Tiffany & Co.'s annual product catalog, first published in 1845, is called the Blue Book.
The catalog was an early direct-mail showcase for the company's jewelry and luxury merchandise. Rather than functioning like a simple modern store flyer, it presented an aspirational selection of finely made goods to customers who might not have been able to visit Tiffany's New York premises. Its name became closely connected with the distinctive blue associated with the House.
Tiffany was founded in New York in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young. The 1845 catalog therefore appeared only eight years after the firm's launch, during its transformation from a stationery and fancy-goods shop into a major luxury retailer.
A common mix-up is the Blue Book's relationship to Tiffany Blue. The Blue Book is the catalog; Tiffany Blue is the signature color later associated with the company's packaging and branding. In modern usage, “Blue Book” may also refer to Tiffany's high-jewelry collection, which continues the tradition of presenting exceptional, highly crafted pieces.