{"product_id":"twas-the-night-before-christmas-early-santa-history-plus-rare-1821-childrens-friend-with-old-santeclaus-9781946100252","title":"'Twas the Night Before Christmas: Early Santa History Plus Rare 1821 Children's Friend with Old Santeclaus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eComplete Santa Claus History with Rare 1821 Children's Friend\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis hardcover keepsake combines a comprehensive early history of St. Nicholas and Santa Claus with the exceptionally rare 1821 \u003cem\u003eOld Santeclaus with Much Delight\u003c\/em\u003e poem. Only two known copies of this historic work exist - considered the first colored lithographed Christmas book in America and the first to introduce Santa Claus with a flying reindeer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical Documentation and Research\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book presents a clear, footnoted history of how St. Nicholas transformed into the Santa Claus we know today. Full-color historical images trace Santa's evolution through key contributions from Washington Irving, John Pintard, James K. Paulding, and Clement Clarke Moore. Includes Thomas Nast's influential Santa illustrations from \u003cem\u003eHarper's\u003c\/em\u003e magazine and Moore's handwritten changes to reindeer names.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eInside This Collection\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePart I: Early History of Santa and His Reindeer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSaint Nicholas legend's journey to America\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFirst documented mention of Santa Claus\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWashington Irving's introduction of stockings and presents\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJohn Pintard's early Santa artwork\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEvolution from flying wagon to sleigh with eight reindeer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFirst Santa and reindeer appearance in newsprint\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal Dunder and Blixem reindeer name changes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFirst Harper's magazine Santa feature\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePart II: Rare 1821 Children's Friend\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eComplete reproduction of the 1821 \u003cem\u003eOld Santeclaus with Much Delight\u003c\/em\u003e poem, featuring the first illustration of Santa and reindeer. This eight-verse poem established many Santa traditions still recognized today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdditional Content:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo rare poems: \u003cem\u003eA Paraphrase of the Dutch Hymn to Saint Nicholas\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSt. Nicholas, Good Holy Man\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComplete bibliography and footnotes for further research\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical context for \u003cem\u003e'Twas the Night Before Christmas\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis documented collection serves as an essential reference for understanding Santa Claus origins and the cultural history behind America's most beloved Christmas traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rw Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50493598236946,"sku":"9781946100252","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_603e84e5-e909-404d-beaa-0dd19388b397.jpg?v=1737216287","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/twas-the-night-before-christmas-early-santa-history-plus-rare-1821-childrens-friend-with-old-santeclaus-9781946100252","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}