The Chri$$$$$tmas of yesteryear

Despite plenty of books devoted to every aspect of the festive season Tim Hollis has produced something fresh: a comprehensive coverage in words and picture of the commercialism of Christmas. In six chapters he tells you all about the toys wrapped under the tree, Rudolph and Frosty story books, records put out by Peter Pan, Disney Records and others, tree and house decorations and finally what the stores did on your Main Street.

Actually some of this has been covered by others, especially the three Christmas books by Susan Waggoner, the latest of which: Christmas Memories: Gifts, Activities, Fads, and Fancies, 1920s-1960s I thought was particularly good. Hollis, though, goes into much more detail (and here and there maybe too many words, especially on Peter Pan records) about the various products that must have filled most houses across the country on the twenty-fifth and not forgetting the razzamatazz of the preceding weeks in large department stores right down to the local five and dime.

What I thought really gives the book an edge are the 224 color images. An amazing collection of toy and candy ads, book jackets, sheet music covers, record covers (lots of these) and product ads, catalog pages showing tree lights and decorations, store Wish Book covers and more. I doubt you'll find pictures of a bigger selection of Christmas commercial products from 1940 to 1970 in any other book.

It was all the wonderful seasonal graphic material that I loved about the book. The title's layout is rather bland but that only throws up all the colorful nostalgic goodies. The back pages have a short bibliography and nicely a comprehensive index.

Christmas Wishes: A Catalog of Vintage Holiday Treats & Treasures (Antiques Collectables) is available at Amazon (US | CA | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | JP | CN)

Title spread.

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