🛍️ Sears Wish Book Memories Christmas in the Mailbox
merry decorations!
“You knew Christmas was coming when the Sears catalog hit the doorstep.”
It was thick, shiny, and full of dreams — the Sears Christmas Wish Book. Kids flipped pages until the corners curled, circling bikes, dolls, and electric trains with a pencil. Moms dog-eared the fashion pages. Dads studied the tools and gadgets. And for a few weeks, the kitchen table turned into Santa’s planning desk.
🎁 Toys of Every Kid’s Dreams
- Lionel Electric Train Set — $17.95
- Schwinn Tornado Bicycle — $39.95
- Chatty Cathy Doll — $12.99
- Roy Rogers Cap Gun Set — $4.25
- Howdy Doody Puppet — $2.98
- Tonka Dump Truck — $3.95
(Each one circled in red crayon and hoped for under the tree.)
💄 Gifts for Mom & Dad
- Evening in Paris perfume gift box — $1.25
- Hamilton Beach Mixmaster — $24.95
- RCA Victor Portable Record Player — $24.50
- Men’s Flannel Robe — $3.99
- Aluminum Christmas Tree — $12.00
🌟 From the Pages of 1956
The 1956 catalog was filled with space-age sparkle — metallic wrapping paper, pink radios, and color TVs that promised “tomorrow, today.” But what everyone really remembers?
That feeling of sitting by the window, flipping through page after page, dreaming big on a small-town budget.
📖 Did You Know?
- The Sears Christmas Book started in 1933.
- By 1955, over 8 million were mailed each year.
- Kids often wrote their letters to Santa right on the pages — and sometimes, mailed the whole thing!
2 responses to “The Sears Wish Book!”
I love this! My mum used to get the Marshall Ward catalogue and we three children used to love it when the big fat winter one arrived and we could start poring over the toys section making ridiculous choices, most of which my parents couldn’t afford.
Yes so true! We would do the same with my family, not sure if my Mother shopped through the Sears wish book, at the time but it sure was fun looking at all the goodies, I think my Mom spent a lot of time at woolworth’s gift shopping and at stores on the avenue! Thanks for posting!!