Harness, Saddlery, and Horse Furnishings
Boston: Mark W. Cross & Co., 1891. First edition. Soft cover. 100p, many line ills., some photos. Ca. 11 x 9 inches. Covers stained, rubbed. Covers fair; internally very good. Item #30670
Trade catalogue from this fabled horse goods firm, which claimed to be "the largest horse furnishing establishment in the world." Its faded painted sign can still be seen in downtown Boston. It specialized in harness; one photo shows the 5000-square-foot harness department of over 600 "distinct styles of Harness, each one so displayed that it can be carefully and easily exaimined." It offered 150 styles of saddles. In response to "the great interest in, and the wonderful development of the trotter," it now carried "the finest collection of Horse Boots and Trotting Appliances in the country." The catalogue contains representative samples of these items, plus other leather goods and stable equipment. The company had published a book, How To Ride, which is advertised here. Very scarce. This year's catalogue is not in WorldCat, which locates only 3 other Cross catalogues worldwide.
Price: $175.00