The gap between those who can access and use digital technology and those who can't
A Second World War-era poster produced for Great Western Railway (GWR), London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS), London & North Eastern Railway (LNER), and Southern Railway (SR) to remind customers that the transportation of weapons, munitions, and servicemen had to take priority over the delivery of Christmas parcels.
If you were musically inclined back in the 1920s, a pianola ordered from American musical instrument-making firm Aeolian Company would be delivered directly by Santa himself!
Christmas pudding tastes better with Bird's Custard. So declares this poster from 1927 advertising the powdered, egg-free imitation custard powder manufactured in Great Britain and advertised in New York City's Poster magazine.
This 1953 advertising poster shows a young boy surprising Santa Claus as he helps himself to a ice-cool Coca-Cola out of a fully stocked fridge.
An elegant, stylish woman dressed for winter weather graces the Christmas 1900 edition of Scribner's literary magazine, an American periodical published from January 1887 to May 1939.
This is an advertising chromolithograph published by the French department store Le Bon Marché in the late 19th century. Founded in 1838, Le Bon Marché was one of the world's first modern department stores.
Children gaze at a window display of Gold Medal flour on Christmas night, in this illustration from the Saturday Evening Post. The American Gold Medal flour brand dates back to 1880.
A trade card to promote the holiday sale at the Bee Hive store, printed on December 10, 1879 in New York City.
A Christmas hamper selection advertised by luxury food company Poulton & Noel in the 1890s. Poulton & Noel was based in London's upscale Belgravia neighborhood.
A lithographic book plate from one of McLoughlin's Christmas books shows Santa Claus filling stockings by the chimney as children sleep. The illustration was published in New York City in 1895.
This 1899 advertisement for Clarke's "Cricklite" Lamps refers to a set of lamps designed for use with double wick wax candles and produced over the Christmas period by the London-based Clarke's Pyramid and Fairy Light Company.
According to Newball & Mason, a company in Nottingham, England, Santa's favorite tipple is a raspberry wine concentrate. The advert dates back to 1900, but the wine essence is "suitable for anytime."
Decorating a Christmas tree in the 1930s took patience and dexterity, according to iconic American nail product company Cutex. A fingernail manicure set was apparently what you needed to complete the task.
A Victrola home record player was considered an exclusive and hugely expensive Christmas gift in the early 20th century. It was manufactured by New Jersey-based Victor Talking Machine Company, forerunner of RCA Victor.
More affordable to the average music lover was a Columbia Grafonola, manufactured by the Columbia Graphofone Company in New York City. The tagline reads: "Say Pop! We just gotta have a Columbia Grafonola this Christmas."
English company Batger's was known for its jams and confectionary. But every year over the festive season, they produced Christmas crackers. This vibrant early 20th-century advertisement shows youngsters disembarking from a boat via a gangplank onto an ice floe.
According to this 1932 Christmas advert, London's famous White City greyhound track was the place to spend Christmas.
"When your Xmas packages are ready, call American Express" urges this 1935 seasonal color lithographic advertisement for the shipping services of American Express. Yes, the same American Express of today's credit card fame.
A Christmas 1941 menu card for Golden Lion Tavern in San Diego. The landmark eatery was housed on the bottom floor of the Ingle Building in the city's Gaslamp Quarter. A plaque marks the location.
This December 1953 advertisement for a variety of different flavors of Schweppes, such as ginger beer, lemonade, raspberry pop, and and tonic water, depicts happy bottles pulling the bell ropes in a church tower beneath the slogan: 'How many Schwepping days to Christmas?"
A 1954 Christmas advertisement for Crawford Tartan Shortbread with the caption: "I told you I'd be back with the Crawford." The popular cookies were made by British company Crawford's, which is still baking today.
Despite its headquarters being located in Norwich, England, this 1932 Christmas advertisement for Caley Dari-Rich assorted milk chocolates leads with a French-language caption, "Caley au lait, Caley au lait-itee"—which plays on the pronunciation of a Swiss-German yodel—and depicts characters in traditional alpine costumes.
A 1955 Christmas advertisement for the popular British cereal brand Holly Raisins showing raisins in the shape of a Christmas pudding.
Sources: (Kodak) (American Lung Association) (Eastern Daily Press)
See also: DIY Christmas gifts everyone will love
"Have you answered the Red Cross Christmas Roll Call?" asks this poster from 1918 promoting the services of the American Red Cross during the festive season.
Christmas seals (labels placed on mail during the festive season) were first issued in 1907 to help end tuberculosis. Today, they help us make progress towards defeating, asthma, lung cancer, influenza, tobacco use, air pollution, and other respiratory-related issues.
A London County Council Tramways poster from 1926 showing two women wrapped up in winter coats and carrying Christmas shopping.
A clever advertisement for Waterman's fountain pen for Christmas ("Xmas") made by the L. E. Waterman Company in New York City, 1898.
Kodak was founded by George Eastman and Henry A. Strong on May 23, 1892. The Kodak camera became one of the most popular Christmas gift "must-haves" of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Christmas has traditionally seen advertisers market the festive season in a highly creative manner. Today, we are used to seeing slickly produced Yuletide television adverts, some even starring well-known celebrities. But there was a time when consumers were lured by the printed page, making do with Christmas adverts published in newspapers, magazines, and books, and on trade cards and posters. But this didn't mean any less a creative approach was taken on the part of the advertiser. Indeed, the artwork and taglines of many vintage advertisements remain as fresh and appealing today as the day they were published.
Click through and see how we were once persuaded to purchase our presents.
How we used to advertise Christmas and the festive season
Vintage Xmas artwork that persuaded spending!
LIFESTYLE Society
Christmas has traditionally seen advertisers market the festive season in a highly creative manner. Today, we are used to seeing slickly produced Yuletide television adverts, some even starring well-known celebrities. But there was a time when consumers were lured by the printed page, making do with Christmas adverts published in newspapers, magazines, and books, and on trade cards and posters. But this didn't mean any less a creative approach was taken on the part of the advertiser. Indeed, the artwork and taglines of many vintage advertisements remain as fresh and appealing today as the day they were published.
Click through and see how we were once persuaded to purchase our presents.