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An Exceptionally Rare "Novelty Transportation" Golden Age Christmas Postcard Featuring Santa Claus and a Pair of Harness-Driven Polar Bears.
This is a truly magnificent and highly elusive piece of holiday ephemera from the Golden Age of postcards (circa 1907-1914). While standard depictions of Santa with his reindeer or interacting with a polar bear are classic motifs, finding a card where fully harnessed polar bears are subbing in for the reindeer to pull Santa's sleigh is an incredibly rare find for specialized holiday and novelty transit collectors.
The front of the card features rich, deep chromolithograph colors and crisp embossing, depicting a red/white-robed Santa alongside a winter angel driving a pair of magnificent polar bears across a starry night landscape. The bottom greeting reads "Wishing you a MERRY CHRISTMAS".
The reverse side features the multi-language UPU header (Weltpostverein – Union postale universelle), a divided back, the printer's series marker "W. 22", and a clear "Printed in Germany" stamp.
Condition Details:
Front: In excellent condition with strong, vibrant colors, sharp embossing, and minimal corner wear. Presents beautifully.
Back:
Unposted. Please note there is some localized surface paper loss/skinning on the center-back (as pictured), likely from historic removal from a scrapbook. The printed text remains fully legible.Please see the high-resolution photos for a precise look at the condition.
A fantastic, standout addition to any advanced Santa Claus or antique postcard collection!
