History's Best Selling Products of 1780

Hats off to 1780! Few items commanded as much fanfare and nationwide excitement as A Journal of the Life, Travels, and Labours of John Griffith. Alongside sensationally popular hits like Picture hat and essential classics, consumers eagerly embraced the swell Yankee ingenuity and home-front craftsmanship. Pioneering outfits from industry leaders like John Griffith and Various Milliners set the standard for quality, producing celebrated items that swept main street from coast to coast as genuine top-flight hits. Browse our definitive retrospective below to rediscover the genuine articles of the era.

1. A Journal of the Life, Travels, and Labours of John Griffith

   Released in 1780 by John Griffith, James Phillips

   Published in London in 1780, 'A Journal of the Life, Travels, and Labours of John Griffith' stands as a profound historical document, offering an intimate glimpse into the spiritual and physical landscape of pre-Revolutionary America and Britain through the eyes of a devout Quaker minister. Its release shortly after the American Revolution provided a retrospective reflection on an era of significant social and religious transformation. The journal is historically significant not merely as a personal narrative but as a primary source detailing the itinerant ministry, challenges, and inner life of a prominent Friend, illuminating the steadfast principles and communal networks that defined Quakerism during a pivotal period of Anglo-American history. It reflects the enduring practice of spiritual self-examination central to Quaker identity.

2. Picture hat

   Released in 1780 by Various Milliners, Inspired by Marie Antoinette and Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire

   The Picture hat burst onto the fashion scene in the late 18th century, quickly becoming an emblem of romantic elegance and an instant success among the European aristocracy. Popularized by style icons such as Marie Antoinette in France and Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire in England, this grand headpiece offered a dramatic frame for the wearer's face, transforming them into a living portrait, much like those seen in the era's grand paintings. Its widespread adoption underscored a shift towards more expressive and visually striking fashion, allowing women of high society to make a bold, yet graceful, statement at social gatherings and outdoor events. Its immediate appeal lay in its ability to combine theatricality with undeniable charm, marking it as a sensation that would endure through centuries.