Best way to list vintage nursery catalogs?

I have a stack of nursery catalogs circa 1949 that I'd like to list on eBay. Some may be worth listing individually, but most probably aren't. I've had one catalog listed for quite a while that hasn't had any nibbles, probably because I priced it too high.

I'm not sure whether to group them by flower type, or location of the nursery, or some other criteria?

Any other suggestions? (Other than that I should have listed them in the late winter or early Spring when people started thinking about this year's gardening!)

Thanks...

 

LOL! Here I was, picturing bassinets, and stuffed animals and bouncey chairs...

I am sure some Flower People will be able to help. Not really being one of them, my curiosity would be as to how they compared with catalogues issued during the war years. 1949 was about the time when people actually were able to think lillies rather than lettuce, and roses more than radishes -- at least without having a guilty conscience. Victory Gardens were finally given up to be replaced with beds of violets. Also, restrictions on paper stock, and the use of expensive color procedures, were lifted.

This is not helpful, Pat. Sry. I'm just musing and murmuring, along with my first cup of coffee.

 

LOL, I thought "baby" items too.

 

Hi,
I thought cribs also lol. It seems that it would be good for id'ing old plants or even plants that are gone. I have a friend who visits old deserted homesteads and cemetaries looking for old plants She calls them "heirlooms". She gave me a cutting off an old climbing yellow rose that smelled incredable but it had the world's largest and sharpest thorns. Some of them were 2" long.
greg

 

I would first wonder why someone would buy one? I mean, you can't order from them.

There are sellers who list this type of catalog, no matter what it is selling at $9.99+$3.99. And they sit on them for years and years.

There are collectors of seed packets and crate labels, and I would guess the catalogs might attract them as well.

But it is easier to frame or scrap book a label or packet. If the cover had some graphic interest, folks will buy it to frame or display. I think that victoriannadannas still make those cutesy table displays with terracotta pots, an old hand-weeder laid just so at an angle and patterned gardening gloves -an old garden catalog would complete the vignette so they can photographic for their blog. So, the market might be better at Etsy.

These catalogs could also be used for scrapbooking and other crafts, again for the images. Cartoon fruits and vegetables with animated eyes, goofy pictures of models showing off the product on the inside pages may sell these.

The catalogs with the old fashioned photographs that looked like chromeolitho seed packets would also be choice.

As a gardener, I might be tempted to buy an old catalog from an important breeder, or breeder of exclusive plants (like all hemerocallis or hostas) or catalogs with introductions of important plants. ("introducing the Mr. Lincoln Rose") There are and were millions of rose catalogs. But not all are alike. Every flower farmer in the 1940's was a rose breeder, so, calling yourself a breeder, or fine breeder doesn't mean anything unless they have award winning roses. Introductions of award winning rose breads, or any plant for that matter, would make the catalog stand out to rose growers who would love to show it off at their next garden club meeting.

You neglected to say what kind of plants are in the catalogs. If they are rose catalogs, check this List of rose breeders, for important breeders.

 

LOL! Sorry for any confusion! I wish I had baby item catalogs... bet they'd sell really well.

Silverthwait, good point about pre and post-war differences. I haven't seen any catalogs from the war years, so am not sure how they would differ. I seem to remember one catalog that had a plain, all-text cover... I'll have to check to see if it's earlier.

Greg, I also wondered if some gardners would be interested in learning about older plants, trends, etc. I know there are small organic farmers in my area who grow and sell some heirloom veggies. Yikes about 2" world's-sharpest thorns!

Lilfont, thanks for the great ideas about other reasons someone might want vintage catalogs. They do have great images, so maybe I should have the gallery pics zoom in on the images rather than showing the whole cover.

The contents vary, including rose catalogs (I'll have to check the breeder list... thanks!). I haven't looked inside very carefully, but probably some are a cross-section of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, while others are more specialized.

I have enough catalogs that I could list different ones on eBay and Etsy.

Everyone's comments got me thinking... some of the catalogs include flower bed planting schemes, and some I think include implements and garden accessories. So those might have appeal that I should play up.

Thanks for all the comments!