‘Twas the night before Christmas…

Created in 1862 by American political cartoonist Thomas Nast, the white-bearded, red-suited Santa Claus has become synonymous with Christmas itself. This collection of American imagery from the first decades of the 20th century pays homage to Old St. Nick and his familiar cast of characters via vintage graphic and print media such as greeting cards, postcards, ads, decorations, and more. A brief introduction describes the evolution of Santa Claus and the tradition of Christmas.

The editor: Jim Heimann is Executive Editor for TASCHEN America in Los Angeles and the author of numerous books on architecture, popular culture, and Hollywood history.

The author: Steven Heller, the art director of the New York Times Book Review and co-chair of the School of Visual Arts MFA Design program, is the author of over 90 books on design, popular culture, and satiric art. His recent books include Design Literacy Second Edition, Handwritten: Expressive Lettering in the Digital Age, and The Education of a Graphic Designer.