Volume 4 Issue 1
CHRISTMAS COLLECTIBLES
There are many types of Christmas collectibles.
Christmas cards, postcards, ornaments, decorations, figurines,
music boxes, and candleholders are just a few.
Christmas cards can be found in many designs. They began as school
projects in England for children to show their handwriting progress
and as a greeting to their parents.
In 1843, J. C. Horsley was the designer of the first Christmas card.
It was a scene framed in three panels of a homey table scene and two
sides, each depicting charity scenes of feeding the hungry and
clothing the naked. It was lithographed on a stiff, dark cardboard
with the words "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You."
One thousand were printed with one still surviving today.
During that time postage was one penny, hence the custom of sending
Christmas cards began. Today, Americans send more than 2 billion cards
each year.
Christmas postcards have a large following and the selection is quite
large. The most collected of postcards is Santa Claus. It is divided
into two groups; Santas in red suits and Santas in other colors. The
Santas in other than red suits are the most sought after among the
Santa in suits postcards. The most valuable of Santa Claus postcards
are the Santas with a black face, the hold-to-light, and installment.
The rarest of Santa cards is the hold-to-light Santa dressed as Uncle
Sam. Installment cards are postcards broken into segments and mailed
individually to make up a single picture once they are all received and
put together. They were very popular here and abroad and were made in
the early 1900's. Hold-to-light postcards are cards that can be held
to the light which results in seeing a different image or an additional
image. One of the most common is Santa coming down the chimney. They
were produced in the early 1900's, as well.
Christmas decorations and ornaments date back to the mid-1800's. The
Pennsylvania Dutch brought the first glass ornaments to America in 1865.
The early Santa ornaments are the most prized by collectors, especially
those in robes of fur or mohair or those dressed in unusual colors.
Christmas lights for Christmas trees were first manufactured to be
marketed in 1903. They were very expensive and were considered a
safety hazard. In 1921 safety regulations were put into force and were
guaranteed to be safety approved. The first bulbs were replicas of
Edison's household light bulb. Later, G.E. produced bulbs that were
rounded with a point at the end. Until 1919 all bulbs were hand-blown.
Around 1910, Austria produced the first figural bulb, with Japan not
far behind. Japan's were not of the same high quality as the Austrian
bulbs, however. The first machine-made figural bulbs were made by
American manufacturers. The figural bulbs are today highly collectible.
From 1945-1960, the bubble lights were very popular. Once the
miniature lights were produced, enthusiasm for the bubble lights waned
and the manufacturers discontinued making replacements.
Christmas collectibles do not necessarily have to be old to be
collectible or have a value. Some of the modern Christmas collectibles
are Hallmark Keepsake ornaments, American Greetings, Department 56
buildings and accessories, Lefton Colonial Village Buildings and
accessories, Enesco ornaments, and Christopher Radko. Prices can range
from $5.00 to several hundred dollars.
To view some of the above mentioned Christmas Collectibles Click Here
RESOURCES
Garage Sale & Flea Market Annual - Third Edition
Encyclopedia of Antique Postcards by Susan Brown Nicholson
Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide - Eighteenth Edition, 2000
Warman's Antiques and Collectibles Price Guide - 32nd Edition
Warman's Americana & Collectibles - 8th Edition
Next month's newsletter will feature "Royal Doulton".
CHRISTMAS COLLECTIBLES
