With the coming of another holiday season, it's time for Antique Talk's annual Seven Days of Christmas Wish List: a morsel of antique related entreats that should prove no problem to a well-fed man with flying reindeer and a multitude of workshop elves
on his payroll. On each day of Christmas may Santa give to me …
A Little Christmas Card for Me: The first commercially produced Christmas card was probably made in 1843 for a friend of Prince Albert, Bath businessman, Sir Henry Cole. Cole hired illustrator John Calcott Horsely to create a lithograph image of Cole's family seated around a Christmas dinner table. 1000 cards were printed and sold for one schilling each. However, only twelve are known to remain. I know thirteen is an unlucky number Santa, but I'd like one of those cards as a special present this year. The last one sold at auction fetched over $28,000, November 29, 2001.
A Tiny Car That Ran on Steam: At the first automobile show held in Madison Square Garden in 1900, seven of the twenty eight "Horseless Carriages" were propelled by steam power including a model made by twin brothers Francis and Freelan Stanley. A year earlier, in one of the first auto races held in Hartford CT, a Stanley Steamer ran low on pressure and lost to a gas-powered Columbia that caught it from way behind. I would like to have that "loser" parked near my tree this year, Santa. It has a fun name. And, I have a soft spot for underdogs.
Just a Tiny Egg for Me: Made by Carl Faberge for Czar Nicholas the 2nd. Ask for one of these every year. Like the ones with lots of colored jewels that pop up and play music and such.
A Chest With a Fat Belly: In mid 18th century Boston, top cabinetmakers interpreted a Dutch and English type of furniture case featuring a swelled "potbelly" extending outward on both sides of the case above the feet. A circa 1765 mahogany bombe chest-on-chest with a scrolled pediment, fluted pilasters and ogee bracket feet recently fetched around two million dollars at Skinners Auction in Boston MA. One like that would do just fine, Santa. Kind of like the form. And, I am running out of drawer space.
A Little Comic Art For Me: Original comic illustrations by famous artists like Disney and Shultz are bringing big bucks these days. For Christmas this year Saint Nick, I am not going to be so greedy and ask for one of those early classics. There was a Sunday single view comic about eight years ago. I think it was by Far Side artist, Gary Larson: A bunch of dogs are in a lifeboat. In the background, there's a sinking ship, indicating that the shipwreck had just occurred. One of the dogs says, "All in favor of eating all our food and drinking all our fresh water right now, raise your hand." Dogs being dogs they all had their paws up. Looking for that one to go up in value years from now. Hit my funny bone.
A First Edition Book, Santa Please: Think they are going to stop making Tolkien Fantasy movies after the Lord of the Rings trilogy finishes up this December? No way. Not as long as the author's best book, the pre-cursor to LOR still hasn't hit the big screen in a big way yet. I would kindly ask for a 1937 first issue, first edition of "The Hobbit" complete with original dust jacket in pristine condition if you can find it, Mr. Clause. It's my favorite book!
And Finally, Presents for Our Soldiers Overseas: Forget all the other presents, Santa. Take care of this one, ok?
Seven Days of Christmas Wish List
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