‘I’m not a shopoholic – I’m helping the economy’ –

a light hearted look at shopping in Halifax.  After all, it’s never too early to think about Christmas…

The 380 “Shops and Shopping” pamphlet box contains a number of brochures and pamphlets advertising specific shops or shopping events held in Halifax from 1891 onwards. There are also some smaller single leaflets from local printers which are undated but appear to be very old. This box is packed full of interesting detail about the types of shops that used to populate the top of town.

 

Mortimer’s was a well known booksellers, printers and stationers in Halifax and produced brochures at Christmas each year to tempt residents into little (or large) luxuries for their families and friends. Smoking cabinet anyone? A “trick dog”, to teach children about saving money?

You could even get “a good selection of Table and Hall gongs”, to spare you the embarrassment of guests noticing that you only have a table gong in your hallway (or vice versa)

The cover designs reflect artistic trends of the time and would have been a stylistic treat to read and plan with at home.

The building that Mortimer’s was in no longer exists; it was torn down and replaced with a more modern structure and is where William Hill is located now.

This box also contains annual exhibition guides (some featuring Halifax Rugby Club) and guides to the indoor market covering nearly a hundred year span. There are some gaps of course but all are catalogued so if you want to find a specific year you can check to see if we have it before you visit.