1907 Salesman's Dummy Sample Book for The Children's Hour Set

This rare salesman's sample or dummy book (also called "blads). was used by itinerant agents of subscription publishers to entice customers to agree to purchase a copy of a work in advance of delivery. This form of marketing was common in America from the years just before and after the Civil War continuing into the early Twentieth Century.

A typical specimen book consists of sample sheets in a sample binding. A customer could choose among alternative styles of binding, and a sample book usually includes the spines of available styles mounted inside the covers.

Most specimen books also include blank forms on which the salesman entered the names, addresses, sometimes occupations, and the number of copies his subscribers agreed to purchase. This example does NOT have order forms.

L1#

Note: Volumes of this age may cause allergic reactions in susceptible people.

Creekside Collectible/Encore Books