A complete guide to a mainstay of American rural life--the country store--and the many collectibles in spawned.

The country store played a central role in the lives of most Americans during the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Sometimes known as "The General Store" or a "Mom and Pop," they were emporiums of civilization. In the small towns, the prairies, and frontiers of America, country stores were the places where people could get the things they could not produce themselves: tools, gadgets, cloth and clothing, shoes, food, medicines . . . hundreds of items produced in the growing American factories. In Country Store Collectibles, the stores, their fixtures, products, and advertising are chronicled in beautiful full color photographs. Nearly 600 items are illustrated from collections across America. Also included are historical photographs of the stores themselves and the people who worked in them. A complete current price guide is included to make this an invaluable book for the collector of country store memorabilia, advertising, kitchen collectibles, and Americana in general.[AuthorName]By Douglas Congdon-Martin[/AuthorName][AuthorBio]Douglas Congdon-Martin is the author of several books in the area of antique advertising and country store collectibles.[/AuthorBio][NumIllustration]564 color photos[/NumIllustration][CoAuthor][/CoAuthor][SubTitle][/SubTitle][ColorPattern]564 color photos[/ColorPattern]