The Allies of Santa Claus by Mabel Lucie AttwellTwo little girls slumber on a window sill as the elvish helpers of Father Christmasm sprinkle fairy dust in order that he may deliver presents. Date: 1919
Christmas Truce / PhotoBritish and German soldiers fraternising on Christmas Day abandoning their respective trenches to exchange gifts, play sports and forget the war for one day
St Lucys DaySaint Lucys day (15 December) The girl chosen to be Lucia carries coffee and cakes to those preparing Christmas gifts and decorations
Cats enjoying a party on a Christmas cardA family of cats enjoying a party on a Christmas card, by Louis Wain. Date: circa 1900s
Fortnum & Masons Christmas Box for soldiers, WW1Advertisement for quintessential London department store, Fortnum & Mason, in particular their Thirty Shilling Xmas Box of selected provisions which could be sent to the front for lucky soldiers
A box of Christmas Eve crackersA lovely box of Christmas crackers from the 1920s, with the contents intact and the box lid featuring a bright and jolly picture of Father Christmas being helped to cross the road by a policeman
Wrapping Gifts 1950SFestive model in red baby doll nightie with broderie Anglaise trim & white slingback shoes sits on a cushion & wraps presents, showing her knickers in the process
Nativity - MagiThe Magi present the young Jesus with the birthday gifts they have brought him
Christmas / NativityTHE THREE WISE MEN arrive at the stable and present their gifts to the infant Jesus
Father Christmas parachuting out of a planeFather Christmas jumps out of an aeroplane using a parachute onto snowy rooftops. Who needs reindeer to deliver presents in the modern age? Date: 1932
Decorated Christmas tree with toys and food below. Date: circa 1890s
Advert for Huntley and Palmers biscuitsAdvertisement illustrated by Pauline Baynes for Huntley and Palmers biscuits. Parade of servants holding a tin of Huntley and Palmers biscuits, loading up the sleigh for Father Christmas. Date: 1952
Medici, Lorenzo the Magnificient (1449-1492). Italian patrician and humanist, ruler of Florence from 1469 to 1492. Lorenzo de Medici receiving gifts from his ambassadors. VASARI, Giorgio (1511-1574)
Advert for Goblin teasmade 1954How nice to receive a Goblin teasmade. Every morning of the year to be wakened to morning tea freshly made, ready at your bedside for enjoyment in cosy comfort
Advert for Terrys exerciser for men 1939Christmas gift ideas from Herbert Terry exercisers, including steelstrand expander, golfer pocket wrist exerciser, spring grip dumbbells
Nativity SceneA tranquil Nativity scene showing the three kings arriving to present their gifts of gold, Frankincense and myrrh to the newborn baby Jesus
Nativity scene, with the Three Kings bearing giftsA Christmas Nativity scene, with the Three Kings bearing gifts for the Baby Jesus
Christmas Morning by Margaret Tempest. circa 1910s
Petula ClarkPetula Sally Olwen Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932), English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades
Advert for Ronson lighters 1937For him and her, a selection of lighters for Christmas presents. 1937
Father Christmas in snowy, starry villageFather Christmas parks his sleigh in the road of a night-time snowy, starry village and delivers presents to a house. Date: 1960s
Gifts from Germans following the Christmas truce, WW1British non-commissioned officers pose with gifts and souvenirs given to them by Germans after the informal truce which took place at certain points along the Western Front in December 1914
Boots advertisement WW1 - comforts for the trenchesBoots advertisement warning Remember, there are no Chemists Shops in the Trenches. Their suggestions for comforts to send to men at the front include foot comfort, Meloids for a sore throat
Advert for Stockings by Bear Brand 1933Bear Brands newest expression in silken luxury. Dull lustred, gossamer thread and softest strength. 1933
Mappin & Webb cocktail set advertisementAdvertisement for cocktail and liqueur sets by Mappin & Webb featuring two men and a woman enjoying drinks around a cocktail cabinet. Date: 1927
Silhouette of couple giving each other Christmas presentsA couple face each other, ready to exchange Christmas presents. Date: 1930
Christmas Eve - about 1460 by Pauline BaynesChristmas Eve, as celebrated in 1460 with children bringing in holly and the Yule Log to be lit on Christmas Day, and other joining in a last minute carol practice
The Tatler front cover Christmas Number 1955Illustrated front cover of The Tatler featuring a highly independent poodle dog who appears to have done all his Christmas shopping
Asprey Christmas presents, 1926Colour advertisement for Asprey of Bond Street displaying a wide variety of Christmas present ideas, including an attache case, a shagreen cigarette box, leather handbag, crocodile handbag pochette
Alaskan PotlatchAlaskan natives gather for a POTLATCH - a ritual exchange of hospitality and gifts which often ruins the donors who seek to compete in displays of generosity
The Three Kings, with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, follow the star in the east to the stable in Bethlehem
Cinderella & PrinceThe Prince is charmed by this unknown beauty and offers her gifts of fruit. He hardly acknowledges the presence of the other ladies at the ball
Father Christmas with presentsA pot-bellied Father Christmas with lots of presents
Santa Claus with presents on a Danish Christmas postcardSanta Claus with presents and tree on a Danish Christmas postcard. Date: circa 1900s
Advert for Peter Robinson, gentlemens clothing 1895Christmas presents for gentlemen, smoking jackets and dressing gowns. 1895
John, Duke of Berrys household exchanging New Year gifts. The Duke is seated at the right, in blue. Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. 15th century. Miniature. Chateau de Chantilly. France
The Day After Christmas by Mark SymonsCosy front room festooned with decorations and filled with Christmas toys. Date: 1931
Batgers Christmas crackers box labelA bright and colourful label for a box of Batgers Jewel Christmas crackers featuring a lady emerging from a casket of jewels
Matrushka - St Nicholas and the recipients of his giftsMatrushka Doll illustration with St Nicholas as the largest figure and the recipients of his Christmas gifts - a slowly diminishing (in size!) group of children Date: circa 1920s
French parcel delivery man at Christmas, 1913A busy parcel delivery man in Paris seen hard at work during the Christmas season. Attched to one of the big magasins or department stores, he is loaded with parcels and packages up to his chin
Mansell Crackers box label designLabel design for a box of Mansell Christmas crackers featuring a cosy festive indoor scene with twinkling Christmas tree and a cosy armchair by a roaring fire
The Sphere Christmas Number 1961Front cover illustration depicting various people in a park, walking through the snow armed with presents and Christmas trees
Greeting Soviet TankUkrainian farmer greets a Soviet Tank crew with traditional gifts - bread and salt
Footballs as gifts for men at the frontA boy in a suit admires a tower of uninflated footballs, some with labels attached, destined to be sent as wartime Christmas gifts to soldiers at the front in world war one
Postcard - Benefit of Le Paquet de L'Orphelin - WW1Postcard sold for the benefit of Le Paquet de L'Orphelin ('The Orphan's Package') - charitable Christmas gifts/presents for the war orphans of France. Date: circa 1918
Cover design, Father Christmas, Meccano magazineCover design, Father Christmas in a Meccano aeroplane dropping Meccano sets to boys Date: 1923
Advert, Triang Toys for Christmas presents Date: 1923
The Judgement Of ParisThis illustration is a depiction of the Greek mythological story of The Judgement of Paris, this scene represents the goddess of Discord, Eris, holding the golden apple
