Series I. includes fifty-four small books (some hand bound with twine) in which samples of wood engravings done for Sanford's clients are pasted, along with the date done (or perhaps the date paid) and the price for each engraving. The engravings date from 1874 to 1910. The books generally show products sold by each client, but also occasionally include letterhead, cuts of factory buildings, business cards, and corporate identifications. Most books date from over a period of years, sometimes allowing the change in models and products sold by businesses to be measured.

The books in this series all measure approximately 9 x 6 inches. The client sample books are arranged alphabetically by client. Client names are written on the exterior of each book; it is sometimes the case that proofs for more than client can be found in one book. In this case, all clients have been listed in the following container list. Where a location of the business has been determined, it is noted in the container list.

Series II. holds sixteen compilation books of engravings, proofs, drawings, and invoices which were glued randomly in commercial books. One of these books was removed from the Album File, where it had been listed separately as an album (formerly PR-002-238). The material is not arranged in either client or chronological order. The work is largely unsigned. The engravings found inside date from 1838-1913. The bound volume in Box 4 includes an engraving marked "first engraving, 25th June 1838." The notebooks into which most of the proofs have been pasted were produced by Whitlock's Bookstore in New Haven; they are student workbooks for reading course, and are copyrighted in 1924, so that somewhat dates their creation. Frederick Sanford or another family member must have pasted in these engravings sometime after 1924.