Christmas Postcards
Though less common in the present, Christmas postcards were
a popular form of holiday-themed communication in the early 20th
century. For a time, the introduction of Christmas postcards replaced
the Victorian era Christmas cards of the 19th century. The Christmas
card itself was first developed in 1843, and has remained popular since.
Christmas
postcards were a popular choice in the early 20th century for their
newness, their low price, and the ease at which they could be mailed.
Obviously, the most popular figure on these vintage postcards was Santa Clause.
Collectors today value early postcards that showcase Santa Clause in a
suit a color other than red. Apparently, Santa in cards at this time
occasionally appeared in a variety of colors, ranging from a
traditional Christmas color, gold, to a more outlandish purple or
orange. Despite the temporary lapse in popularity of the more
traditional Christmas card in the first few decades of the 20th
century, the card did return to prominence by the 1930s. The reasons
for this are difficult to determine, but perhaps the Christmas list
just did not fit very well on the back of a postcard.
Collectors
of Christmas postcards today note that the majority of Christmas
postcards produced after the 1920s were made in the 1970s and 80s.
During this time, collectors note that the postcards were marketed as a
way to save on postage. More recently, certain collectors have found a
low quantity of collectible Christmas postcards. Instead of producing
unique cards, many holiday postcards are printed by the hundreds and
are purchased in bulk by businesses to distribute to employees.
Individuals giving Christmas cards to someone special might be more
interested in giving a custom photo postcard or even some quilted postcards.
Nevertheless,
vintage Christmas postcards are highly sought after and valued both for
style and nostalgia purposes. If you would like to discuss Christmas
postcards with others, please register and participate in the CollectStampsandPostcards.com forum.
