(*NEW ARRIVAL*) (Grocers) Charles & Co. Catalogue

Illus. throughout with ads for various food products sold by the store. Pictorial embossed brown & gold cloth. New York: Charles & Co., 1934.

An article celebrating the famous New York City grocer appeared in a 1959 edition of the New York Times. Columnist June Owens wrote, "Charles' has been filling orders for delicacies since 1848, when it opened at the corner of Delancey and Orchard Streets. That address may seem an unlikely one now for a fancy food store, but a century ago it was the heart of elegant New York. Even 100-years ago, Charles' was the kind of shop in which the bunch of grapes a customer bought came with a big silk bow tied to the stem. For most of us, a bon voyage basket conjures up the picture of a farewell party in the first-class suite of a luxury liner... Actually, the bon voyage basket began much more humbly, Mr. Kytan said. "Before the first World War," he explained, “it was possible to travel steerage to Europe for about $35. At that rate, many servants who had come here from Europe could afford a visit back to the old country. "But no food was served to steerage passengers. The employers, anxious that their help come back after vacation, saw to it that they were well-fed on the trip over, at least. They would come in to Charles' and ask us to put up a box of food." Gradually in addition to those practical food packages, women began to order baskets of fancy fruits, confections and such to be sent to their friends traveling on first class on the same ship. Thus was the bon voyage business born."

Some internal faint dampstaining, contents shaken, else good.

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