Thomas Nast: Christmas, 1863

Thomas Nast's spread over two pages in Harper's Weekly late in 1863 presents us with images of Christmas during the Civil War. Here is a series of vignettes which show his appeal as a storyteller. 

Christmas, 1863
Thomas Nast
Harper's Weekly, 1863, pp. 824-825

How common was it to be able to get a furlough for Christmas in 1863? Was household prosperity really all that we see here? Certainly the reality must have been harsher for many, but Nast gives his readers a story they want to believe in. And his Santa Claus creation makes an appearance as well.

The print is available form Argosy Book Store.

Thomas Nast
Argosy Book Store listing accessed May 29, 2025

https://www.argosybooks.com/details.php?record=328244&jump=1&pkd_source=_newarr&utm_source=website&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=emaillists

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Merry Christmas from Jack Davis

If you ever wondered what original Christmas card art by Mad legend Jack Davis looks like, today is your lucky day.

Jack Davis
AbeBooks listing accessed November 15, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Original-Comical-Drawing-Santa-Claus-Signed/32343172430/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

Jack Davis
AbeBooks item description

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Ronald Searle: Holidays Artist and Model

A 1989 ink drawing (with just a little bit of colored pencil) by Ronald Searle celebrates Santa's eye for the arts. The original work from the collection of Irvin Greif was sold last month in the Illustration Art sale at Heritage Auctions.

Searle's ink technique is dazzling, as always. Santa's brushwork may be in the same league:

More than sixteen hours before the sale, the bidding was at $725. The auction house's estimate was $1,500 and up. Whatever became of having a high estimate too?

Ronald Searle
Heritage Auctions listing accessed sixteen hours before the sale

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/mainstream-illustration/ronald-william-fordham-searle-british-1920-2011-reindeer-1989-ink-on-paper-12-1-2-x-11-3-4-inches-318-x-298/a/8224-71267.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515

Ronald Searle
Heritage Auctions item description

In the live bidding, the low estimate was met and exceeded.

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A 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Teaser: The View From 86th Street

Crossing West 86th Street today in a taxi, I chanced upon the very last float lined up for tomorrow's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. On Thanksgiving morning, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and numerous elves will ride in this reindeer-driven sleigh all the way down to Herald Square.

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Barney Tobey: Santa at Sea

A printed color Christmas card designed by cartoonist Barney Tobey gives us Santa Claus making a special delivery. He is rowing to a lighthouse on his own without a reindeer in sight. We see the beam catching him full on. The card, signed by its sender, has lost its envelope and bears no date.

Barney Tobey
eBay listing ended December 10, 2023

https://www.ebay.com/itm/355256840415?hash=item52b6f530df:g:JJgAAOSwW8hlbQ8E&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwC7PRVQxYfHmD62qSynR9nDV9%2BxVP9J9KeBNUs3hq%2F33Z%2B%2Fjuf542X4XnpICYRAwcd1tz9NRPwNEbg6rGCYNJ%2FuxXNhD8hilwx7wPI9uUyl6WUa4sB

CpK8cEWJSbVMFN8ihhVRxgwcXwRBe7c%2Fc9zW%2FUDfHUjEch2xBh9Q3SV2IlvQcvZiduITU%2FCcfmxfPHHK9gtuLZEF0oNGK4Z7lJkJWGBhOPr3cYsGCzxGADDIPHMew2OLMQqDmer5k2Orn3w%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_7P3tuXYw

Barney Tobey
eBay item description

Barney Tobey
eBay bid history
One bidder places five early bids and a second bidder places five late bids. Now who do you suppose wins?

04813

MDLinx Comic Consult #14

The MDLinx Comic Consult is a caption contest open only to doctors with a sense of humor. Prizes are a $100 Amazon gift card for first place, and $50 gift cards for up to four runners up. I won a $50 gift card for contests #12 and #13, so I was excited to try again. This is contest #14 and it features Santa Claus on a psychiatrist's couch. Five entries are permitted; each of mine is shown below. The cartoon is by Jonny Hawkins.

"Sure I check it twice, but then I go back and recheck it over and over."
"I better not cry."
"I don't suppose you could prescribe some cookies?"
"I hope you're not making a list."
"Actually, I'm bipolar."

December 30, 2023 Update:  The Winner

04531

Saul Steinberg: Santa Playing the Violin

Santa Playing the Violin is a black and white Christmas card by Saul Steinberg published by the Museum of Modern Art. The museum published annual Steinberg Christmas cards from 1945 through 1951, according to the Saul Steinberg Foundation's website. In 1952, he signed a more lucrative contract with Hallmark, yet MoMA was to publish this final card in 1953. The cards are scarce, indicating they've never been reissued despite their timeless appeal. This example was sold in 2018 for a reasonable $9.95. 

https://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-2958374/1953-saul-steinberg-christmas-card-%E2%80%93-santa-playing-the-violin--unused.html

Note:  Thanks again to David from Manhattan, who wrote yesterday's post and guided me down the path to today's. 

04521

Glen Baxter: It is December

Original Glen Baxter art was published in The Observer on December 7, 1997:

Glen Baxter
AbeBooks listing accessed December 21, 2022

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31385090405&searchurl=kn%3DGlen%2BBaxter%26sgnd%3Don%26sortby%3D0&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title1

The image was published in America as a greeting card:

https://shop.nybooks.com/collections/holiday/products/dark-forces-holiday-greeting-cards-by-glen-baxter

The artwork was listed at one time by Chris Beetles. It was later offered in November 2022 by Bonhams London with an estimate of 500 to 700 GBP. It sold for 350 GBP, or 446.25 GBP with the 27.5% buyer's premium. It resurfaced the following month at Maggs Bros., Ltd., priced at very close to a 300% markup.

https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27375/lot/254/baxter-glen-it-is-december-and-already-dark-forces-are-gathering-original-artwork-in-pen-and-crayon-1997/

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/bonhams/catalogue-id-bonham10494/search-filter?CategoryCode=DPS

As published:

https://biblioklept.org/2011/12/02/it-is-december-and-already-dark-forces-are-gathering-glen-baxter/

I don't know the price history of this piece with Chris Beetles, Ltd.—feel free to help me out here—but I can report on the gallery's current listing of a similar Baxter work of unknown date. The multiple Santas are explicit in both cartoons. Note also the hands-on-hips stance, the single pair of Santa sunglasses, and the use of the word already in both instances.

https://www.chrisbeetles.com/artwork/2086/there-are-ominous-signs-that-the-festive-season-is-already-under-way

04517

Arthur Rackham: "And Filled All the Stockings"

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

—Clement Clarke Moore

"A Visit from St. Nicholas"

Arthur Rackham's original illustration for the famous holiday poem depicts Santa Claus—or Father Christmas to the British—filling the stockings with toys. The artist uses shadows with bold diagonals and some energetic line work to ensure the image is anything but static. This is the artwork to one of the four color plates from Rackham's 1931 edition of Clement Clarke Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas," or, as the book is more familiarly titled, The Night Before Christmas. The art is available for 50,000 GBP.

Arthur Rackham
AbeBooks listing accessed December 14, 2022

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Filled-Stockings-RACKHAM-Arthur-illus-MOORE/31307611911/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&cm_ite=viewbook_low

04175