For those interested in vintage needlework and handicrafts publications, up for auction is a relatively well-preserved copy of the 1937 issue of McCall Needlework / Knitting / Crocheting, an oversized annual publication edited by Elisabeth May Blondel and full of great articles, columns, instructions, and advertisements, many in color and quite a few in the Art Deco / Moderne style. The cover shows two swans, one black and the other white, on a zigzag background with the title, date, and price (35 cents, and 1/6 in Great Britain) and, under the avian image, the words "KNITTING IN 1927 MODES · CROCHETED LACE TABLECLOTHS / AFGHANS · NEEDLEPOINT · WEAVING · PICTURECRAFT · SMOCKING".


The magazine measures approximately 10-3/4 by 13-3/4 inches and comprises 64 pages. 


The contents, listed on the first page, are (leaving out the page numbers):

  • Knitted Wearing Apparel
  • Bags
  • Crocheted Bedspread
  • Knitted Bedspread
  • Weaving
  • Crocheted Table Cloths
  • Knitted Afghans
  • Household Embroideries
  • Needlepoint
  • Tinsel Pictures
  • Curtain Making
  • Picture Craft
  • A New Art Craft
  • Monograms
  • Children's Designs
  • Wearing Apparel
  • Evening Caps
  • Place Cards

I won't go into detail on what's on each and every page, because I think the photos I've uploaded give you a great idea as to what you can find inside, in terms of items of clothing and household linens, instructions, etc. There are wonderful color drawings and photographs of fashions, interiors, and assorted hand-made objects, made of paper as well as cloth, thread, and yarn -- with people, animals, foodstuff, flowers, and all sorts of subjects depicted.


The overall condition of the magazine is fair to good, considering its age. The glossy wrapper is a bit torn, chipped, age-toned, spotted, stained (at the top left corner of the back cover), etc., with the spine missing some paper. There is water or other liquid damage on a number of the glossy pages within -- mostly along the side edges -- as well as the usual age-toning / darkening / browning, chipping, corner bends, etc., that are to be expected of a presumably well-thumbed publication of this great age. As far as I can see, there are no annotations, marginalia, underlining, or scribbles within, nor any other major damage or flaws in the way of clipped or clipped pages, large tears, tape repairs, mailing label, etc. (note that I did not look closely at each and every page and may have missed something). The paper has neither a musty nor smoky odor.


This 1937 issue of McCall Needlework Knitting Crocheting is being sold AS IS, AS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND PICTURED WITHIN. I am setting what I feel is a reasonable starting price for the auction, and there is NO RESERVE. I am also including a Buy It Now price.

 

Shipping and handling for the magazine: $5 to U.S. addresses (via Media Mail).

 

Note that eBay has now instituted a shipping program whereby bidders from outside the U.S. can bid on or buy all sellers' items, and the seller sends everything to an eBay facility in the US for shipping. So far, this seems to be working out well (though one item bought by someone in China never made it to its destination, though eBay very quickly refunded the buyer).  

 

If you want this 1937 publication sent more quickly to you (e.g., via Priority Mail in the U.S.), you must request this asap after winning or purchasing it (or beforehand, if possible), and I will adjust the amount accordingly.

 

I will do my best to send the annual magazine out to you no more than 2-3 business days following receipt of payment (that is, when eBay informs me that your payment has been posted to or otherwise cleared in my account). 

 

If you are the winner or buyer of this relatively well-preserved needlework and handicraft publication, PAYMENT IS EXPECTED WITHIN ONE WEEK (7 DAYS) FROM THE PURCHASE DATE. If you cannot pay within this time frame, PLEASE contact me asap so we can work something out. I'm very flexible and understanding, but I would appreciate communication from you one way or another.

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT RETURNS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED NOR REFUNDS MADE FOR THIS PUBLICATION, SO PLEASE READ MY DESCRIPTION CAREFULLY, LOOK CLOSELY AT THE PHOTOGRAPHS I’VE UPLOADED, AND ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE CONTENTS OR CONDITION OF THE ITEM. THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING!

 

Thanks for looking, and please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions about this great 86-year-old McCall Corporation publication full of articles and instructions on needlework, crocheting, knitting, and other handicrafts, with a scattering of wonderful Art Deco-style images here and there.   

 

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT, IF POSSIBLE, I WILL HAPPILY ADJUST SHIPPING CHARGES FOR MULTIPLE PURCHASES!!!

 

ALSO, NOTE THAT, IF APPLICABLE, eBAY WILL ADD ANY APPROPRIATE STATE SALES TAX TO THE INVOICE.