Vintage 1907 Santa Claus Postcard Embossed Child in Bed Holly Christmas Germany

USD 13.50

Condition: Used

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Description

View Vintage 1907 Santa Claus Postcard Embossed Child in Bed Holly Christmas Germany with current marketplace pricing, condition, product images and item details. Below him, a young child with blonde hair is depicted tucked into bed, gazing upward toward Santa. Even without a signature, the artistic style—specifically the "dot-work" shading on the child's hair and the Victorian facial structure of Santa—points strongly to a Studio Artist working for IAP. This is a beautiful example of an Early 20th Century Divided Back Postcard , likely dating between 1907 and 1915 . Full Description The postcard features a classic "Old World" Santa Claus (often referred to as St. Nicholas in this era) with a long white beard, framed by a festive garland of embossed green holly leaves and red berries. Below him, a young child with blonde hair is depicted tucked into bed, gazing upward toward Santa. Front : Includes the greeting " A Merry Christmas " in a stylized red serif font. The card features heavy embossing (raised textures), which was a hallmark of high-quality cards from this era, often printed in Germany. Back : A "Divided Back" design in green ink. The stamp box provides historical postage instructions: "Place Stamp Here. One cent stamp for United States, Canada and Mexico. Two cent stamp for all other countries." Publisher and Artist Publisher : There is no explicit publisher logo visible on the back (which is common for cards from this period). However, the design, green ink typography, and high-quality embossing are very characteristic of International Art Publishing Co. or Stecher Lithographic Co. , both of whom produced similar Santa/Child series. The close-up photos reveal some interesting details about the manufacturing, but they also confirm why this particular card is a bit of a "hidden" treasure for researchers. The Hidden Embossed Mark In the closeup photos  are very faint, colorless embossed patterns along the edges. These are not just decorative; they are "blind-embossed" frames. The Findings: There is no ink-printed publisher logo or artist signature. The "Blind" Mark: In the bottom right corner (near the child’s shoulder), there appears to be a faint embossed swirl. High-end German printers sometimes used these "blind" stamps to identify their factory line without cluttering the color design. The specific typography of the word "POST CARD" and the decorative "scroll and square" dividers are the biggest clues: Publisher: This specific layout is a known match for the International Art Publishing Co. (IAP). They were based in New York and Philadelphia but had all their high-end embossed work printed in Germany. The Series: This is likely from their Christmas Series No. 921 or similar. IAP frequently used "blind embossing" (texture with no ink) to create a premium, fabric-like feel on the card's surface. Artist Identification Even without a signature, the artistic style—specifically the "dot-work" shading on the child's hair and the Victorian facial structure of Santa—points strongly to a Studio Artist working for IAP. While it lacks a Clapsaddle signature (she was their primary artist), it was created in her "school of style." In the postcard world, these are often listed as "Attributed to the International Art Publishing Co., Printed in Germany." Estimated Value The value of vintage postcards depends heavily on condition and the specific "Santa" depicted (Red Suit vs. Blue/Green/Purple Suit). Physical Condition: Fair to Good. There is visible "foxing" (brown spotting) and some corner wear/rounding. There are also some dark smudges on the reverse. Postal Status Unposted. Please reiew the attaced icturs for additional details. Shipping will be combined for multiple items purchased and shipped in the same package Condition: Used. Category: Collectibles › Postcards & Supplies › Postcards › Non-Topographical Postcards.