Claim:

Dogs, ponies, monkeys and other animals were available for purchase in Sears’ mail-order catalogs in the 1950s and 1960s.

Evaluation:

Context

Sears offered live animals through mail order catalogs from 1956 to 1964. But the versions of those catalogs — which likely include the 1956 Sears Christmas book featured in popular TikTok videos — did not include animals for sale.

a series tiktok videos allegations to show a 1956 Sears holiday catalog featuring live animals for sale via mail order.

Comments on the videos are equal parts nostalgia and surprise, with posts such as: “Now kids will never again have the joy of looking through a toy catalog and circling the things they want for Christmas!“ Another replied: “Yes. We had a neighbor who bought monkeys. It could come loose and my brother would have to climb trees to get it!“

“My parents must have torn out the pet pages. I don’t remember them.“ said another.

(moretoysmorejoys on TikTok)

It’s true that Sears used to sell animals mail order based on examination of catalog archives, newspaper clippings and the book”Pets in America: A History“By historian Katherine Grier. From monkeys and donkeys to common pets such as dogs, birds Sears catalogs published between 1956 and 1956 featured fish and live pets. And 1964.

But versions of Sears catalogs from that period—possibly including the Sears Christmas book, purportedly from 1956 located in TikTok videos — does not include animals for sale. (Sears’ Christmas bookS. were holiday catalogs produced by the retailer between 1933 and 1933. And Early 2000s.)

According to a 1955 article New York TimesSears’ spring/summer 1956 catalog was the first to feature animals:

Sears Roebuck & Co. today unveiled its 1956 spring and summer catalog… For the first time in any Sears catalog, live Mexican donkeys are offered for children. The Chicago and Kansas City edition also lists hamsters, mynah birds, and four kinds of monkeys.

The catalog says about monkeys: “We add a leash and chain to each monkey for easier use.

(1956 Sears spring/summer catalogue, courtesy Christmas.musetechnical.com)

By the 1960s, mail-order animals had long been a viable business. “Pets in America: A History.“ Grier on Sears’ entry into the industry writes:

The most surprising experiment with mail-order pets took place almost a year ago. half century but then when Sears Roebuck and the eponymous Company and Spiegel “Nation’s Pet Store,“ both offered full pet sections in their catalogues. The 1958 Spring and Summer Spiegel Home Shopping Book offered not only forty-six different pedigree puppies, but also raccoon puppies, baby skunks, mynah puppies. birds and several species of monkeys. Sears added toucans, fancy pigeons and flying squirrels to the list. Shetland ponies and Mexican donkeys ($67.50 cash. Only $13.50 off)“) could be purchased on installments by both companies, as could appliances, appliances, and furniture offered elsewhere in their catalogs.

(“Pets in America: A History“ By Katherine C. Grier 2006).

The trend just continued a handful of years. Beginning with Sears’ fall/winter 1963 catalog, monkeys only, mynah birds and hamsters were offered – no other types of pets – catalog archives. And the following year the catalog featured only pets consumables, no live animals.

Why Might Only Some Sears Catalogs Sold Animals?

By browsing an online archive Sears catalogs In addition to those published between 1956 and 1964, Internet ArchiveSnopes found a Christmas book from 1956; but their pages did not match the pages in the TikTok videos and no animals were listed for sale. We reached out to the original poster of the images to look for evidence to confirm the The authenticity of the catalog was claimed.

In fact, there is no online evidence that pets were offered for sale in the Christmas books Sears published between 1956 and 1964.

However, Sears’ biannual catalogs at the time (catalogues the retailer published in the spring/summer and fall/winter) also included pets for sale.

(1956 Sears fall/winter catalogue, courtesy Christmas.musetechnical.com)

It is possible that some Sears catalogs from the 1950s and 1960s featured animals. sales while others didn’t Because they were printed in different places. There may be different availability of animals in one area compared to others or local restrictions on such sales. For example, in the above-mentioned clip from The New York Times, it is stated that different animals are presented in two editions of a catalogue, and it is said: “The Chicago and Kansas City edition also lists hamsters, mynah birds, and four kinds of monkeys.“

The covers of the 1956 Christmas book allegedly featured in the TikTok videos and the 1956 Christmas book we found are almost identical. There’s just one difference: They list different addresses of where it was allegedly printed. The alleged book on TikTok is located at 925 S. Homan Ave., Chicago, Illinois. This was his headquarters Sears Roebuck & Co until 1973 and was the location of the catalog printing facility for many years. National Historic Places Program. Meanwhile, tthat version 1956 Christmas book Internet Archive Includes address 2465 Utah Ave., Seattle, Washington – former location For Sears’ mail order operations. (Location Now Starbucks Centre, or the corporate headquarters of Starbucks Coffee Company.)

(1956 Sears spring/summer catalogue, courtesy Christmas.musetechnical.com)

Snopes reached out to Sears’ parent company, Transformco, for information about Sears’ history of mail-order pets and why some catalogs from the 1950s and 1960s were offered. them others did not. We also reached out to administrators of the online database of Sears catalogs. We will update this report if we receive a response.