ATMOSPHERIC 1882 PRANG CHRISTMAS CARD-LARGE, FRINGED - $30 - (Creston, NC)
ATMOSPHERIC 1882 PRANG CHRISTMAS CARD-LARGE, FRINGED This large card shows a night-time scene, with an overcoated male caller stepping onto the porch of an icicle-draped Victorian house the door of which is already open to welcome him. Inside is a warmly lit party scene that contrasts with the icy coldness outside. In the near distance, two bundled-up figures stroll on what appears to be either a sidewalk or broad path alongside a row of trees bordering what may be either a snow-covered park or an ice-coated body of water. Street lanterns and window lights glow in the distance. To the far left is a daytime scene that appears to show the promise of spring even as icicles dangle over it from a sheltering tree limb. The back shows an ornate vase holding a spray of white flowers, with a heading and a verse. VERSE: The poem on the back is signed by "E.S.F". DATE: The card displays a copyright date of 1882. MAKER: L. Prang & Co., Boston. (Name printed lower right of image.) Prang is given credit for being "the father of the American Christmas card". Prang, a German fleeing revolution, came to the U.S. in the mid-nineteenth century and became a lithographer. He printed his first Christmas card in 1875 (this first batch was exported to England), and in 1876 began selling the cards in the U.S. By 1881, the year before this card was printed, Prang was printing more than 5 million Christmas cards a year. Although he was ultimately driven out of the card business by U.S. and European competitors who lowered quality and prices, his art legacy lives on. Not only are his cards highly collectible, but his child-safe art materials, including Prang crayons and paints, are still sold today. SIZE: 8-5/8" x 5-5/8" (without fringe). Fringe measures approximately 5/8" per side. CONDITION: The card retains its subtle coloring. The white fringe is clean and intact, if somewhat ruffled, save for minor loss at upper left corner. The front of the card shows minor wear to the gold. The rear …
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From ebay.com - 1 month ago