1881 Harper’s Weekly – Thomas Nast “Merry Old Santa Claus” Iconic Vintage Santa • Original Newspaper • VG+ Condition
$900.00
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🎄 A truly special piece of Christmas history! 🎄
This is an original 1881 issue of Harper’s Weekly—not a reprint—featuring one of the most famous and influential portrayals of Santa Claus ever printed.
The legendary American illustrator Thomas Nast (the same artist who created the Republican elephant and popularized our modern image of Santa!) gives us two remarkable Christmas scenes in this issue:
Front Cover: “The Dear Little Boy That Thought Christmas Came Oftener.”
A charming winter street scene signed Th. Nast in the plate.
Centerfold (Double Page): “Merry Old Santa Claus” 🎅
This is the Santa — fur-trimmed coat, big belly, twinkle in the eye, and long-stem pipe.
This image helped shape the Santa we still know today. It is one of the most collected and displayed holiday engravings ever published in America.
✨ Condition: VG+
Clean pages, complete, original and untrimmed, with only gentle age toning appropriate for its 140+ years. No major tears or damage. Very suitable for framing and display.
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Archival Framing Available 🖼️
Want it ready to hang on the wall for the holidays?
I offer professional archival framing for either the cover or the centerfold, including:
Acid-free matting
UV-protected acrylic (prevents yellowing & fading!)
Classic gallery-style black metal frame
Simply add the Framing Upgrade from my shop and tell me which page you'd like framed. Double-page images will have additional cost. Message me for details.
These look incredible as holiday décor and make one-of-a-kind gifts.
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Details
Harper’s Weekly: Journal of Civilization
Vol. XXV, No. 1293
January 1, 1881
Printed in New York
Approx. page size: ~16" x 11"
Centerfold ~22" x 16" when opened fully
Complete, original issue — not a reproduction
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Why This Print Matters
Thomas Nast is the most important Santa Claus artist in American history.
His holiday illustrations in Harper’s Weekly directly shaped our cultural image of Santa.
Owning this issue is like owning a piece of the origin story of Christmas in America.
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A Wonderful Gift For 🎁
Vintage Christmas decorators
Santa Claus collectors
Lovers of Victorian Americana
New home holiday gifts
Antique print collectors
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Shipping
Will ship flat, protected in archival materials and rigid packaging for safe delivery.
1881 Harper’s Weekly – Thomas Nast “Merry Old Santa Claus” Iconic Vintage Santa • Original Newspaper • VG+ Condition
$900.00