@smithsonian

In our tomato sandwich era. 🍅🍅🍅 This color lithograph is from an 1892 seed catalog by J.M. Thorburn & Company, which is in the @smithsoniangardens collection. Until the 1870s, seed catalogs were mostly printed lists of the varieties available with their prices. By the 1880s, companies were producing elaborate booklets with colorful, detailed illustrations of plants. Many were selling books and supplies too, as well as sharing gardening advice. These catalogs were often so successful that many merchants didn’t have to hire agents or traveling salespeople.