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'Twas the Night Before Christmas

A clear, concise early history of St. Nicholas and Santa Claus, in color, complete with footnotes and bibliography! PLUS the extremely rare 1821 Old Santeclaus with Much Delight poem that first introduced a Santa Claus and a flying reindeer—considered to be the first colored lithographed Christmas book in America (only two known copies of this classic!). Discover the inspiration behind the all-time favorite Christmas poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Inside this remarkable keepsake, you will find:

√ History of Saint Nicholas and how his legend came to America
√ Transformation of St. Nicholas into our beloved Santa Claus
√ Historical images of Santa and his reindeer
√ First colored lithograph Christmas book in America
√ First illustration of Santa and reindeer
√ First Santa illustration in Harper's magazine
√ Thomas Nast Santa illustration many say made Santa who he is today
√ Clement Clarke Moore's handwritten change to reindeer name
√ Two additional rare poems: A Paraphrase of the Dutch Hymn to Saint Nicholas and St. Nicholas, Good Holy Man
√ Key players who invented today's Santa including Washington Irving, John Pintard, James K. Paulding, and Clement Clarke Moore, and famous Illustrators

Table of Contents:

Part I: Early History of Santa and His Reindeer

- Early History of Santa Claus and Reindeer Introduction
- Saint Nicholas to America
- First Mention of Santa Claus
- Santaclaus, Presents, Stockings (Washington Irving)
- Santa in Art Form (John Pintard)
- Sancte Claus Poem
- Santa in Flying Wagon (Washington Irving)
- Earliest Visual of Santa in Sleigh with One Flying Reindeer
- NEW Santa and Eight Reindeer
- First Time Santa and Eight Reindeer in Newsprint
- Expanded Version of Santa (James K. Paulding)
- Dunder and Blixem Reindeer Names Changed
- First Time Santa and Reindeer Featured in Harper's

Part II: Rare, 1821 Children's Friend

- Introduction to Part II
- 1821 Old Santeclaus with Much Delight
- The Steady Friend of Virtuous Youth
- Through Many Houses He Has Been
- Where E'er I Found Good Girls or Boys
- To Some I Gave a Pretty Doll
- No Drums to Stun Their Mother's Ear
- But Where I Found the Children Naughty
- I Left a Long, Black, Birchen Rod

- 'Twas the Night Series
- Bibliography

List of Illustrations

- Santa and Reindeer Flying Over Treetops, circa 1872 by Thomas Nast
- A Visit From St. Nicholas, 1879 by Frederick B. Schell
- Washington Irving, 1848 by James D. Smillie from F. O. C. Darley
- St. Nicholas Broadside Engraving, 1810 by Alexander Anderson
- Santa and Reindeer, circa 1830 by Bryon King
- Clement Clarke Moore's Handwritten Changes to Poem, 1844
- A Visit from Saint Nicholas, 1857 by Felix Octavius Carr Darley
- Various Santa Poses, 1857 (artist unknown)
- Santa Claus, Merry Christmas, 1884 by Thomas Nast
- Merry Old Santa Claus, 1881 by Thomas Nast
- Cover of The Children's Friend, 1823
- Santa and One Reindeer, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury
- Santeclaus, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury
- Santa and Stockings, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury
- Excited Children, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury
- Mischievous Children, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury
- Family, Reading Book, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury
- Children Being Naughty, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury
- Stockings With Switches, 1823 by Arthur J. Stansbury

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'Twas the Night Before Christmas