The front cover of Copland & Lye's Christmas catalogue for 1903. A special exhibition was arranged at Caledonian House, with gifts for young and old. The catalogue listed presents which could be supplied by mail order, for those unable to visit the shop in person.
The newly-extended department store is in the background. In the early 1900s Copeland & Lye acquired the corner block of buildings at Bath Street and joined on to the original Caledonian House in Sauchiehall Street by a subway under, and covered bridges over, Sauchiehall Lane.
Although observance of Christmas was less widespread in Scotland than in England, there was clearly a market for Christmas presents. But for many Glaswegians, Christmas Day was a normal working day. The traditional Scottish public holiday was on New Year's Day.
Reference: Glasgow City Archives, TD128/96
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
advertisements, bridges, Caledonian House, Christmas presents, Christmas shopping, Copland & Lye, department stores, exhibitions, holidays, mail order, New Year, Santa Claus, shopping, shops, subways, trade catalogues