3000 Shoes from 1896: With Price Guide

Here is a new look at some very smart, old shoes. In 1896, detailed engravings of 3000 styles of shoes and boots for men, women, and children were cataloged for sale by Geo. D. Ramsdell of Rochester, N.Y. They included the most fashionable designs in shoes for a discriminating clientele. Today, these shoe designs look romantic and stylish and enjoy renewed popularity among the young and old alike. The styles shown here will inspire another look at the beautiful shapes, materials, and workmanship that were expected of a shoe in 1896. The styles for women include laced and buttoned boots; flat and spring-heel styles; wool, straight, and congress shoes; oxfords; and slippers. For men there are dress shoes in wool and leather, sporting and oxford types, boots, rubbers, leggings, overgaiters, and slippers. For boys and girls there are everyday and dressy shoes, oxfords, and again, slippers. This book also presents charming advertising cuts for the retail trade to use when it publicized these shoes in newspapers. A Price Guide relates the values for shoes of this type on the market today.

Roseann Ettinger is fascinated with the history of fashion; she owns Remeber When vintage clothing store in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and has written many books on twentieth century clothes and jewelry.