History's Best Selling Products of 1868

Revisiting 1868 presents a grand parade of items history, marked by swell Yankee ingenuity and home-front craftsmanship and enduring fan favorites. Unrivaled hits including Typewriter, Little Women, and The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Sketches took top honors in living rooms and storefronts alike. Master craftsmen from industry leaders like Christopher Latham Sholes and Louisa May Alcott led the vanguard, engineering high-caliber releases that swept main street from coast to coast as genuine top-flight hits. Dive into the full historical rankings below to see which standout creations won the day.

1. Typewriter

   Released in 1868 by Christopher Latham Sholes

   June 23, 1868, marks the pivotal moment when the concept of mechanical writing was formally recognized and protected. On this day, U.S. Patent No. 79,265 was granted to Christopher Latham Sholes, Carlos Glidden, and Samuel W. Soule for their invention, the 'Type-Writer'. While they had been working on prototypes for over a year, this patent was the legal birth certificate of their machine. It transformed their workshop experiment into a legitimate piece of intellectual property, laying the groundwork for commercial production. This date doesn't represent a product launch, but something far more fundamental: the official invention of a device that would revolutionize business communication, create new industries, and forever change the social fabric of the workplace.

2. Little Women

   Released in 1868 by Louisa May Alcott, Roberts Brothers

   Louisa May Alcott's 'Little Women', published in 1868, holds immense historical significance as a foundational text in American children's literature and a groundbreaking portrayal of female domestic life in the post-Civil War era. Its release coincided with a period of significant social change, as women began to challenge traditional roles and seek greater independence. The novel's warm depiction of the March sisters' lives, their struggles, triumphs, and aspirations, resonated deeply with readers and offered a new, more nuanced vision of girlhood and womanhood. It not only entertained but also subtly influenced societal perceptions of female education, ambition, and the importance of familial bonds, making it a powerful cultural artifact of its time.

3. The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Sketches

   Released in 1868 by Bret Harte, Fields, Osgood, & Co.

   Published in 1868, "The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Sketches" holds profound historical significance as a seminal work in American literature, particularly in establishing the 'local color' movement. At a time when the nation was grappling with post-Civil War identity and looking westward, Harte's collection offered a vibrant and distinctly American voice, capturing the essence of the California Gold Rush era. Its release marked a pivotal moment, shifting literary focus away from purely East Coast narratives and introducing a new appreciation for regional dialects, unique characters, and the rugged landscapes of the American frontier. The book's immediate and widespread impact captivated readers, defining a genre and influencing subsequent generations of writers.