For this third week topic on illustrations of the holiday season in books and other Crystal Bridges’ library materials, we’ll look at  a few unique surprises hidden in the library archives.   First, Boston Baked Beans: fröliche Weihnachten und glückliches Neujahr!: souvenir. Boston: L. Prang & Co. This 1897 souvenir Prang-printed booklet is cut in the shape of a pot and contains 11 chromolithographic views of various Boston tourist attractions such as the State House, Paul Revere’s House, the Old North Church, and the Bunker Hill Monument. For German tourists, the title means: “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!” 

Next is a fun example of chromolithographed sample strips of Cigar box edgings from Schmidt & Co., 1870.

Following are individual cards designed by American artists:

Watercolor and ink card by Walt Kuhn

A 1936 watercolor and ink greeting Card by Walt Kuhn;

A charming Hallmark Christmas card designed by Grandmas Moses and titled “A Frosty Day.”

Silk screened greeting card designed by Alexander Liberman, 1961, published by MoMA, in 1964. Greeting reads “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Tatiana and Alexander Liberman.”

Silkscreened card designed by Alexander Liberman