HISTORY OF THE CHRISTMAS BOOK

The Early Years
The world famous Neiman Marcus Christmas Book began in 1915 as a Christmas card, inviting customers to the store to start their holiday shopping. The next Christmas catalog didn’t appear until 1926, and consisted of 16 pages. It established a lasting tradition of showcasing the unusual, the humorous and the beautiful in a wide variety of prices, with keen emphasis on selectivity and taste.

During the 1950’s, Neiman Marcus became known for its publicity coups. It all started in 1959, in answer to press inquiries about unusual Christmas gifts. Stanley Marcus and brother Edward came up with an extraordinary gift that gained plenty of press: a Black Angus steer, delivered on the hoof or in steaks, complete with a silver-plated outdoor cooker. The response was tremendous, and the following year a world-famous retailing phenomenon was born – his and hers gifts.

His and Hers Gifts
In 1960 the first his and hers gifts, Beechcraft airplanes, gained so much fame that even renowned journalist Edward R. Morrow (and his then assistant Walter Cronkite) called Stanley Marcus every year to learn about the latest outrageous gift offerings from Neiman Marcus. Over the years, Neiman Marcus has offered "His and Hers" hot air balloons, Chinese junks, submarines, camels, robots, windmills and many other unusual and creative gifts.

The Ultimate Wish Book
The Christmas catalog has evolved into the ultimate wish book for all gifts big and small. Some unique gifts that have been offered over the years include the ultimate $20 million submarine, Mummy cases that contained an actual mummy, seats from Ebbet's Field, and a mermaid suit that could be used while swimming. From the most expensive, an unfinished Boeing Business Jet, to gifts under $100, the NM Christmas book proves there is something for everyone.

The Cover Art
Since it’s inception, the NM Christmas Book, has commissioned leading artists to design the cover, with the art ranging from abstract to surreal to humorous. Notable cover artists have included: Saul Steinberg, Ben Shahn, Robert Indiana, and Al Hirschfeld. Famous fashion models who have appeared in past Christmas books are: Cindy Crawford, Heidi Klum, Morgan Fairchild, Andie MacDowell and Cybil Shepherd.

The Cars
Since 1995, a highly anticipated luxury car has been showcased in the NM Christmas Book. Beginning with the BMW Z3 roadster, the cars have soldout each year, often in the first 24 hours of availability. In 2000, telephone lines at Ford Motor Company were jammed with calls for the NM Limited Edition Ford Thunderbird. The new "bird" was so sought after that it sold out in two hours.

Giving Back
Another long-standing NM Christmas Book tradition is the gift of giving back. Each year a deserving organization is selected to benefit from the sale of featured Christmas book items. Past years' charities have included, Cure Autism Now, The Nature Conservancy and Inner-City Games and Support For People With Oral and Head and Neck Cancer.

Today, the NM Christmas Book is distributed to approximately two million homes worldwide and is available online at neimanmarcus.com  Each year the fall debut of the Christmas Book marks the official start of the holiday season.