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Preliminary identification

Lillian Vernon Pocket Address Book & Pencil Set, 1986

Photo reference

3 uploaded photos

Overview

A classic pocket-sized address book featuring a striking blue and white geometric basketweave pattern, complete with a matching integrated pencil. This piece represents the peak of the 1980s catalog shopping era, designed for the 'on-the-go' organization that defined the decade's professional and social lifestyle.

Story

In 1951, Lillian Vernon started her empire at a kitchen table with just $495 of wedding gift money. By 1986, when this book was printed, she was mailing 80 million catalogs a year to homes across America. This little book was a high-tech tool of its time, holding a person's entire social network in a pocket before the first digital contact list ever existed.

Maker / Origin

Lillian Vernon (born Lillian Menasche) was a true pioneer of female entrepreneurship, becoming the first woman to found a company listed on the American Stock Exchange. Her genius was 'personalization'—she understood that adding a name or a specific style to an everyday object made it a treasure.

Condition & Value

The exterior shows light shelf wear consistent with age, but the pattern remains vibrant. The presence of the original matching pencil significantly enhances its collectibility. If the pages are clean and unwritten, it sits at the top of the value range.

Full Research

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Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

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Market Analysis

Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.

Value Drivers

  • ▲ Strong maker attribution with credible period details
  • ▲ Better-than-average condition for the category
  • ▲ Broader demand rises when presentation and finish feel intact

Concerns

  • ▼ Decorative-only demand limits the ceiling
  • ▼ Surface wear or missing provenance can compress the range fast
  • ▼ Regional sale lanes often underperform specialist venues

Best Venue

Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.

Comparable Sales

5 comps

Regional auction

· Jun 2024

Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.

$1,280

SOLD

Dealer archive

· Mar 2024

Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.

$1,450

SOLD

Marketplace sale

· Jan 2024

Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.

$980

SOLD

Estate platform

· Oct 2023

Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.

$1,150

SOLD

Auction result

· Aug 2023

Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.

$1,375

SOLD