Santa Claus: F.O.C. Darley, “A Visit from St. Nicholas", Harper's New Monthly Magazine. Cover, December 1857
The earliest version of the gift-giver who looked like Santa Claus rather than the halfling Dutchmen who appeared between 1837 and 1848 was a drawing by artist F.O.C. Darley
Aside from The Children’s Friend in 1821, the earliest version of the gift-giver who looked like Santa Claus rather than the halfling Dutchmen who appeared between 1837 and 1848 was a drawing by artist F.O.C. Darley to illustrate Moore’s “Night Before Christmas” on the cover of Harper’s New Monthly Magazine in December 1857.