The Library of Virginia is home to over 100 seed catalogs that were generously donated by the T.W. Wood family of Richmond, Virginia. In the mid-1800s, with the advent of new inexpensive commercial art techniques, the rush was on to make attractive and attention-getting seed catalogs. The T.W. Wood & Sons Dees Company billed itself as “The Largest Seed House in the South.” Some Wood seed catalog images used historical buildings as backdrops, such as the Virginia State Capital and Virginia State Library. The Library grounds advertised one of many Wood products, Evergreen Lawn Grass. The colorful cover images also include vegetables ranging from vibrant red “June Pink” tomatoes to the glassy “Black Beauty” eggplant. These images date from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.

Includes 20 cards with envelopes (4 each of 5 subjects)