Welcome to the forum @eva.pushkova . It is great that you are taking precautions before experimenting. You are probably right in assuming that due to the age of the catalogs, there is no PVC involved.
A simple test to make to find out if the sample contains chlorinated compound is mentioned in:
Continuing the discussion from Vinyl Cutting (Don’t do it):
This test of course doesn´t rule out other dangerous compounds, but as @evansd2 mentioned above, I would be willing to try a small test sample.
When cutting any kind of paper/cardboard/fabric there is always a fire hazzard, so please have a squirt bottle with water at hand and be attentive to cancel your job at the first sign of a flare up.
Please do share your results with the rest of us, as this seems to be the first time someone has mentioned trying this.