A new range of luxury stationery, with most items at 3d (1½p) each went on display in every store's windows in the 1920s

Cards and Stationery

Advertisements from the London edition of the Daily Mail in 1932 Stationery has been an important part of the Woolworths range for more than 100 years, and even before our first British stores opened many items in America were sourced from the UK and Europe. Cards were our first own label item and give a unique insight into life five generations ago. Stores stocked pictures of local landmarks, always including the shopping street which included the store, as well as greetings cards of many designs.

We wrote the book
Penguin books were first sold in Woolworths in Summer 1935. Ernest Hemingway and Agatha Christie were among the first authors to feature.

We have some great claims to fame in stationery and books:

  • The first Penguin Books were made for Woolworths. They went on sale in Summer 1935. The price of 6d (2½p) made modern popular fiction available to all. Among the first best selling authors was Agatha Christie.
  • Our first Xmas Cards were drawn by the illustrator of the original Charles Dickens - a truly Dickensian Christmas!
Table stationery and pictures frames have both been in our range for the full century. By the 1930s the prices were quite simply unbeatable.

Float your mouse over the examples below to see some more.