The International Fur Store 198 & 163 Regent Street

Jay, T. S.

Edité par London: The International Fur Store, [ca. 1885]

8vo (10" x 6"), chromolithographically illustrated cardstock covers, blue cloth spine, a.e.g. Frontis., [2] pp. text, 25 color plates with text opposite, 1 p. ad. CONDITION: Light rubbing to wrappers; spine rebacked with blue cloth strip; contents clean and bright. This scarce trade catalogue features twenty-five plates showing models wearing various fur garments, with such names as Marcelle, the Danae, Heloise, Medea, Tristran, Latona, York, Cynthea, Maguier, and so on. A short description appears opposite each plate, e.g., "Fife. Long semi-fitting Seal Mantle, fastened on left side with silk ornament and cords." The text spells out the philosophy of the business; addresses its American clientele; notes that its furs are sourced from all over the world; and relates that "a critic surveying an American lady as she tried on the sealskin ulster that had been made for her at the Store declared that it fitted her as mathematically as the fur had its original owner." The store itself included show-rooms, fitting-rooms, skin-rooms, keeping-rooms for storing furs, quilting rooms, and more, and was also something of a cabinet of curiosities, with a "large collection of mounted animals, suitable for museums, halls &c., including lions, tigers, bears, seals, monkeys, squirrels [and] mounted horns." The illustration on the title page depicts a female customer in a fur coat greeting a stuffed bear; the front wrapper shows a bear pushing a fur-clad woman, decked in a bear rug, on a sled. Established in 1882, the International Fur Store was managed by T. S. Jay. Unlike other 19th century furriers that promoted the exclusivity of their stores, Jay created a shop for all classes. Leaflets and trade cards advertised "the finest furs in the world" at low prices, and in the most up-to-date fashions. Sealskin coats and jackets, and other articles made from sable, sea otter, and silver fox skins were also sold. The Store remained open until at least 1938. T. S. Jay s father operated an establishment that was also located on Regent St., called William Chickall Jay s London General Mourning Warehouse (est. 1841), which supplied fashionable mourning attire for the well-to-do, as well as offering goods in a wide price-range to attract the lower classes. No copies recorded in OCLC. REFERENCES: Matlach, Mark. "W. C. Jay & Co. / International Fur Store" (2014), at COSGB (Blog for the Commercial Overprint Society of Great Britain) online. N° de réf. du vendeur 5953

Détails bibliographiques

Titre : The International Fur Store 198 & 163 Regent...
Éditeur : London: The International Fur Store, [ca. 1885]
Reliure : Couverture souple