Déjà Vu: That 1920's Gift Guide

One hundred years ago, gift guides were hitting newsstands and mailboxes just the way they’re flooding your inbox today. It’s wild to think that over a century ago, we were doing essentially the same thing—shopping for many of the exact same items.

One thing that has changed: the prices. When adjusted for inflation, this 1920s guide is really more of a visual illustration of how consumer goods prices have fluctuated. A few times, to my surprise, things have gotten cheaper, or stayed relatively close.¹

Below are some of the 🔥 hottest gifts of the early 1920s 🔥 straight from House & Garden’s 1921–1923 gift guides—along with their 2025 inflation-adjusted prices and the modern equivalents for comparison.²

Felix the Cat Stuffy

Original price: $2, adjusted for inflation: $39.

Jelly Cat ($50).

📈 Swapped velvet for polyester and price is still up 28%.

Mah Jongg Set

Original price: $25, adjusted for inflation: $482.

I think I found the exact model on Charish ($1500).

📈 A high-end Mah Jongg set today on par with this set will likely take you well over $482.

Child’s Golf Set

Original price: $5.50, adjusted for inflation: $106.

Complete Junior Golf Set ($379).

📈 Up 256%.

Honey Jar

Original price: $2.75, adjusted for inflation: $53.

William Yeoward Country Honeycomb Honey Jar & Spoon ($264).

📈 Up 398%.

Boxing Kit

Original price: $7.50, adjusted for inflation: $127.

RDX Boxing Kit ($75).

📉 Down 69%

Leather Wallet

Original price $13, adjusted for inflation: $250.

T. Anthony Card Master Side-Flip Wallet ($365).

📈 Up 46%.

8” Brass Candle Sticks

Original price $6.50 for a pair, adjusted for inflation: $125.

William Sonoma brass 8” candle sticks ($140 for two).

📈 Up 12%.

Decorative House Plant

Original price: $5-$10, adjusted for inflation: $125.

Pandanus Veitchii a.k.a. Golden Screw Pine ($10).

📉 Down 1150% (imported tropical plants were considered exotic status symbols in the 1920s).

Children’s Tool Chest

Original price: $4.50, adjusted for inflation $89.

Junior Tool Box ($60).

📉 Down 48%.

Small Moving Picture Machine

Original price $5, adjusted for inflation: $96.

Camp Snap 8 ($199).

📈 Up 107%. Not exactly apples to apples, but…this is a hot gift this year.

Windsor Rocking Chair

Original price: $20, adjusted for inflation: $390.

Frederick Duckloe Cherry Windsor Rocker Chair ($876).

📈 Up 125%.

Clay and Cookie Cut-Out Set

Original price: $1, adjusted for inflation: $19.

Alt Play-Doh ($16).

📉 Down 18%.

Wrapping Paper

And of course, one must wrap it all up with “colorful Italian and Japanese papers to suggest the gaiety of Christmas.”

Block Shop wrapping paper ($20).

Aspen & Arlo Paper ($20).

Final Thought

Quite eerily, as I was nearly done with this newsletter, I clicked one more link—the December 1920 issue of House & Garden. I opened the editor’s letter and found this:

“Does life through the centuries repeat itself with regard to gift-giving as well as other idiosyncrasies of the human race? Are there not distinct parallels to be found today in some of the presents of other times?”

So not only have the gifts themselves barely changed in a hundred years, but the editorial discourse is on repeat too.

It makes you think: Are we all just on a loop? 👀

1. I’m not an economist or statistician! Please note all math was done using AI and who can be sure if those percentages are accurate? Not me!

2. These are imperfect comparisons! Prices vary by brand and material; it’s just a fun mood board exercise.