Santa Through History
To obtain the best understanding of how Santa and his fellow midwinter gift-givers developed, the most interesting approach and, I presume, the most accurate approach is to review historical illustrations. Santa Through History is a collection of historical illustrations dating back to 1750, some of which were included in Santa Claus Worldwide (The Book) and some of which were not.
Santeclaus in sleigh by Arthur Stansbury, The Children’s Friend, 1821
Arthur Stansbury created the most influential depiction of Santa that no one ever saw
Canadian Santa without beard: Canadian Illustrated News, cover, December 1885
One of the few versions of Santa that does not have a beard
Santa Claus by George Beard, 1872
A well-intentioned effort by artist George Beard in 1872
Santa in tutu: Harper’s Weekly, cover, January 2, 1869
Santa Claus wearing what appears to be a long, wild beard modeled after the pagan god Odin
Santa With Turkey: Harper’s Weekly, cover, December 25, 1858
One of stranger depictions of Santa Claus, a beardless man riding a sleigh pulled by a wild turkey
Old Father Christmas 1867
Old Father Christmas: Godey’s Lady’s Book, December 1867
Father Christmas 1847
Father Christmas by Kenny Meadows, Illustrated London News, December 25, 1847
Father Christmas with Yule Log 1844
Father Christmas with Yule Log
Jolly Old Christmas 1844
Illustration of Jolly Old Christmas in the December 1844 edition of the Illustrated London News
Scrooge’s Third Visitor 1843
Scrooge’s Third Visitor from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Father Christmas 1842
Hablot Knight Browne, an English artist, engraver, etcher, and printer
Old Christmas in Wassail Bowl 1842
An unkempt Old Christmas arising from the Wassail Bowl
Old Christmas with Mummers 1837
A party-hardy Old Christmas
Old Christmas on Goat 1837
One of the most iconic depictions of Father Christmas
Santa, Carolyn Butler, Little Messenger Birds, 1850
Santa’s First Appearance in a Novel
P.T. Barham’s Santa Claus and Jenny Lind
Depiction Santa Claus as George Washington on a Broomstick
Santa Claus, Spoodyks, Santa Claus Quadrilles, 1846
A poster by Spoodlyks for a concert called the Santa Claus Quadrilles in 1846
St. Nicholas Jumping Into Air By Theodore E. Boyd, A Visit from St. Nicholas, 1848
One of the most iconic depictions of St. Nick
St. Nicholas on chimney by Theodore E. Boyd, A Visit from St. Nicholas, 1848
Illustration of St. Nick preparing to descend a chimney copied from Ingham’s depiction of the same event
St. Nicholas, Howitts, 1848, based on 1844 illustration by Sherman & Smith
A copy of an illustration created by Sherman & Smith of New York in 1844