A catalogue is a type of literature that contains information about a product, service, or organization Historically, catalogues were used to list types of products or services and their prices. Ancient Egyptians used catalogues to list taxes, and the Chinese used them for books and government records. In the 18th century, retailers in Europe issued catalogues that listed items for sale.
The history of catalogues is a reminder of how far human commerce has progressed and how technology has changed the way we shop. Catalogues have gone from being a printed document to an online shopping marketplace. Here are five of the best examples of catalogues throughout history:
1. The Gutenberg Bible (1455): The Gutenberg Bible, also known as the 42-Line Bible, is one of the most famous printed books in the world. It was printed by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany, using a new moveable type printing press. The Gutenberg Bible was the first large-printed book to be produced using this revolutionary new technology.
2. Sears, Roebuck & Co. (1893): For over 120 years, Sears has been providing Americans with quality products at competitive prices. Founded in 1893, the iconic retailer published its first catalogue in 1896, and quickly became one of the largest cataloguers in the world. At its peak, Sears’ catalogue was distributed to more than 30 million people worldwide.
3. The Montgomery Ward Catalogue (1895): The presence of Montgomery Ward in the catalogue industry gave Sears some competition. Montgomery Ward’s catalogue was renowned for its impressive selection of merchandise and competitive prices. The catalog was so popular that some customers would simply peruse the pages, making their purchase decisions based on what they saw without ever placing an order.
4. The Woolworth Catalogue (1912): Woolworth was a five-and-dime store founded in 1912. The company published two catalogues, the “Big Book” and the “Little Book,” which offered customers a wide variety of household goods, jewelry, and clothing.
5. Amazon.com (1995): From books to electronic gadgets, Amazon.com has revolutionized the way we shop. Founded in 1995, the online retailer has become one of the largest cataloguers in the world. Customers can browse through an endless selection of products and purchase them with the click of a button. Amazon’s catalogue has also evolved to include customer reviews, giving buyers more information about a product before making a purchase.
Throughout history, catalogues have had a profound impact on our society and have changed the way we shop and make purchasing decisions. From the first printed books to Amazon.com, catalogues have continued to evolve and keep up with the changing times.