Christmas presents? Or maybe it was a family trip to the toy store to look that way? Whatever it is I would love to hear your memories.

Further Reading:

• Vintage Christmas Blog Posts from the 1920s-1960s
• Vintage Magazines & Vintage Catalogs (Archived blog posts)

Happy Holidays!

Liz 🙂