Thomas Nast Christmas Illustrations

Thomas Nast is perhaps best remembered for his political cartoons but he had a hand in the popularization of Santa Claus. Before Nast's yearly Christmas illustrations, Santa was not as popular and was thin and looked quite different. Nast's illustrations and the poem The Night Before Christmas both helped change the look and popularity of Santa.

This magazine illustration is of Santa visiting union troops.

Not all of Nast's Christmas illustrations involved Santa. This one was about loved ones being separated during the Civil War at Christmastime.

1950's Christmas cards

I never thought of Santa as being a dirty old man but someone who made Christmas cards in the 1950's obviously did.