Christmas Postcards

About Vintage Christmas Postcards

In 1843 in Britain a wealthy man, 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 cards have featured everything from nativity scenes to families around the Christmas tree. Early cards were lithographed and often adorned with silk, lace and satin.

The most sought after vintage Christmas postcards are those featuring Santa Claus dressed in a color other than red – such as purple, green, yellow or orange.


Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Metropolitan Museum Curator Jeff Rosenheim On The Postcard Collection Of Walker Evans

In 1994, I had the great pleasure of acquiring the complete archive of Walker Evans for the Metropolitan Muse… [more]

An Interview With Antique Christmas Ornament Collector Jerry Arnold

About 42 years ago, my wife, Darla, went to a very large white elephant sale and found a box of antique Chris… [more]

An Interview With Vintage Postcard Collector Ann Waidelich

I worked for 35 years as a reference librarian with the Madison Public Library and I just got interested in M… [more]

An Interview with Antique Christmas Decorations Collector Dolph Gotelli

I grew up in a home without any antiques. As a small kid, I started decorating my parents’ home for Christm… [more]

Guest Column: A History of Dimestore Christmas Village Houses

The following is a history of these wondrous little artifacts called cardboard Christmas village houses -… [more]

An Interview With Postcard Collector Andreas Praefcke

Andreas Praefcke (Ravensburg, Germany) collects postcards of old and new theatre buildings worldwide. His com… [more]

Guest Column: 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 Ch… [more]

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Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Papa Teds Place

Papa Teds Place

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

U. Delaware Postcard Collection

U. Delaware Postcard Collection

This collection of over 2000 postcards provides a peek at life in and around Delaware in the early 1900s. Browse g… [read review or visit site]

Carthalia

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

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]

Digital Past

Digital Past

Digital Past, a group effort by dozens of Chicago-area institutions, boasts one of the world's largest online colle… [read review or visit site]

Bohemian Christmas Decorations

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]

Stevengraphs Bookmarks and Postcards

Stevengraphs Bookmarks and Postcards

Malcolm Roebuck's tribute to the ornate silk picture bookmarks and postcards ('Stevengraphs') produced by Thomas St… [read review or visit site]

Old Soviet Christmas Cards

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]

Tall Tale Postcards

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]

Penny Postcards

Penny Postcards

Great collection of American penny postcards from the early 1900s, organized by state and then county. Includes a n… [read review or visit site]

Old Tokyo

Old Tokyo

This beautiful site features a collection of tinted postcards, woodblock prints, and early maps of Tokyo. The image… [read review or visit site]

Postcardy.com

Postcardy.com

Lynne Appel's reference site contains useful information for postcard collectors such as such as a Postcard Collect… [read review or visit site]


Got a site to suggest? Let us know.




Clubs & Associations: Postcards


Other Great Reference Sites: Postcards

Are we missing one? Tell us.

Top eBay Auctions  Help | Get weekly Christmas Postcards email

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1907 Postcard Album W/ 204 Cards, Christmas, Easter$99.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 7 watchers
Huge Lot Of 150 Vintage Christmas Postcards--6 Santas!$81.00 Ends in 23 hours 18 bids 9 watchers
Early 1900's Postcard Album~134~ Postcards~santa Claus~$75.99 Ends Monday 7 bids 15 watchers
Lot Of 250 Antique Postcards,christmas,holiday,easter,$62.50 Ends Wednesday 14 bids 11 watchers
Christmas Santa Theme Post Cards (41) Early 1900's$59.75 Ends in 22 hours 10 bids 7 watchers
Hold To Light, Santa Vintage Post Card, Never Mailed$49.95 Ends Monday 1 bid 5 watchers
Hold-to-light Christmas Postcard - Children$41.00 Ends in 11 hours 13 bids 11 watchers
30 Antique Postcards Album Christmas Greeting Holiday $39.95 Ends Monday 1 bid 11 watchers
Lot Of 200+ Christmas Postcards*1907-20's*free Shipping$31.00 Ends in 20 hours 7 bids 8 watchers
Brown Santa Rings At Door 1918 Artist Kaulbach Rrr!!!!!$28.77 Ends in 19 hours 5 bids 8 watchers
Vintage Mechanical Christmas Postcard Germany (1540)$26.25 Ends in 22 hours 3 bids 2 watchers
Rppc Santa Fe Depot Frontenac Kansas Wells Fargo 1910s$25.56 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 3 watchers
Nice Lot 136 Antique Early 1900's Christmas Postcards$24.99 Ends in 22 hours 1 bid 6 watchers
Antique Santa Velvet Robe Lot Christmas Postcard$22.00 Ends Sunday 2 bids 3 watchers
Montecito Inn Santa Barbara Ca Handcolored Postcard$20.60 Ends in 23 hours 6 bids 4 watchers
Vintage Christmas Postcard Santa In Brown Coat Germany$19.99 Ends in 1 hour 1 bid 2 watchers
Vintage Christmas Postcard Santa Green Coat Blue Hat $19.99 Ends in 1 hour 1 bid 4 watchers
A Merry Christmas Postcard Purple Santa W/ Gifts$17.49 Ends Thursday 5 bids 2 watchers
Ca. So. Broadway, Santa Maria, Rppc, 30's 40's$16.50 Ends in 21 mins 3 bids 3 watchers
Christmas Postcard Santa Claus Toasts Uncle Sam Gold $16.07 Ends in 22 hours 12 bids 10 watchers
Vintage Lot Of 5 Christmas Post Card Santa Claus 1908$16.00 Ends in 22 hours 10 bids 11 watchers
Santa Christmas Postcard Reindeer Sled Child Silk Vtg$14.99 Ends in 23 hours 1 bid 2 watchers
1912 Hold To Light Diecut Christmas Postcard Beautiful$14.99 Ends in 17 hours 1 bid 1 watcher
Merry Christmas Winsch Publisher Freixa Artist Postcard$14.95 Ends Thursday 2 bids 1 watcher
Embossed "real Hair" Santa Postcard Circa 1910-very Nic$14.50 Ends Thursday 4 bids 14 watchers
1911 Silk-embroidered Santa Postcard..red Suit,holly$13.50 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 4 watchers
Vintage Christmas Postcard Santa In Blue Coat Germany$12.99 Ends in 1 hour 1 bid 2 watchers
Green Robe Santa W Deer$12.50 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 5 watchers
Brown Santa In Town Angel Knocks At Door 1905 Wow!!!$12.50 Ends in 19 hours 2 bids 8 watchers
Christmas Postcard Santa Claus Toast Uncle Sam Gold $10.60 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 6 watchers
'30s Aerial Miramar Hotel Santa Monica Ca California$10.53 Ends Sunday 4 bids 4 watchers
Christmas Postcard Addon Silk Robe Santa Claus Monkey$10.51 Ends in 23 hours 6 bids 9 watchers
Vintage Santa In Blimp Toys Post Card Merry Christmas $10.50 Ends Thursday 3 bids 5 watchers
Postcard Christmas Children Set 7 Vintage C Winsch Tuck$10.50 Ends in 17 hours 2 bids 10 watchers
Postcard Christmas Children Set 7 Vintage Boys Girl E$10.50 Ends in 17 hours 7 bids 7 watchers
Htl, Hold To Light, Little Christmas Angels$10.06 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 7 watchers
Ellen H. Clapsaddle Christmas Postcard Little Girl$10.00 Ends in 19 hours 3 bids 1 watcher
1910 Christmas Postcard Russian Style Robed Santa $10.00 Ends in 1 hour 5 bids 4 watchers
California Ca Santa Barbara Miramar Hotel Postcard Old$10.00 Ends in 20 hours 3 bids 6 watchers
Santa, Blue Robe, Deer & Xmas Tree$9.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 3 watchers
Outstanding Santa Snowy Night Sleigh Deer 1914 Mint !!$9.99 Ends in 19 hours 1 bid 9 watchers
Brown Santa W Sack Rings At Door Gold Emb 1908 Rare!!!$9.99 Ends in 19 hours 1 bid 6 watchers
Vintage Christmas Postcard Santa Claus St. Nick Horse$9.99 Ends Saturday 1 bid 2 watchers
1900s Christmas Postcard, Santa Blue Pants And Umbrella$9.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 9 watchers
1911 Victorian Father Christmas Vintage Postcard $9.99 Ends Monday 1 bid 5 watchers
Lot Of 31 Embossed Pre 1920 Christmas Holiday Postcards$9.99 Ends in 20 hours 1 bid 2 watchers

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