Antique Christmas Postcards

The First Christmas Postcard

What do you do when you have too many holiday correspondents and not enough time to write individual letters? That was the problem facing an Englishman named Sir Henry Cole, a civil servant who had helped establish a new Public Record Office (a.k.a. Post Office), or so the story goes.

Another version is that he was looking for a way to get more people to utilize the services of the post office and buy stamps, Regardless of his reasons, he commissioned the first known Christmas card from artist John Calcott Horsley.

The card was a drawing lithographed in black and white and then colored by hand depicting a small gathering of festive people celebrating the season. It included two illustrations on the left and right hand side showing charitable giving, consistent with the design envisioned by Cole. It featured “to” and “from” lines so each card could be personalized, as well as a generic message wishing the reader a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It was printed on a small piece of cardboard and copies were made by a printer in London. Today, we would recognize the card as an early postcard, because it contained a picture on the front and space for an address and stamp on the back.

Christmas Postcards Come to the U.S.

Christmas cards began to appear in the U.S. around the same time, but they were too expensive for most people to afford. Then in 1875, a printer from Massachusetts, Louis Prang, began mass producing them. From that point on, the exchange of Christmas cards and postcards became a more important and widespread tradition, providing a quick and inexpensive way to correspond with friends and loved ones. Over time they became more artistic and collectible.

Common Christmas Postcard Images

Some common designs on vintage Christmas postcards include candle decked trees, twinkling stars, festive bells, springs of holly, images of angels, beautiful wintery scenes, and of course, Santa Claus. Charming depictions of children sledding and manger scenes were also quite popular.

The Golden Age of Postcards

Christmas postcards enjoyed a surge in popularity after 1907 when the post office began to allow postcard designs to include a divided back.

This allowed the sender to include a short written message on the card, instead of just including the recipient’s address. Most antique Christmas postcards that are readily found today were made after this time. In fact, “the golden age” of Christmas postcards in the U.S. is generally believed to have been between 1907 and 1920.

Decline of the Christmas Postcard

The gradual demise of the Christmas postcard began in 1915 when the Hall brothers introduced a new format for Christmas cards resembling a small book that was inserted into an envelope, providing more room for a hand-written greeting. A decade later, these brothers formed The Hallmark Company and their greeting card designs became the modern standard we recognize today.

My Personal Postcard Collection

The antique Christmas cards in my own collection were mostly found for a few dollars each at antique shows, antique stores, used bookstores and flea markets. You can easily find them on etsy, ebay and other online stores.

I also have collections of postcards celebrating the New Year, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween, as well as birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions. I guess I could be considered something of a deltiologist (a person who collects postcards as a hobby).

The Value of Christmas Postcards

The value of Christmas postcards depends on several factors, including the design. Christmas postcards featuring Santa Claus or St. Nicholas are particularly desirable, especially if they vary from the traditional red attire. Condition and color are also important in determining value.

Be cautioned when you shop for vintage Christmas postcards. There are plenty of reproductions on the market, including some made by Hallmark, so be sure to examine the back of the postcard for clues about its age and origin. Personally, I prefer postcards that were actually written on and mailed to a recipient. It feels more interesting and personal, and also provides a postmark date to verify its age.

Displaying Christmas Postcards

There are many different ways to display antique Christmas cards. I usually keep mine in an old brass photo ring stand I was given as a present years ago. I’ve also seen them framed, leaning against the wall on top of fireplace mantels, inserted into plastic sleeves and then hung up as ornaments and stacked in baskets on a coffee table or in a notebook so they can be casually perused.

Protecting your Postcards

It’s a good rule of thumb to keep vintage postcards in plastic sleeves to preserve them. Like all old paper items (also known as ephemera), they are prone to tearing, folding and bending. The edges are susceptible to all kinds of damage. The oils in your fingertips can discolor them, as well.

Christmas Decor

However you decide to show off your collection, there is no doubt that antique Christmas postcards will add a great deal of interest, color and Christmas cheer to your existing holiday decor!

References

For more detailed information you may like to check out the following sites:

https://www.lovetoknow.com/home/antiques-collectibles/antique-christmas-postcards

https://www.collectorsweekly.com/postcards/christmas

https://www.rosenberg-library-museum.org/treasures/vintage-christmas-cards