The Art of Decorating Dry Goods Windows and Interiors

L. Frank Baum treats window dressing as a modern art with deep roots in trade, arguing that a show window can stir desire more powerfully than print and must be studied, practiced, and mastered. He begins with the merchant's public face: the storefront, the glass, and the display space itself, urging simple, modern fronts that maximize visibility, minimize shadows, and put merchandise before architectural showiness. He also tackles practical obstacles such as dirty glass and winter frosting, explaining condensation and offering solutions through boxed construction, ventilation, heaters, fans, and glass treatments. From there, Baum moves into the craft of trimming: keep displays simple, focused, and uncluttered; show saleable stock or bargains; and plan carefully before anything reaches the window. He outlines the tools, screens, and reusable framework pieces that make professional work efficient, then expands into motion displays, from revolving wheels and busts to a straw hat machine. The book culminates in theatrical spectacles like an erupting Vesuvius and a miniature solar system, where lights, wheels, belts, and layered materials create illusion, education, and sales appeal in equal measure. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.