Our Item of the Month has been chosen by our Digital Archivist Andrew Martin, and given that it’s December – he’s chosen a Christmas Gifts catalogue, issued by Hope Brothers Ltd in 1938.
(Ref: LS2023.0319)
This catalogue, which consists of 22 pages of gifts for men and women (two of them printed in colour, in addition to the cover!), and an order form, is a fascinating window on fashion, extravagance, and the economy (prices are in pounds, shillings, and pence) while the country was unknowingly about to enter a year where the Second World War would begin.
Gifts for men
The catalogue devotes 12 of its pages to gifts for men, with the centre pages printed in colour (slightly garishly) with the heading ‘Gentlemen prefer gifts from Hope Brothers’.
In 1938, gentlemen could expect their loved ones to give them gifts of, yes, you guessed it – socks!
In addition to this, there are walking sticks, cufflinks, knitted waistcoats and jackets, dressing gowns, pyjamas, dress sets, Poplin shirts, a plethora of ties, shaving kits, tie and trouser presses, umbrellas, handkerchiefs, gloves, cigarette cases and more.
Imagine the style.
Gifts for ladies
Sadly, women don’t get any colour printed products to peruse, but they do get a somewhat similar range of items to choose from.
There’s lots of gloves and umbrellas, but also manicure sets, a scent spray stand, fluffy slippers, dressing gowns, a pure wool knitted ‘bed jacket’, a variety of handbags, nightdress cases (one in the shape of a tulip, and one in the shape of a dog with a light-up lamp), perfume and an artificial pearl necklace.
Alongside these are a rose tea-cosy, some book ends, and a black cat tea-cosy – all three of which we’re sure would make dreams come true for that special lady in your life!
So, if you’re in line for some Christmas presents this year, then I think you have to agree that nothing compares to Hope Brothers Ltd 1938 gift range.
Whilst our archive sadly doesn’t have a full set of these items available in 1938 (our eyes are peeled for a Black Cat Tea-Cosy), we do have an extensive collection of Hope Brothers Ltd artefacts – including receipts, postcards, factory equipment, clothing, and accessories. You can browse our increasingly digitised/catalogued collection of them via the button below:
We’ve also created a Hope Brothers Ltd history and our Archivist Maureen Scott has written her book ‘A Wonderful Man’ about the company’s founder – Thomas Peacock.
Latest Archive acquisitions
Here is a list of some of the latest items that we have received at our archive or recently catalogued:
- Postcard of a group of people and a dog at the Transport & General Workers’ Union (T&GWU) at The Grange, Littleport, 1933.
- Postcard of Main Street (including garage) at Littleport, c.1912.
- Great Eastern Railway handbill – Excursion to Kings Lynn, 1961.
