In 1843, a wealthy British man named Sir Henry Cole had so many greetings to send, he couldn't hand write them all. So he had a card made showing charity to the poor, and the Christmas card was born. Subsequent postcards produced by publishers from the 1870s until World War I featured everything from nativity scenes to families around the Christmas tree. Early cards were lithographed and often adorned with silk, lace, and satin. Between 1898 and 1918, the golden era of postcards, Christmas postcards were the most popular vehicle for conveying holiday wishes.
Christmas postcards featuring Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas are the most collectible, particularly the early German chromolithographed and embossed postcards featuring Santas in colors other than red. American Santas with black faces are also very popular with contemporary collectors. The German version of Father Christmas, also called Weilnachtensmanner or Belznickel, can be found in fur-trimmed robes of white, yellow, orange, black, and gray, and these cards are particularly desirable. This thin, stern mythical old man brought treats to well-behaved children. He sometimes is accompanied by an angel or the Baby Jesus, whom he holds in his arms.
Most intriguing, though, is St. Nicholas’ puckish devil companion, Krampus, found on German, Austrian, and Czechoslovakian cards. On these cards, Krampus is seen playing with the...
Today, Krampus cards are highly sought by collectors. Generally, artist-signed Krampus postcards not on red backgrounds command the highest prices. Many Art Nouveau artists, particularly those in the esteemed Wiener Wekstätte collective, made gorgeous and coveted Krampus cards. Cards depicting Father Christmas and Krampus together are also highly desirable.
During the golden era of postcards, scores of beautiful Christmas postcards were produced by top artists like Ellen Clapsaddle, Samuel Schmucker, Frances Brundage, and H.B. Griggs, who worked for publishers such as Raphael Tuck and Sons and John Winsch.
Some of most stunning Christmas postcards were created by the artist A. Mailick. Paul Finkenrath of Berlin made delightful mechanical Christmas postcards featuring moveable puppets, dials, or faces with mouths that opened and closed. And Louis Wain, an artist known for drawing cats in human clothes, made several postcards of cats dressed as Santa.
Another popular gimmick for Victorian Christmas postcards was the Hold-to-Light card. In these cards, an image with a dark outline, like a Santa, would be covered with thin layers of paper, which would be printed with a different image. If one held the postcard to the light, Santa would suddenly be visible popping out of a chimney. Hold-to-Light cards depicting Uncle Sam Santas are particularly valuable.
Interviews & Articles
You'd Better Watch Out: Krampus Is Coming to Town

You've heard the rumor that Santa Claus will leave a lump of coal, possibly some switches, for children who rank on his "naughty" … [more]
Dreaming of a Posh Christmas, in Postcards

As a fan of vintage clothing and all things vintage related to Christmas, I naturally seek out vintage Christmas cards that have a… [more]
Walker Evans, Preeminent Photographer and Passionate Postcard Collector

In 1994, I had the great pleasure of acquiring the complete archive of Walker Evans for the Metropolitan Museum. The archive is qu… [more]
Vintage Christmas Ornaments, From Cardboard Dresdens to Silvered Kugels

About 42 years ago, my wife, Darla, went to a very large white elephant sale and found a box of antique Christmas ornaments. She t… [more]
When Postcards Were the Social Network

I worked for 35 years as a reference librarian with the Madison Public Library and I just got interested in Madison’s history thro… [more]
The Charms of Christmas Ephemera and the Changing Face of Santa Claus

I grew up in a home without any antiques. As a small kid, I started decorating my parents’ home for Christmas. I don’t know what i… [more]
Attending the Theatre, Via Postcards

Andreas Praefcke (Ravensburg, Germany) collects postcards of old and new theatre buildings worldwide. His complete collection can … [more]
A History of Dimestore Christmas Village Houses

The following is a history of these wondrous little artifacts called cardboard Christmas village houses - a history devoted to est… [more]
A Guide to Christmas Antiques and Vintage Christmas Decorations

Ever wonder about that box of vintage Christmas decorations in the attic? From wooden nutcrackers to glass Christrmas tree ornamen… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
Papa Teds Place

Theodore H. Althof, Jr's beautiful collection of vintage dimestore cardboard Christmas 'putz' village houses. Start… [read review or visit site]
Carthalia

Andreas Praefcke's postcard collection of theatres and concert halls worldwide. Showcases 3700 images of over 1810 … [read review or visit site]
Antique Christmas Lights Museum

George Nelson's incredibly detailed chronicle of vintage Christmas tree lighting. Browsable by decade and special t… [read review or visit site]
Tall Tale Postcards

Don't let this one get away from you. This 'unbelievable' collection, from the Wisconsin Historical Society, featur… [read review or visit site]
Bohemian Christmas Decorations

This simple site showcases over 500 artistic Gablonz glass bead antique and vintage Christmas tree ornaments, made … [read review or visit site]
Old Soviet Christmas Cards

This site showcases over 1000 old Soviet Christmas and New Years cards from 1950 to 1990. Browse through page after… [read review or visit site]
The Killer Mobile Device for Victorian Women
If These Shirts Could Talk: The Tantalizing Tales Behind Used Clothes
Gloriously Grotesque 19th-Century Pipes
In the Hot Seat: Is Your Antique Windsor a Fake?
Bizarro Beauty Products, from 1889 to Now
Love at First Kite: How Pizza and Pente Led to One Oklahoman's High-Flying Obsession
Pin-Up Queens: Three Female Artists Who Shaped the American Dream Girl
Say Ahhh: An Oral Surgeon's Quest to Reimagine the Garage-Band Guitar
Tokens for Sweethearts, in Times of War
American Picker Dream, Part I: Mike Wolfe On His Love Affair With Bikes

by 
by 
by 