Nostalgia: Vintage Christmas Card No. 8 Santa's Watching

Vintage Christmas Card No. 8 Santa's Watching

This postcard made me do a double take when I first saw it.  In the image Santa has what at first glance appear to be a very high tech set of binoculars, but after checking my dates, I can promise that it is some WWI technology being put to use for worldwide gift delivery--both greeting and the postmark validate it is 1923.

I feel like this image gives new meaning to "checking his list"!

The greeting below the image reads:

Merry Christmas

Here's for a Merry Christmas
The best in many a day.
May Santa scatter his blessings
Of joy along your way.

The message reads:

So. Seubee (?) Maine

December 18, 1923

Dear Evie with best wishes for a Merry Christmas

hoping you are well Your Aunt - J.G.

Nostalgia: Vintage Christmas Card Countdown, No. 7 Broadcasting Greetings True

Vintage Christmas Card No. 7 Broadcasting Greetings True

Continuing with the theme of technology, communications and Christmas greetings from yesterday, I wanted to share this cozy scene of a young mother and child listening to the radio while their cat bathes and the child's stocking is hung for Christmas.

Once again, no postmark but the style of the radio (very early) and her heels have me dating this to the early 1920.

The greeting reads:

Sincere Christmas Wishes

I broadcast greetings true

On this Christmas Day to you

Nostalgia: Vintage Christmas Card Countdown, No.4 Arctic Stag

Vintage Christmas Card No. 4, Arctic Stag

It is very difficult not to begin each of these posts with "this card is one of my favorites" because they each have their own story and beauty.  The "Arctic Stag" holiday card, so-nicknamed for its highly detailed image of a stag with a background of snowy mountains and starry skies, was a surprise find on a rainy spring day at the Brimfield Antique Show. I discovered it in a box of old photos and knew it was a must-have.

The card is striking in its simplicity, elegant white flowers provide an embossed frame for the monochromatic winter landscape glued to the thick card stock.  On the inside, swallows fly over the greeting printed in a curling, decorative font:

With Kind Regards and all

Good Wishes for Christmas and

the New Year   

While there is again, no printed date, I believe that it is from roughly early 1900s, about the same time as yesterday's card.

Most interesting is that this is one of my few cards that is branded by the manufacturer. The logo of a clover is on the back with the text "Hills & Co., Made in London, Unique Cards" in each of the petals.  Despite my best research efforts, I have not been able to find any information about the company.  If you have any clues that may help me learn more, please let me know.

Best of all is the inscription to "dear Maria" whom, with that simple greeting, I feel must have been as special as the card itself to the sender Mr. Riseon.