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... good children and tormented the bad ones by threatening to beat them or throw them into flames. This creature with one cloven hoof is usually depicted carrying chains, a bundle of switches, and a large basket for holding bad children. Krampus also turns on his devilish charms for pretty ladies, but mocks or tortures the unattractive ones.