WORLD'S FIRST
MAI-ORDER CATALOG
THE LONGEST LIST OF THE LONGEST STUFF AT THE LONGEST DOMAIN NAME AT LONG LAST

What was the world's first mail-order catalog?

In 1744 Benjamin Franklin published a catalog which sold scientific and academic books by mail and even came with the world's first mail-order guarantee: "Those persons who live remote, by sending their orders and money to B. Franklin may depend on the same justice as if present.".

In 1848 Alfred Hammacher created a mail-order business, Hammacher Schlemmer,  in New York City, which sold tools and hardware.

Aaron Montgomery Ward gets the honors of mass mailing the first mail-order catalog in 1872 for Montgomery Ward, his new mail order business. His business grew and soon his catalog was a whopping 500+ pages of shopping delight.

Canada's first mail-order catalog was sent out in 1884 by the Eaton's department store in Toronto, Canada.

1872 Montgomery Ward Catalog

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