Cherub/Angel, Green Holly Leaves & Red Berries Embossed Christmas Postcard

USD 5.99

Condition: Used

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Description

View Cherub/Angel, Green Holly Leaves & Red Berries Embossed Christmas Postcard with current marketplace pricing, condition, product images and item details. The Cherub: Perched atop the largest bell is a small, winged cherub, holding onto a flowing purple ribbon that weaves through the scene. The debossing is so deep that a clear negative image of the bells, cherub, and holly from the front is visible. Overview This is an unused, highly sculptural, and deeply embossed antique Christmas card from the early 1900s. The postcard is an exceptional example of the novelty greeting cards produced during its era, likely in Germany for the American market, featuring a dense and festive collage of classic Christmas symbols. The manufacturing process, which involved a form of high-relief die-stamping or molding rather than simple paper embossing, created a unique, almost leather-like, three-dimensional object. The card was not just a picture but a tactile and decorative keepsake, representing the peak of the period's postcard manufacturing technology. Front of the Postcard The face of this postcard is a stunning and intricate three-dimensional collage, with every element rendered in very high relief against a heavily pebbled or stippled background. The Composition: A Festive Assemblage: The artwork is a dense and dynamic arrangement of classic Christmas symbols, creating a feeling of festive abundance. The Christmas Bells: Three large, ornate bells are the main focus. They are colored a deep green and decorated with intricate purple and red patterns. The Cherub: Perched atop the largest bell is a small, winged cherub, holding onto a flowing purple ribbon that weaves through the scene. Holly and Other Symbols: Lush sprays of green holly leaves and red berries are prominent on the left side of the composition. In the upper left, a small clock or timepiece is also visible. Flowing ribbons in red and purple twist throughout the design, tying all the symbolic elements together. Artistic Details: The most remarkable feature is the card's deeply molded, sculptural quality. Every detail, from the holly leaves to the patterns on the bells, stands out in high relief. The greeting, " A MERRY CHRISTMAS ," is embossed directly into the textured background on the left, nestled among the holly. Back of the Postcard The reverse is a standard divided back, notable for the extreme impressions left by the embossing process. Handwritten Message and Address: The card is entirely blank and was never used for correspondence. Layout and Publisher: The back is divided for a message and an address. The debossing is so deep that a clear negative image of the bells, cherub, and holly from the front is visible. There are no publisher marks, but the style is characteristic of German novelty card production. The stamp box provides detailed postage rate information for the American market: "Domestic Canada, Cuba, Mexico, Hawaii, Philippines, Porto Rico 1 Cent / Foreign 2 Cents". Postal History: The postcard was not postally used, as it lacks a stamp and postmark. Condition: Used. Category: Collectibles › Postcards & Supplies › Postcards › Non-Topographical Postcards.