Early Orvis catalog list

[Mike N]

I started a list below of all known early Orvis catalogs and hope others might add to the same. I just purchased an early Orvis catalog (not listed here) and will post that info and a photo once it arrives

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No.15.....circa 1885.....6"x 8".....56 pages
From Royce:
Catalog 15 - 1885 is an opinion, or is there better information. viewtopic.php?f=70&t=126241&p=860075#p860075

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No. 16
From Royce:
Catalog 16 is documented in Melner & Kessler.* The associated "Favorite Flies"** poll dated 1889 is identified as loose with the catalog. M&K suggests this is pre 1892 because of the 1892 book, and because of a quotation published elsewhere in 1888.

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No.17....circa 1890? ...64 pages... 6”x8” (see photos below)

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No.18.....circa pre-1892....6" x 8".....72 pages
From Royce
Catalog 18 is pre 1892 as the "Favorite Flies"** is not advertised yet.

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No.21.....circa ?.......... 6" x 8"......108 pages

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No. 22.....circa 1900......6" x 8" ..... 86 pages

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No. 25.....circa 1908
Mentioned by CFO in a 1908 handwritten letter linked here:
viewtopic.php?f=70&t=126241&p=860075#p860075

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No. 26.....circa 1908..... 6" x 8" ..... 114 pages
From Royce:
Catalog 26 1908
Langs dated this at 1908, in Melner & Kessler* a Kelso Auto reel pat 1907, photographic ads are included. Light weight rod and $10 x rods (second quality). A 1910 F&S has frog leader advertisement which says No 26 Catalog now ready
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no # ......late 1890s..... 4-1/2" x 7" ..... 22 pages.... white cover with black ink.
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Footnotes
* “Great Fishing Tackle Catalogs of the Golden Age” (Melner & Kessler: 1972)
** “Favorite Flies and Their Histories,” by Mary Orvis Marbury published in Boston in April 1892 by Houghton Mifflin.

(Note: all photo credits below, Lang’s Auctions, except No. 17 & No.22, which are from my personal collection.)

No. 15




No.17






No.18

No. 21


No.22





No. 25

See below



No.26



No number, smaller size



No. 25

[roycestearns]

Mike,
I think that's a great idea, lets add photos of the covers as we go. We need to talk Jerry G into signing on as he's the premier Orvis paper guru.

As this thread ages we can create a database of items in each catalog and we'll start to see CF Orvis history unfold.

The earliest known is in Jerry's collection, and can be seen in "The World of Fly Fishing and Collecting"

[Mike N]

Mike,
I think that's a great idea, lets add photos of the covers as we go. We need to talk Jerry G into signing on as he's the premier Orvis paper guru.

As this thread ages we can create a database of items in each catalog and we'll start to see CF Orvis history unfold.

The earliest known is in Jerry's collection, and can be seen in "The World of Fly Fishing and Collecting"

Photos are a great idea, Royce. See my edits in original post.

[roycestearns]

Mike, I'll add some notes I've collected and you can add the text to your original post.

Catalog 26 1908
Langs dated this at 1908, in Melner & Kessler a Kelso Auto reel pat 1907, photographic ads are included. Light weight rod and $10 x rods (second quality). A 1910 F&S has frog leader advertisement which says No 26 Catalog now ready

Catalog 16 is documented in Melner & Kessler. The associated "Favorite Flies" poll dated 1889 is identified as loose with the catalog. M&K suggests this is pre 1892 because of the 1892 book, and because of a quotation published elsewhere in 1888

Catalog 18 is pre 1892 as the "Favorite Flies" is not advertised yet.

Catalog 15 - 1885 is an opinion, or is there better information. viewtopic.php?f=70&t=126241&p=860075#p860075

[Mike N]

I just posted photos above of catalog No. 17. It is circa right around 1890, I believe.

EDIT: Of interest is that the Orvis patent 1874 fly reel is still offered “Put up in neat, Black Walnut case.”

From catalog No. 17:

[roycestearns]

?
"put up in a neat Black - Walnut Case"
This matches the description in Catalog 16

[Mike N]

?
"put up in a neat Black - Walnut Case"
This matches the description in Catalog 16

Oops. You are correct, Royce. The absence of language referencing a “walnut case” was in my other catalog, No. 26, circa 1900 shown here (not catalog 17):

[Mike N]

I was lucky to acquire Orvis catalog No. 25 today. We know it is from 1908 based upon the handwritten letter dated Jan. 16,1908 (below) from Charles Orvis enclosing a copy of No. 25 to a customer:

[wrong66]

What a find! Congratulations.
Mark

[cwfly]

What a wonderful catalog.

[Mike N]

I’m bumping this thread once to see if anyone has any new data to add to the early Orvis catalog list Royce and I were compiling above. Thanks.

Mike N

[Mike N]

It’s been about 9 months since I last bumped this compilation dating early Orvis catalogs. Anyone come across any information that might supplement what we’ve posted here on this historic list?

Thanks,

Mike N.

[roycestearns]

These two are part of Jerry Girard's collection. If you want to see some of Jerry's collection look at Steve Woit's book "Fly Fishing Treasures". I'm not aware of any C F Orvis rod manufacturing lists that are earlier.

Also I've posted the CF Orvis rod manufacturing lists from 1882 - 1898 and started to tie the images of the records to the pages. In my signature is a link to the lists. If you click on "repairs and orders" and "manufacturing id and identity" you'll get to the lists and a link to the images of the records. This continues to be a work in progress.

1874 Rod list


1876 Rod list

[Mike N]

Wow, Royce. That’s a real, honest-to-goodness historic treasure trove you shared with other collectors. Thank you.

Mike N.