Vintage and Modern Christmas Collectibles
Additionally, many people pass Christmas tree ornaments down through the generations so your gifts will become heirlooms. There are other Christmas collectibles that are treasured: cards and postcards, commemorative plates, as well as Disney figures and many other modern products.
Some appreciate in value over the years while others are collected or treasured for their beauty or the sentiment attached to them. Whichever it is, collectors derive an enormous pleasure from displaying their collections during the Christmas period.
Picture: Christmas card from 1940.
Contents
- Countdown to Christmas
- Christmas Cards
- The Official 1942 Presidential Christmas Card
- The First Christmas Card, published in 1843
- Christmas postcard from about 1900
- Christmas Tree Ornaments
- A lily flower decoration on the 2005 White House Christmas Tree
- Poster of Beeton's Christmas Annual
- Royal Copenhagen Christmas Plates
- Snow Globes
- Like This Lens?
- Do you have a favourite Christmas collectible?
- About Me
(Christmas Day is December 25, 2009)
The Official 1942 Presidential Christmas Card
Of course, Christmas cards are now sent worldwide but they began in Britain in 1843 when Sir Henry Cole (who is partly credited with the introduction of the Penny Post in Britain) commissioned John Callcott Horsley to produced the first commercial Christmas cards. Only 2050 were made and they sold for one shilling (5 pence) each.During the early years of Christmas cards, surprisingly perhaps, illustrations were rarely on religious or even winter scenes. Instead they showed children, animals or looked forward to spring.
This is an area of collecting that is very accessible nowadays because even Victorian cards can be bought on eBay.com for as little as $5 and on ebay.co.uk for around £3 (British pounds).
The First Christmas Card, published in 1843
Buy Vintage Christmas Cards
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Christmas postcard from about 1900
Christmas Past
Amazon Price: $22.76 (as of 12/18/2009)
The historical importance, makers, materials, and rarity of Christmas trees, decorations, and ornaments of all kinds are discussed in detail, including glass ornaments, all types of lighting from candles to electricity, cotton and paper ornaments, and Dresdens. All the major manufacturers are identified and much personal information is given about the families that developed the Christmas ornament industry into big business internationally. Christmas Past includes beautiful color pictures of extremely rare, exquisite glass balls and figurals and early electric lamps.
Not available from Amazon.co.uk
Christmas Tree Ornaments
When Christmas trees were first brought indoors in Victorian England and USA, they weren't decorated with glass ornaments or baubles. Instead they were hung with candies and cookies like gingerbread men and ribbons tied into bows.In 1880, F.W. Woolworth bought glass kugels (silvered glass balls) and sold them in his stores. They quickly sold out and so a new tradition was born.
During the 1920s, glassmakers in Czechoslovakia started making Christmas baubles, as did the Japanese. Both of these were less expensive than Christmas ornaments from the original makers in Germany. Then Max Eckardt & Sons in New York also started making them at the end of the 1930s.
Now, 19th and early 20th century Christmas tree ornaments are very rare and relatively expensive so collectors now mostly buy baubles made after World War II.
A lily flower decoration on the 2005 White House Christmas Tree
Pictorial Guide to Christmas Ornaments and Collectibles: Identification and Values
Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 12/18/2009)
This easy to use, new pictorial guide will be the ideal book to take on trips to antique stores and flea markets. The captions of the almost 2,000 color photographs include the title of the piece, size variations, where made, reproduction information, rarity rating, and current collector value. A brief introduction, history, and collector notes are included.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
Buy Christmas Tree Ornaments
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Royal Copenhagen Christmas Plates
The porcelain Christmas plates from Royal Copenhagen were introduced for Christmas 1908 and have been produced every year since then so Christmas 2008 is the 100th anniversary. Plates were even issued during World War II but they are particularly hard to find as far fewer were produced due to shortages of fuel and the closure of export markets.Each year the plate features a different design although they are always blue on a white background. The one on the right is from 1910. In the first few years, designers in the factory entered a competition for the honour of having their design featured that year.
Buy Royal Copenhagen Christmas Plates
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A Collectors Guide to Royal Copenhagen Porcelain (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Amazon Price: $37.96 (as of 12/18/2009)
This extensive reference identifies and describes over 2,400 pieces, including 800 figurines. These Scandinavian porcelain figurines were produced by Royal Copenhagen of Denmark from c. 1910 through 2000. Among the 976 beautiful color photographs are related shop signs, dishes, bowls, and vases. The text provides a brief history of the firm, established in 1775, explains the companys marks, and includes a bibliography. Values are found in the captions. This book is a welcome reference for all who collect and enjoy Scandinavian porcelain and figurines.
Also available from Amazon.co.uk
Buy Christmas Disneyana
All kinds of Disneyana is immensely popular now among collectors and this is especially true of all their products with a Christmas theme. Some of the items, like Christmas cards and gift wrapping paper can still be bought for quite small sums. Naturally, it is the truly rare and older items that command the higher prices.
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The Official Price Guide to Disney Collectibles, Second Edition
Amazon Price: $21.86 (as of 12/18/2009)
The Official Price Guide to Disney Collectibles is the must-have resource for information on everything Disney with 28,000 items listed and illustrated. From comic books and movie cells to music boxes and snow globes, this book is a complete guide to Disneyana--from Steamboat Willie to The Nightmare Before Christmas and includes thousands of collectibles featuring hundreds of beloved Disney characters.
Not available from Amazon.co.uk
Snow Globes
First produced in the 1800s, snow globes (or snow domes) have been a perennial favourite, especially as Christmas stocking fillers for children. Originally all, globes were made of glass but in the 1950s this was replace with plastic.Now they are also popular with collectors. There are a wide range of globes to collect including musical ones, and ones for special occasions like christenings. There are also series of snow globes, such those showing Disney figures and Norman Rockwell's Classic Santa Collection.
A Snow Globe from the Norman Rockwell Classic Santa Collection
Buy Snow Globes
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Room to Read partner with local communities throughout the developing world to provide quality educational opportunities by establishing libraries, creating local language children's literature, constructing schools, providing education to girls and estab
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Do you have a favourite Christmas collectible?
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Reply
- rsmith17 rsmith17 Dec 10, 2008 @ 9:23 am
- What a great lens. I love those snow globes. 5 stars and a lensroll.
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Reply
- JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Nov 11, 2008 @ 5:11 pm
- I love Christmas ornaments and globes -- it's amazing just how many different styles of ornaments you can find.
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Reply
- WendyKrick WendyKrick Nov 10, 2008 @ 8:55 am
- This is a lovely lens. 5 stars.
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Reply
- CollectorsCottage CollectorsCottage Oct 28, 2008 @ 9:55 am
- What a lovely lens! Brings back memories. 5 stars. Welcome to the Collector Clubs group!
About Me
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