Christmas Gifts, London, 1925

It's fun to get out the (very) back issues of The London Illustrated News that I found at an estate sale and look at the articles, photos and ads.  

The December 12, 1925 issue provides an interesting snapshot in time by sharing advertisements for Christmas gifts.

They look like set and costume designs for Downton Abbey.

Suggestions for gifts For the Lady of the House come from an article called Christmas in the Shops:

 Chocolates and cologne.

A new watch.  Stockings.  Gloves.  A fringed shawl.

Jewelry -- er, Jewellery -- from Harrods is also advertised, including platinum and diamond rings starting at under 30 pounds.  (Oh, to be able to travel in time....)

Wilson & Gill offered diamond set hat ornaments and lace pins, starting at 12 pounds.

Faux pearls, one guinea for a 16 inch strand.

Fancy dresses for purchase or hire.  Toilet cream.  And the pearls.

More chocolates.

For her, a Dainty and Exclusive Evening Bag is useful and acceptable as an Xmas gift.  For him, a store that supplies Men's outfitting requirements.

For the gentleman, a new hat, a heater.  They didn't have video games back then, but there was an ad for an "ideal home entertainer" film projector.

In 1925, as now, men received shirts as Christmas gifts.

A fountain pen is a useful gift, too.  This one was called the "Red Dwarf."

For her, for him, for the home, there were a variety of Christmas gifts advertised:

A calendar, a clock, a cocktail shaker.

Books are always suitable gifts for small children.  Here's an ad from 1925, for Dean's Youngsters' Picture Books.

For the child whose parents or grandparents had a larger budget, there was a Juvenile Car called the "Prince."  The ad suggests that the parent could "help your boy to choose his car with the same care and discrimination that you would exercise in the choice of your own car."

Big boys wanted a car for Christmas in 1925, as they do now.  Here's the Fiat:

The Dodge:

For the smaller budget, a Rover or a Crossley 14:

And, when money was no object in 1925, there was the car that needs no photograph in its advertisement: the Rolls-Royce.