Aberlé Ballet / 1942. SHEER ENDURING RAYON STOCKINGS

CATALOG: Aberlé Ballet / Fall & Winter / 1942.

Aberlé presents SHEER ENDURING RAYON STOCKINGS / ALLIED BALLET of COLOR

A beautifully rendered catalog, using color poichoir lithographs and fabric samples to display the newest Rayon stockings and their contributions to the war effort.

4to, heavy card covers with six card leaves [12 pp.]; publisher's coil binding with clear acetate covers. First and only edition, limited to 750 numbered presentation copies, this being no. 36 presented to the M.E. Blatt Co., Atlantic City s Greatest Department Store .

World War 2 era manufacturer's catalog for rayon stockings. The catalog adopts the format of a contemporary Ballet Russes program with the stocking colors inspired by four ballets -- each leaf features a large pochoir colored lithograph by Willard Golovin with smaller color lithographic illustrations on the facing pages and inset fabric samples worked into the designs. The illustrations all have patriotic themes. The last leaf has a movable color chart with rayon samples designated by the names of the ballets.

"When Pearl Harbor became a symbol of perfidy, you gave up silk. When our armies expanded you willingly sacrificed your new-found nylon….We could not and have not failed you. We present in [these] pages the story of an amazing laboratory-improved rayon…. Whether an Air Raid or Red Cross duty this soft brown…fits the occasion."

CONDITION: Near fine; very light wear to edges, acetate covers have typical surface scratches.