Christmas Postcards from Central Europe
The New York Public Library’s Picture Collection holds a set of Christmas postcards issued in various countries. Several of them have been digitized. A selection of these postcards has been published under the title 100 Christmas Wishes: Vintage Holiday Cards from The New York Public Library and is available for purchase from the newly relocated and enlarged New York Public Library Shop. Below you can see examples of postcards from Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Austria.
"Wesołych Świąt” (Merry Christmas)
Wesołych Świąt (Merry Christmas) was created by Tadeusz Okoń (1872-1957), a Polish painter. The card was printed in Bochnia, Poland by Edition “Stella”.
"Vànocni Pozdrav!" (A Christmas Card)
Vànocni Pozdrav! (A Christmas Card) was created by Marie Fischerová-Kvěchová (1892–1984), a Czech artist. The card was issued in Czechoslovakia and was distributed in the United States by Růžovo Knihokupectvi, a Czech bookstore located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan (1363 1st Avenue)
"At the Christmas Shrine”
At the Christmas Shrine is a work by Franz Cižek (1865-1946), an Austrian artist and art teacher of Czech background. The card was published in Vienna in the Austrian Junior Red Cross Christmas Cards series.