NC State University Libraries Research and Study Collection of Seed Catalogs 1870-1975

Burpee's Seeds, Henry A. Dreer Company, and D.M. Ferry & Co. began publishing seed catalogs starting in the 19th Century. Seed catalogs provide photos and information on various seeds for sale including flowers, vegetables, fruits, and other plants.

Burpee's Seeds is a plant and seed company was founded in 1876 in Philadelphia by W. Atlee Burpee (1858-1915). It was the first American research-based seed company. Initially, the company was more concentrated on offering high quality vegetable seeds. For example, Burpee introduced a high-performing new cabbage variety called “Surehead,” an improved carrot called “Long Orange” new and improved garden and Lima bean, celery and sweet pepper varieties, as well as the now world-famous “Iceberg.” An important factor in Barpee’s success was the use of a new retail idea, the mail-order catalogue that allowed him to deliver seeds all over the United States. After the death of W. Atlee Burpee in 1915, his son David continued the legacy of the largest seed company in the world. Under the leadership of David Burpee, the company developed various ornamental hybrid flowers. Although David Burpee sold the company in 1970, however, it continues to operate to the present and occupies an important place in American seed market.

Henry A. Dreer Seed Store was founded by Henry A. Dreer in Philadelphia in 1838. In the following decades, this business expanded due to growing popularity. An important factor in their success was conditioned by the successful distribution of seed, plant, and bulb catalogs all over the United States. In 1865, Dreer introduced on a yearly publication – seed packet and bulb catalog that featured a six-color illustration that presented best flowers. Dreer also advertised vegetables, fruits, tools for plant maintenance, garden and farm implements.

D.M. Ferry Seed Company originated in 1856 in Detroit, after Dexter Mason Ferry, Sr. joined M.T. Gardner & Co. a seed growing and packing firm. After Gardner’s retirement in 1867, Ferry bought his partners shares and renamed the company the D.M. Ferry Company. In the following years, he expended the business. Not only did he offer products at the most affordable price, but also the distinctive art published by their company for seeds advertising attracted millions of people. By early twentieth century, D.M. Ferry Seed Company was one of the largest American seed businesses.

John Wrigley Thompson (1826-1900) of J.W. Thompson and Co. Fruit and Flower Plates and Dellon Marcus Dewey (1819-1889), an artist and bookseller based in Rochester, NY, crested the Nurseyman's Seed Catalog.

Frank A. Stecher (1849-1916) of Stecher Lithographic Company, a chromolithographic printing business known for its fruit crate labels and "nurserymen's plates," and Louis Ennecker Jr. (fl. 19th century) created the Tree-Peddler's Sample-Book for Washington Nursery Co. in Toppenish, Washington.

NC State University Libraries Research and Study Collection of Seed Catalogs contains seed catalogs and garden books produced by seed companies and garden stores in the 19th and 20th centuries.

This collection is arranged alphabetically.

The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.

The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.

[Identification of item], NC State University Libraries Research and Study Collection of Seed Catalogs, MC 00728, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Related Materials

• Dennis Werner Collection of Seed Catalogs (MC 00573)

Purchased by the Acquisitions and Discovery Department of the NSCU Libraries (Accession 2023.0055)

Processed by: Gevorg Vardanyan, 2023 April; Finding aid written by Gevorg Vardanyan, 2023 April; Finding aid updated by Hailey Mandel, 2025 June.