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Trade Catalogue Rhyme and Reason by Hector Powe; Tendering with Apologies Some Doubtful Verse and with Pride Very Important Reasons for Your Continued Patronage

1936 · rif. 007683 — London: Hector Powe Ltd. Printer: Spottiswoode Ballantyne & Co. Ltd 1936. First Edition. Wraps. Stapled brochure. Very Good. Scarce and unusual trade catalogue and promotion for Regents Street haberdasher. With no copies found anywhere. Not to be confused with similar title by American cartoonist Palmer Cox. 4to. 25 by18 cm. Unpaginated 20 pageseight of which have fold-out flaps. Illustrated extensively drawn vignettes many of which are light-hearted and comical sometimes because the illustration itself is caricature-ish other times because of the wry short caption below the vignette. This group of illustrations is rendered with partial color -- red green orange -- in contrast to the cover which uses fuller color even as it is harmonious with the text vignettes in its coloring. A second group of illustrations is entirely black and white and these are comprised of larger drawings which clearly are printings of pencil drawings showing one or two men in the company's attire which includes sportswear business suits formal dress. Below these are smaller black and white vignettes that seek to elaborate on the use and burnish the lifestyle that the company wants to have associated with the look. Loose but tucked inside the brochure is a postcard sent with the catalogue for a customer to request the company to send him fabric swatches. With the Regent Street address not to mention the clothes being showcased Hector Powe catered to the carriage trade and we would assume that it was just a notch below the better Savile Row custom tailors in terms of prestige and the price range. Hector Powe was founded in 1910 or around then and expanded to six branches. During the Second World War it got into the business of supplying the British govenment with military uniforms. The company was acquired in 1954 by a concern that eventually merged with or was absorbed by Burberry. Light soiling of the wraps some of which can be mitigated further if one so wishes with an eraser. Staples used to bind now rusty. Otherwise clean tight. Hector Powe Ltd. Printer: Spottiswoode, Ballantyne & Co., Ltd unknown