Introduction

Long before the Sears "wish book" there was the Johnson Smith Catalog. The slim, tissue paper thin booklet  was coveted by every youngster (and a few oldsters) - for its zany collection of novelties, toys, costumes, magic, and gags.

Presenting - the complete 1959 Johnson Smith Catalog - including an order blank.  (Just don't use it!) If you've ever had the pleasure of browsing the JS catalog, hopefully  this brings back a few great memories - that first bottle of disappearing ink - the carbide canon - the crystal radio - the full head gorilla mask - the X-RAY specs - the "black-eye" gag. - The JS catalog offered a thousand laughs and hours of daydreaming delights.

PS:

The pages reproduced here are not in their original order, and they are "over enlarged" to show the detail of the unique hand drawn and lettered graphics representing thousands of hours of  labor.

There are FIVE sections to this catalog - use the selector at the top to view each.

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Part 2

Part 3

Part 4