It's finally Spring, and that seed or nursery catalog that you received in the middle of January is probably dog-eared and coffee-stained by now. But not to worry; that edition wouldn't be worth much, if anything, for a very long time. What collectors want instead are all those lovely old catalogs with the colorful lithographic illustrations, and they are willing to pay up to $100 for some of them. For example, an 1899 F.B. Mills (Rose Hill NY) seed catalog recently fetched $97.89 at an online auction.
Vintage and antique seed packets are also desirable for the reason mentioned, with the added benefit of reduced size allowing for easy storage and display. Collectors interested only in the graphics prefer packets in mint or near-mint condition. From time to time, a cache of original unfilled envelopes has been discovered in an attic, barn, or remnants of an old factory. Such specimens are highly prized by collectors for their unspoiled condition.
At the same time, museums, researchers, educational institutions, and agricultural organizations are also searching for old catalogs and seed packets that would aid in their study of the history of gardening. This includes identifying when new plants and hybrids were introduced and discovering what varieties have become extinct.
By the way, what do you do with a packet of old - very old - seeds? You could try planting them, but chances are they will not be viable and most will fail to germinate. Instead, try contacting one of the many existing botanical organizations or seed banks to see whether they might be interested in acquiring the seeds. They could be from rare, heirloom, or extinct plant varieties.
Have an old garden implement that you can't identify? Old nursery and garden tools catalogs make great references, especially when coupled with detailed, hand-drawn illustrations. Hot right now are 1920's and 30's Planet Jr. farm and garden tools catalogs, with many selling for $50 to $100 each! But don't overlook vintage catalogs issued by Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward, or by specific brands like John Deere. Most of these are not worth more than a few dollars each at present, but many are cross-collectible. Some people seek them out because they may possess old tools or equipment and want to collect all accompanying advertising and literature.
Would you like more information about this interesting field of collectibles? Check out the following list of resources, and,...
Happy Collecting!
Resources
Burpee (W. Atlee Burpee & Co.)
Link to website
"The Legacy of W. Atlee Burpee," a history of the venerable company.
Link to website
A gallery of Burpee catalogs.
Collecting Seed Packets
Link to website
TheLabelMan.com introduction has lots of pics. Concentration on Burt and Card seed companies.
Ephemera Society of America
Link to website
Interesting piece by Pat Laffin on "Seed Company Advertising."
Henderson Seed Catalog, circa 1909
Link to website
This article by Joseph Cavanaugh for the Garden State Heirloom Seed Society website reproduces the entire catalog.
Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Image Gallery
Link to website
The National Agriculture Library of the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) houses a collection of over 200,000 domestic and foreign catalogs dating from the late 1700s to the present.
Seed Catalog
Link to website
This Smithsonian Institution Libraries site offers 500 images from their collection of "10,000 seed and nursery catalogs dating from 1830 to the present." Check out the "Other Resources" page!
