[Young Folks’ Library salesman sample catalogue with 20 leather spines for the deluxe three-quarter calf version of the beloved and popular set]. by [SALESMAN SAMPLE CATALOGUE -- BINDINGS]. [ALDRICH, Thomas Bailey, MABIE, Hamilton Wright, WELSH, Charles, et al (Ed.)] - [1902].

Boston: Hall & Locke, Co., [1902]. 8vo. 5 x 8.5 in. [10 leaves (unnumbered).], of leporello accordion-style format calf leaves, lined w/ olive coloured-linen, featuring 20 leather spine samples, each w/ illustrated gilt stamping & lettering for the individual titles, sized 1.8 x 8.2 in., two per leaf, retaining their original crisp sharp edges & lettering. Dark olive-green leather wallet-style binding, flap w/ cropped corners as issued (minor chipping head & foot of spine, some minor scuffing, edgewear), still VG exemplar, w/ all spine samples in fine condition. First edition, thus, of this unusually scarce salesman sample portfolio for the beloved Progressive Era “Young Folks’ Library” set which featured short stories, abridged novels, fairy tales, non-fiction, natural history, travel accounts, military history, and poetry. Typical salesman samples of this period usually were “publisher’s dummies” consisting of sample pages, binding samples, and order forms. These portfolios, or sample books with leather spines, appear to have been issued to the door-to-door sales agents at the time to promote the most expensive deluxe versions of the set, which could be presented by unfolding them across a table or shelf in front of the potential buyer. The gilt illustrations range from child reading and seated before shelf of books, to a pensive fairy, character from Alice in Wonderland, to knight on horseback, a schoolgirl in cap ,and the Sphinx of Egypt. We could find no references of other similar survivor for Hall & Locke, and no copies are located in Worldcat.