Back to Sears
1898-1930 | 1931-1960 | 1961-1993
The 1943 Sears News Graphic wrote that the Sears catalog, “serves as a mirror of our times, recording for future historians today’s desires, habits, customs, and mode of living.”
In addition to recording the changing scene in America, the Sears catalogs represent the work and efforts of thousands of Americans. Edgar Rice Burroughs, who later wrote the Tarzan series, worked for Sears. Lauren Bacall, Susan Hayward, Gloria Swanson, Susan Dey, Cheryl Tiegs, and Stephanie Powers all appeared on the pages of Sears catalogs as models. The catalogs also featured Roy Rodgers, Ted Williams, Al Unser, and Gene Autry. Because the catalogs accurately reflect the styles and furnishings popular through the years, producers of Broadway shows and Hollywood movies frequently refer to them.
Sears issued only two major catalogs (Big Books) per year. In order to keep the collection a reasonable size, only one book per year was chosen for this collection. Also the basic design of the cover for the first few years were virtually identical, so those redundancies were not included either.
Spring 1898, Catalog No. 106
Spring 1900, Catalog No. 109
Fall 1901, Catalog No. 111M
Spring 1902, Catalog No. 111R Circulation: 604,756
Spring 1903, Catalog No. 112V Circulation: 402,347 (Hardcover Version)
Fall 1903, Catalog No. 113Y Circulation: 541,076
Fall 1904, Catalog No. 114B Circulation: 1,395,288
Fall 1905, Catalog No. 115D Circulation: 1,721,025
Fall 1907, Catalog No. 117H Circulation: 2,092,433
Fall 1908, Catalog No. 118L Circulation: 3,639,920 (Catalog homes introduced.)
Spring 1909, Catalog No. 118N Circulation: 1,928,872 (First Sears Motor Buggy)
Spring 1910, Catalog No. 120T Circulation: 2,246,773
Fall 1911, Catalog No. 123G Circulation: 2,768,594
Fall 1912, Catalog No. 124H Circulation: 2,770,283
Fall 1913, Catalog No. 127N Circulation: 3,567,978
Fall 1914, Catalog No. 129T Circulation: 4,052,068
Fall 1915, Catalog No. 131D Circulation: 4,250,844
Spring 1916, Catalog No. 132E Circulation: 4,786,504
Spring 1917, Catalog No. 134H Circulation: 4,792,186
Spring 1918, Catalog No. 136L Circulation: 4.823,112
Fall 1919, Catalog No. 139T Circulation: 4,837,172
Fall 1920, Catalog No. 141D Circulation: 5,088,464
Spring 1921, Catalog No. 142E Circulation: 5,284,787
Fall 1922, Catalog No. 145K Circulation: 4,393,746 (Gloria Swanson models Russian Boots, Below
Spring 1923, Catalog No. 146L Circulation: 6,393,396
Fall 1924, Catalog No. 149T Circulation: 6,194,204
Spring 1925, Catalog No. 150V Circulation: 7,209,976
Fall 1926, Catalog No. 153F
Spring 1927, Catalog No. 154H (First of Two Norman Rockwell Covers).
Fall 1928, Catalog No. 157N (Craftsman Tools Introduced)
Spring 1929, Catalog No. 158R
Spring 1930, Catalog No. 160V
EXCERPTS
First appearance of the Sears Modern Home, Spring, 1908
Gloria Swanson modeling Russian Boots, Sears Fall, 1922 Catalog.
Gasoline-powered Washing Machine, Spring, 1931 Catalog