Thursday Thirteen #391

For Her. From 1974. I got my start as a writer for the Sears Catalog in 1981, but I began flipping through it as a little girl. I fantasized about what I wanted to wear, how I wanted my future home to look, and at Christmastime, what I wanted to find under the tree.

So for this week's TT, I wanted to see how we were celebrating Christmas fifty years ago and I looked to the Sears Wish Book. I was happy to see the headline written by one of my predecessors, "Gifts for Gals to Give or Get." Here's what I found on those pages:

1. "8 famous fragrances on an elegant boudoir tray." Tiny bottles (about .5 oz.) of Courant, Tigress, Ambush, Emeraude, Heaven Scent, Maja, Tweed and Chantilly a "dainty" filigreed tray. $8.98.

2. Nail care kit. Five shades of nail polish, four emery boards, a cuticle pusher and a pack of tissues in a zipper case with a tab handle. "Remove the contents and you have a handy little tote-purse." $4.98.

3. Bird cage music box. A yellow bird behind gold metal bars "dances to the tune of 'We've Only Just Begun.'" $7.98.

4. Roomy sewing basket. Brown wood basket with "attractive red bandana print cotton trim and lining." 9 in. tall, 7 in. high. $4.98.

5. Profile charms. Ready to hang on a bracelet (not included), choose from a boy's or girl's profile. First initial and birthdate engraved at no extra cost. $3.99.

6. Double-link charm bracelet. "Beautifully crafted of rhodium-plated sterling silver ... individually gift-boxed." 7.5 in. long. $5.99.

7. Ivory pendant. "Deeply petaled rose shape" on an 18 in. chain. Gift boxed. $5.99.

8. Treasure chest jewelry box. "Covered with charming multi-colored birds and flowers." Lined with pink rayon. $6.99.

9. Black and gold bead necklace. "Just the right accessory." 26 in. long. $7.00.

10. Beret and scarf set. The beret "sports a jaunty pom-pom" and the 6-ft. long scarf has a "dashing" knotted trim. In 6 colors. $7.00.

11. Knit gloves with vinyl palm and back. 2-button trim. Remember, "Gloves make great gifts." $3.97

12. Three speed hand mixer. Detachable chrome steel beaters are easy to clean. $6.99.

13. Chess set with a folding board. "Chess is a great game for thinkers." $8.95.

PLEASE NOTE: All of these gifts came in at under $10. Adjusted for inflation, a gift that cost $10 in 1974 would be about $60.75 today.

Can you see your earlier self giving or getting any of these 1974 Christmas gifts?

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