These beautiful illustrations from old books are a fantastic addition to Christmas wishes.
It doesn’t matter whether you send Christmas wishes by email, text message, or share on social media networks. A great visual is something everyone will admire.
Christmas is all about cherishing tradition. If Christmas Grumpy Cat is more of the fad to you, why not trying the illustrations tested a long ago?
I found the images on Flickr, in the photo albums from Flickr Commons project, where almost one hundred contributors share historical images with no known copyrights. That means they are free to reuse and re-share.
Most images come from the album curated on Flickr by The British Library, called “Christmas, found by the community from the Mechanical Curator Collection.”
You’ll also find a couple of great Christmas illustrations from The Internet Archive Book Images Flickr photo stream.
And remember, Christmas is a great time to read together. Make sure these wonderful free Christmas stories land on your tablets or smartphones the moment you light a fireplace.
Tap or click on the images to see them in full resolution.
12 beautiful vintage Christmas cards and illustrations
1
Image from A Christmas Carol, published in 1873 by Macmillan & Co. ⇢ Credits and more info.
2-4
Images from The Coming of Father Christmas, written by Eliza F. Manning, and published in 1894 by F. Warne & Co. ⇢ Credits and more info.
5
One of the Christmas card leaflets, designed 1894 and using Raphael’s pictures. With borders and words by F. H. Wood. ⇢ Credits and more info.
6
Image from Nature and Art: poems and pictures from the best authors and artists, compiled by Louise Reid, and published in 1890 in London. ⇢ Credits and more info.
7
Illustration from A Christmas wreath, for little people, written by Ella Rodman Church, and published in 1855, in Philadelphia, by Parry & McMillan. ⇢ Credits and more info.
8
Illustration from The Children’s Fairy Geography by Forbes Edward Winslow, London, 1886. ⇢ Credits and more info.
9
Illustration from Catalogue of Sunday School supplies for Christmas, J. & P.B. Myers (New York), 1897. ⇢ Credits and more info.
10
Image from Old Christmas by Washington Irving, the book published by G.P. Putnam in New York, in 1916. ⇢ Credits and more info.
11-12
Images takes from Peasant Life in Sweden… Illustrated, written by Llewellyn – Sportsman Lloyd, and published in London in 1870. ⇢ Credits and more info.
• • •
Keep reading. Here are other lists and tips:
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