Tags
1992, 1993, Barbie, children, Christmas, Sears Christmas Catalogue, Sears Wish Book, Star Trek, Toys
Even when I was a kid, Christmas was my favourite time of year. But I got into the Christmas spirit long before November rolled around and we were able to start hauling boxes of decorations down from the closet. For me, the true kick-off to Christmas began in mid-September — when the annual Sears Christmas Wish Book was released.
I knew I’d have to wait until the middle of the month, but as soon as the August calendar page was gone, the anticipation began to build. Every day, I opened the mailbox with baited breath, absolutely itching to get my hands on the new catalogue.
I love catalogues, by the way. And I still collect and save a variety of them when I find ’em. Last month I was able to add to my Sears Wish Book stash when I was given a number of early ’90s copies from a family member. So I now have a nearly complete collection of catalogues covering the 1990s to present day.
Unlike the smaller Sears product catalogues that were released periodically throughout the year, the Christmas Wish Book was one that you had to go and pick up from the catalogue outlet. What you got in the mail was a little card telling you it was finally available for pick-up. And once that card hit my mailbox, it was “Let’s go get it! Can we go get it? Please? Now?? :D”
In Canada, the Sears Christmas Wish Book has been a holiday tradition since 1953. In 2012, it celebrated its 60th anniversary.
When the holiday season rolls around and I start feeling nostalgic, sometimes I’ll take out an old Wish Book and just browse through it, reflecting on items that I got for Christmas in years past, as well as picking out things I maybe wish I’d have gotten.
Looking through the 1991, 1992, and 1993 catalogues, I was actually surprised to not find more things that would make my “I wish I had gotten/I wish I could get now” lists.

For some strange reason, I ALWAYS wanted one of these roadway playmats growing up but never got one.
What came as a very pleasant surprise though, was the realization of just how generous my parents were at Christmas. Not that I ever doubted that! I was NOT a spoiled child, but I certainly never really wanted for anything either. But it was an interesting experience to turn the pages of the catalogue and go, “Oh, I had one of those. *flip* Hey, I had one of those too! *flip* And I got this and that!”
So just for a bit of nostalgic fun, here’s a gallery of Sears Christmas Wish Book pages from those early ’90s editions that feature some of the gifts I received as a child (and a few that showcase something I wish I had gotten). Be sure to read/scroll the captions!




Wow, for me that was like Christmas morning all over again!
And you know what? I don’t mind admitting that I still feel this way every single year just before the Wish Book comes out. I still get excited. Still run out to get it. Still spend an hour or two going over it page by page.
Sadly, the beloved holiday catalogue has felt the effects of inflation, increased online shopping and the decrease of paper-printed materials. There was no card in my mailbox this year. I had to call the outlet and ask if they had come in. It’s only about a third the thickness it used to be. And after perusing it for only about 30 minutes (that’s seriously about all it took), I’ve come to the unfortunate conclusion that children today don’t even know what a “toy” is. If it doesn’t have batteries, plug into the wall, or talk to them, they don’t know what to do with it.
I know that one day, Sears will stop producing my beloved Wish Book catalogue. And sadly, that will mean the end of something wonderful. I feel sorry for all the children who are yet to be born; the ones who won’t know the joy of flipping through paper catalogue pages and eagerly writing down their wish list every year.
I guess that’s why I save the catalogues that were special to me. So that someday, any future children of mine can experience some of the same excitement I did. It won’t be the same, no, but it’ll be something.
Because despite the fact I was born in the ’80s, I still got to grow up with the Munsters and Scooby Doo and Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver. My parents made sure that even though the classic oldies were considered “out dated” relics by the time I came along, that I could still enjoy them, the same way they had.
Nostalgia is an interesting thing. It doesn’t have to be specific to your past. But in the process of introducing your nostalgia to a new generation, it becomes their past too. Something that was current for your parents becomes newly current for you when shared, becomes newly current for your children when shared, etc., etc., ad infinitum. And therein lies the magic. Remembering and sharing is what keeps things alive. What keeps them relevant. What helps them remain special. As Jonathan Winter’s character, Fats Domino, said in The Twilight Zone episode “A Game of Pool”, “As long as people talk about you, you don’t really die. As long as people speak your name, you continue. The legend doesn’t die because the man does.”
This truth holds not only to people, but it can be applied to things and traditions as well. So save the Christmas catalogues, and buy the classic shows on DVD, and put them aside for the children of the future who would otherwise be deprived.
Wishing all of my friends and followers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope you all get exactly what you’re wishing for this time around. And if you’re buying for children, encourage them to play with and enjoy their toys, but also to look after them. It’s fun to look back at old Christmas catalogues, but it’s even more fun when you can still go and dig out the actual toys. 😇
I miss catalogs too, Wendy. I used to crawl through the tool section of the Sears catalog, long before I could remotely expect to get tools for Christmas. I liked reading the descriptions. AND, despite the fact that I have worked in the information technology industry for almost 40 years, I will be the first to say that we have created NOTHING as good as a 5-pound printed catalog. TheThe Wish Book.
By the way, before things like Hulu and NetFlix existed, we joined The Museum of TV and Radio (Paley Center now) and I took Faith to NYC to watch taped episodes of Twilight Zone, and other classics. Some episodes even included the cigarette commercials at the 15 minute mark.
Merry Christmas !
So…the Wish Book WAS that humongous two-inch-thick Sears catalog I remember from long ago?
Yes – that’s what I remember. They used to also have a spring/summer catalog that was a beast. Of course, Montgomery Ward and J C Penny also had one.
Oh, that’s right—Montgomery Ward! jCP! Thanks!
Honestly, I’m glad to hear that I’m not alone when it comes to missing catalogues, Dan. There’s just something about PAPER when it comes to browsing that digital can’t touch. One of my favourite catalogues is Hallmark’s Dream Book, featuring all of the new Christmas ornaments. But our local Hallmark store closed last January, so this year, I had to browse the catalogue online. I swear, it’s just NOT THE SAME. Ironically enough, it’s paper, not digital, that to me, has the greatest sense of permanency.
And that is SO cool that you took Faith to see TZ that way! Those old cigarette commercials are a delight to watch, aren’t they? (Despite what they’re selling, I mean!) Isn’t it strange how when you’re watching television, you feel like cursing every commercial that comes on. But once enough time has passed, advertisements are half the fun of watching an old show!
I know this comment is terribly late, but Merry Christmas anyway, Dan!
I love long comments, Wendy. It is funny how we like watching the old commercials now. Still, I don’t remember the commercials being as intrusive in the 60s as they are today. The Twilight Zone episode we watched had Rod Serling doing the commercial at the 15-minute mark. It was like a bonus!
Speaking of Hallmark, I finally got an ornament I wanted to buy last year. They wouldn’t sell it to me because it wasn’t supposed to be released until April 2016. (one of the Cupcake ornaments) – I bought it off of eBay in November (I forgot to go back in April).
I want an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with compass in its stock, and this thing which tells time!
Well, I didn’t really want one of those, but I couldn’t resist, “A Christmas Story” one of my favorite movies!
Yes, I remember the Sears catalog! But, for me, the real Holy Mother of Christmas selections came from the FAO Schwartz catalog! Oh, the toys and GADGETS that thing had in it!
I don’t remember the Sears “Wish Book,” but I seem to remember the actual Christmas catalog, which I swore used to be something like two-inches thick? Am I remembering that correctly? Anyway, whatever catalog that was…I used to pore over that thing for hours….
And it looks like FAO Schwarz may be returning this next year: http://fao.com/
Great post! Merry Christmas to all! May you all get what you’ve wanted…as well as a little world peace….
Ha! Points for a perfect Christmas movie reference on a Christmas post!
And omigosh, Frank, I had never heard of the FAO Schwarz catalogue, but now I really, really want one! Some of the catalogue covers from the ’60s are just wonderful!
And you’re absolutely right — both about the catalogue size (at least an inch or two thick!) AND about remembering something that wasn’t a “Wish Book”. The Wish Book that started in 1953 is from the Canadian branch of Sears. But on the American side, the “Sears Christmas Book” started two decades earlier. Sears had been putting out product catalogues since the late 1800’s, of course, but the first Christmas-themed book was produced in 1933. Now, the American version WOULD come to be known as the “Wish Book” as well, but it started out as the “Christmas Book”. (Gosh, can you tell I love this stuff? ;P)
And thank you, Frank. Since this reply is late, I can happily say that I DID get some nice things for Christmas this year! Hope you did too!
Fun! Should also check out this site with over 100 Christmas Catalogs:
https://christmas.musetechnical.com
This site is amazing, thank you for sharing!!
I’m looking for a picture of something from an early 90s wish book but not sure what year. Any chance you would be able to help me?
It was a Barbie house but not a Barbie brand. It had plastic beams but cardboard walls. Three stories with a balcony on the second and third floor.
Thanks!!!
Hi, Pinkie! I just recently acquired the ’94 and ’95 Wish Books I was missing, so if the house is in any of the catalogues from 1991 onward, I’ll find it. Let me take a look tomorrow and I’ll get back to you!
Thank you so much!!
Okay, so I just finished going through all the Wish Books from 1991-1999 and I snapped quick pics of everything that looked similar to what you described. I don’t think any of them are going to be what you were looking for, but here’s a link where you can view all the pictures: https://1drv.ms/u/s!Av3oYyb_mnCNl25Yi-BNG18vUtKH?e=XjmGM7
I know that some of them are the same item only from different years, but I was just snapping whatever I could find, and sometimes one year’s listing shows an additional view to the previous year’s, so I just uploaded every pic I took.
If any of these are in fact what you were looking for and you’d like a better picture and a reference for which year it came from, just let me know! Also, these are all Canadian Wish Books, and as far as I can tell, they ARE different than the American catalogues which were also called Wish Books. So if none of these are what you’re looking for, then you probably need to find some American editions. Hope this helps!