"OUR STOCK OF CLOTHING, THIS FALL, IS GREATER, GRANDER AND BIGGER IN VALUES THAN EVER": SALESMAN'S SAMPLE CATALOGUE OF MEN'S SUITING FASHIONS IN 1900, FEATURING NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS AND 16 TEXTILE SAMPLES

BALTIMORE BARGAIN HOUSE. Fall and Winter 1900 [Men's Suits]. Baltimore, Maryland: Baltimore Bargain House, 1900. Octavo, staple-bound as issued, original printed orange paper wrappers; pp. 24. $750.

First edition of this salesman's sample catalogue of men's suiting fashions from Baltimore in 1900, with numerous in-text illustrations as well as 16 tipped-in textile samples.

The Baltimore Bargain House was a large turn of the century clothing retailer founded by Joseph Epstein. It functioned by enlisting a network of Jewish peddlers and merchants who sold its wares throughout the American South using sample booklets such as this one. Epstein hosted members of this network once a year at his central Baltimore establishment. By the early 1920s, Epstein was one of the largest businesses in Baltimore, employing more than 1600 seamstresses, tailors, salesmen, and other workers (Schein & Donnelly). This salesman's sample book was a crucial tool in Epstein's sales and marketing operation. It allowed salespeople to showcase Baltimore Bargain House's latest wares to interested customers all over the South. Illustrations and 16 tipped-in 1-1/2 by 2 inch fabric samples in wool, cashmere, twill, cheviot, and serge displayed options for made-to-order suits that could be produced at modest prices, geared to the average working man. In addition, the book offers a section of adolescent and children's clothing.

Interior fine, small rub mark to front wrapper. A nearly fine copy.