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1909 Embossed Christmas Postcard, Old World Santa Claus in a Gilt Hexagon with Holly on Silver, Printed in Germany, Written Christmas Day 1909 in Breckenridge, Colorado
DESCRIPTIONAn embossed Christmas postcard on a silver ground textured with fine radiating lines. A gilt-edged hexagonal panel holds a portrait of an Old World Santa Claus in a red-violet robe and a red fur-trimmed hood with a long tassel. Embossed holly with red berries reaches in from both sides; a black panel edged in gold sits at lower left. Red script greeting: "To wish you a merry Christmas." No publisher's name on the front. Size approx. 5.50 x 3.50 in.
Divided back with "PRINTED IN GERMANY" beside the stamp box. Never mailed: no stamp or postmark. Dated in ink "Dec 25 1909", headed "Breckenridge, Colorado," addressed to Wilbur McClure, Pittsburg, Kansas, and signed "Carp and Irena Bull" (best reading). Two old pencil prices at the top.
HISTORICAL CONTEXTWritten on Christmas Day 1909 and, with no stamp or postmark, presumably delivered by hand or in an envelope. Printed in Germany the year the Payne-Aldrich Tariff raised duties on imported postcards.
CONDITIONVery good. Silver bright, embossing crisp. A fine curved hairline in the silver near the top right corner, a faint crease line near the lower left corner, a small white abrasion near the left edge by the holly, and light scuffing on the black panel. Corners softly rounded; edges slightly toned. Back clean with light, even toning, the ink inscription and two old pencil prices.
ABOUT THE PRINTINGAn original chromolithograph: under magnification the color resolves into irregular hand-drawn stipple, not the regular dot screen of a modern reproduction. Embossed holly and silver ground; gold-edged hexagon and panel.
ALSO IN OUR STOREAnother 1909 embossed Christmas card with holly: visit TF sales Intl: my family's estate collections, built over more than 60 years by knowledgeable antiques collectors and traders.
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Ref#1.0540
