One World - World's Best Needle Book

c. 1950
Overview

German made needle storage booklet entitled 'One World - World's Best Needle Book'. It opens from top to bottom to house several packets of nickel-plated hand sewing needles wrapped in protective packets or threaded loose into a paper holder.
The booklet has an unusual shape with a double arched top and rectangular base. The front cover features a colourful illustration of the globe showing Africa, Europe and Australia. Either side of this at the top are a vintage train and a modern bus inside cloud shapes. Above this is a red banner which follows the contour of the arches at the top. The text 'ONE WORLD' is written in white with dark shadows on the red background.
Below the left banner end is a shield shaped image of the Eiffel Tower with a ship cruising past. The background is in orange, yellow and blue. A small red ribbon is positioned at the lower right and contains the title 'EIFFEL TOWER'.
The right banner tapers and ends with a curl of ribbon which has the words 'REG U.S. PAT. OFF' printed in small white letters. Below this is a matching shield shaped illustration of the Sphinx, a pyramid, a palm tree and a group of people in Egypt. This has a matching small red ribbon positioned at the lower left of the shield and contains the title 'The SPHINX'.
The edge of the dark blue globe is pale blue and there are many radiating lines of the same colour extending from it to the edges of the card.
There is a yellow ribbon running horizontally along the central fold of the card, in which the words 'WORLD'S BEST NEEDLE BOOK' are printed in black. Below this on the left are the words 'MADE IN GERMANY' printed in tellow on the blue background.
When the card is opened, it reveals four packets of needles with colourful labels - one in each corner. Between the top two is a gold foil backed piece of orange paper through which several loose needles are threaded. Between the lower two is a larger golden packet with orange and cream printing and an illustration of a cityscape. It has a clear plastic window through which needles can be seen. The background is cross hatched radiating rays of blue and cream, with a blue border.
The design of the other side of the card mirrors the first. The countries on the globe are North and South America, the modes of transport are a plane and a cruise liner, and the shields contain graphics depicting the Statue of Liberty and South America.

Historical information

Both the title 'One World' and graphics employed on this needle book reflect post-World War Two optimism, global connectivity, and the rise of international commercial travel.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-119-RoW00999
Item type
Collectibles
Ephemera
Haberdashery
Lithographs
Needlework
Needlework Equipment
Personal Effects
Souvenirs
Material
Card
Foil (Metal By Form)
Ink
Metal
Paper
Plastic
Width
164 mm
Height or length
97 mm
Depth
3 mm
Inscriptions and markings

On front cover:

"ONE WORLD"

"REG. U.S. PAT. OFF."

"STATUE OF LIBERTY / SO. AMERICA"

"WORLD'S BEST NEEDLE BOOK"

"MADE IN GERMANY"

On covers of needle packets inside:

"ONE
WORLD
NEEDLES
No. 3/No. 3/9, No. 1, No. 3
Sharps
MADE IN GERMANY"

GOLD
EYE
SHARPS
No. 1/5
MADE IN GERMANY"

On back cover:

"ONE WORLD"

"REG. U.S. PAT. OFF."

"EIFFEL TOWER / The SPHINX"

"WORLD'S BEST NEEDLE BOOK"

"MADE IN GERMANY"

Place made
Germany
Year
Primary significance criteria
Artistic or aesthetic significance
Social or spiritual significance
Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
Last modified
Tuesday, 4 August, 2026
Completeness
100
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Front cover of One World - World's Best Needle Book
Front cover of One World - World's Best Needle Book
Contents of One World - World's Best Needle Book
Contents of One World - World's Best Needle Book
Back cover of One World - World's Best Needle Book
Back cover of One World - World's Best Needle Book
Front covers of needle book grouping
Front covers of needle book grouping
Back covers of needle book grouping
Back covers of needle book grouping

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