Wednesday, November 28, 2018

READ IF YOU DARE! VINTAGE CHRISTMAS CARDS--by Cheryl Pierson


Ever since I came upon some of the weirdest vintage Easter cards I’d ever seen and blogged about those (in two parts, no less!) I’ve just been fascinated by some of the ideas that artists of the past have had for greeting cards. What in the world crossed their minds? Who did they think would enjoy these cards, much less pick them out of all the choices available to buy and send?

Evidently, I’m not the only one who has wondered. Take a look at some of these—they are beyond “odd”.


Yes. Scallops lamenting the absence of their friends (natives), so the card says—obviously the British. “May we soon see them again.” Uh…why? So they can eat us? MERRY CHRISTMAS!


Okay, maybe it’s just me, but…being wish “Compliments of the Season” by a boiling pan head imp that looks female on top and male on the bottom…well, that’s just plain weird. For some reason, this reminds me of the scene at the beginning of Bewitched when the pan boils over on the stove…

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Downright creepy. An educated pigman. Or is it a boy? The hat looks like that of a young boy, but that face is anything but endearing. And why does he need the binoculars? “The better to spy on you with, my dear…” Oh, but he’s carrying a book, so at least he must be educated.


Nothing says Merry Christmas like a picture of a dead robin, does it? I mean, what could be more joyful? Nope…can’t think of much else that could come close.


Do y’all remember the picture on the Easter card of the rabbit carefully stepping out of his home to go hunting with the colored eggs all around him? That’s what this reminds me of. A sweet little dog with a rifle near at hand…just in case he needs it.


Well, what have we here? A frog that has been robbed and murdered by another one. But, let’s not forget to have a MERRY CHRISTMAS, shall we?


As long as we’re on the subject of frogs, how about this one? Beetle and frog having a Christmas waltz, while the dragonflies dance in the background and the giant mosquito plays the tambourine. Festive, right?


Merry Christmas! If you survive being mauled by the polar bear…

It’s hard to think what must have been going on inside the creative brains of these illustrators, isn’t it? Or…were they just toying with us? Maybe these were meant to be ridiculous and make us laugh. But wait…what’s that I hear? Crying children? Wings of a…LOOK OUT!


Above all, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, even if you’re fighting off polar bears, dancing with frogs, or running from wasps!

10 comments:

  1. It's hard to imagine anyone sending these out! Fun to view from a distance and enjoyed your comments, Cheryl.

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    1. Hi Arletta! It does make you wonder what kind of person would buy these to send, doesn't it? And what kind of person would CREATE these in the first place! LOL Evidently, they had this kind of card for every major holiday. They are so bizarre!

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  2. I love vintage cards, but I agree, they can be creepy. What the heck were they thinkin'? I hope none of these cards went to kids because all I can picture is a bunch of kids opening the cards and screaming as they run away from the mail box and into a secret hidey-hole. Maybe people thought these cards were somehow funny--maybe for psychopaths.
    All the best rolling your way. I promise not to send you any of these cards.

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    1. WHOO-EEE! Thank you, Sarah! LOL I just can't even understand this mindset or who would have been in the market to buy and send these cards! Or who would have thought, "Hey I think I'll paint a Christmas card of a giant wasp about to sting two little kids!" Good grief! Yeah, I think they're pretty psychopathic, too. LOL Thanks for stopping by, Sarah!

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  3. These are just...weird...creepy... But maybe people thought they were wonderful. lol

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    1. I kind of agree with Sarah--I think people must have thought they were humorous. What else could it be? Maybe the Invasion of the Body Snatchers...aliens took over people and made them paint these pictures for Christmas cards? LOL They are very very creepy.

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  4. Actually, I would have expected those kind of creepy, weird holiday cards in this day and time, now back then!! LOL

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    1. Cheri, isn't that the truth? When I saw these I think that was part of the "shock"--that in those times, these were what was available. LOL

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  5. They are wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

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