Collecting Vintage Christmas Postcards

If you have ever browsed an antique shop you have probably seen vintage Christmas postcards among the old pictures, postcards, and letters. These postcards are prized among collectors because of their beauty, unique artwork and lavish embellishments.

While Christmas cards have been used to share holiday greetings since the 1840s most collectors agree that the golden years of postcards were between 1900 and 1920. These are the most colorful, most interesting and most valuable of the holiday postcards.

Deltiology, or postcard collecting, is an affordable hobby. Even Victorian postcards, a hundred years old or more, are plentiful and inexpensive. Choosing to concentrate on holiday cards may even ensure that you have interesting Christmas décor.

During the early 1840s a philanthropist, Sir Henry Cole, wanted to make sure that others remembered the poor during their Christmas celebrations. Looking at the long list of his friends and acquaintances he realized that it would be impossible to encourage each one personally and individually so he commissioned a local artist to design a card. The artist, John C. Horsley, created a three paneled card; one panel depicting a happy family celebrating at a Christmas feast with the panels on either side illustrated with poor and hungry people. The sentiment was simple, "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You".

From that point on the custom of sending Christmas cards caught on in England until nearly anyone who could afford a stamp was sending these "Christmas Cards". The idea spread across the Atlantic to America very quickly.

Christmas cards were imported from England, where they had originated, to the United States until 1875. That year Louis Prang published the first American Christmas cards; more affordable and more obtainable than the imported ones. By 1881 the company was producing over five million Christmas cards every year.

The first postcard was patented in 1861 by John Charlton but the United States Post Office was the only agency licensed to print the cards. They held the monopoly on postcards until the Private Mailing Card Act of 1898 was passed by congress. This act allowed any publisher to create a card but they could not be called postcards nor could they have a divided back for the address and message.

While the companies were authorized to use the name "postcard" in 1901 the backs could still not be divided. The front was used for the message and the back for the address leaving no room for decoration. It wasn't until March of 1907 that the post office allowed postcards with divided backs to be mailed. This design allowed the address to be written on one side of the back while a short message could be added on the other. The entire front was available for decoration.

You can collect Christmas postcards according to date, a certain design, or a theme. Most collectors collect the cards randomly; just choosing designs that they like.

The earliest designs for Holiday postcards were based on nature and a focus on spring. Flowers, gardens and even fairies helped to remind the recipients that winter would not last forever. As time passed other images became popular.

Children

Children, whether waiting for Santa, mailing Christmas packages, sledding or some other winter activity were a popular subject for vintage Christmas postcards.

Home

Home and family was a popular theme, often showing a happy family eating dinner, opening gifts, or some other activity. This was especially true during the Arts and Crafts movement when family and simplicity were the focus of architects and artists alike.

Nature

Scenes from nature lost favor for awhile but resurfaced during the Arts and Crafts movement and its fascination with nature and natural things. Pinecones, snow scenes and other bucolic images abound in these cards.

Religious Symbols

Manger scenes, angels, and other Christian symbols were often the subject of the Christmas postcard.

Santa Claus

Santa postcards are extremely popular and generally are more valuable than other images. The most sought after cards will depict old Saint Nick in an unusual way; a blue suit, a patriotic Santa or a Santa driving an old Model T.

Transportation Themes

As American embraced the age of the motor car postcards reflected the new fascination with things that moved. Horseless carriages, cars, ships, and trains became popular modes of transportation for Santa Claus. Later, air planes were added to the designs. These should be studied carefully as they can give an indication of the year the card was made. You won't find an airplane on a card printed in 1906, for example.

Look for the Unusual

Always look for unusual designs. You will be able to ascertain which antique Christmas cards are unique and which aren't after a short time of looking at the various cards. Always look for unusual subjects (Uncle Sam, Jack Frost) or unusual colors (Blue, pink, white) in Santa's suit.

These unique cards will usually be more valuable than the more common ones.

Antique Christmas postcards should be evaluated with the same criteria that are used on any other antique postcard. Always consider the individual details.

Age – You may be able to tell something about age according to the subject matter and "look" of the card even if there is no date on it. Some cards will have a handwritten date; others may have a stamp or a printed date if you look carefully.

Condition - Choose postcards with bright colors and clean edges that don't have tears. Likewise look for cards that don't have folds. Usually handwritten notes or signatures don't have an effect on the value unless it is a famous person's signature. Rarity - Some designs or companies are rarer than others and thus can command higher prices.

Design – Always look for unusual and unique designs.

Provenance – Again, a card signed by a famous person will have more value than others.

Get a good price guide like Vintage Postcards for the Holidays: Identification & Value Guide by Robert and Claudette Reed to better evaluate individual cards.

Storing Antique Christmas Postcards

Store your cards in acid free sleeves to keep them from deteriorating. The acids in paper and the oils from your hands can literally eat away at the cards over a period of time. Acid free sleeves are available at most craft stores and online.

The dyes used in the early 1900s and before are not light resistant and will fade when exposed to sunlight so keep your postcards away from direct sunlight.

Enjoying the designs and embellishments on vintage Christmas cards is as much a part of the joy of collecting them as reading the messages so often found on the backs. It is heartwarming to become part of well wished of so long ago. Antique and vintage Christmas postcards can add a special touch to your Christmas décor and celebration. By collecting and caring for them you are preserving beautiful pieces of history.

Vintage Christmas Decorations

Collecting Christmas Snowglobes