8 The Night Before Christmas Illustrations

This is an exquisite collection of Vintage The Night Before Christmas Illustrations. This beautiful Antique book actually belonged to my Grandparents and possibly my Great Grandparents as my Grandmother saved lots of their things. It’s quite old and such a treasure! These highly detailed color drawings tell the story so beautifully. Each one is rich in portraying the Victorian fairy tale.

These would make a beautiful heirloom Christmas junk journal that you could read every Christmas Eve. You could print them out and put them together to create your own little booklet!

The Beautiful Cover

Early Santa Image with Toys and sled and Reindeer and mrs claus

The cover image is just amazing. I love the array of toys. A doll with bright red dress and slippers and the tin man from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ are hanging on the big sack. It appears that Santa might be holding up mistletoe expecting a kiss from Mrs. Claus wearing a beautiful gold dress. The image truly gets me in the Christmas Spirit and proves that Christmas is still exciting and loads of fun for people of all ages!

Waiting for Santa

What a poignant image that we can all relate to. The Father’s facial expression tells it all. He has a smile that shows his excitement as he prepares to put out the toys. He and Sants will create the magical scene that the children will awaken to and see all that Santa has brought them. What a magical Night Before Christmas Illustration this is.

Oh the thrill of knowing that the reindeer will come streaking across the sky and land at your rooftop with lots of surprises to find the next morning! Santa appears to be confident and in control as the ‘pilot of the reindeer sleigh’ as they arrive. The deer are energetic and having fun as they bring the sleigh to the next house on the list. Is Father actually watching Santa or is it just his imagination? Hmmm.

Santa Arrives

Santa knowingly places the gifts in the stockings where they belong. It looks as if he has already arranged the others in their proper place for maximum thrills on Christmas morning! Baseball bats and ball, dolls, books, etc. – what else could a boy or girl ask for really? I think Santa has covered all the options, as he does in every home he visits.

Santa smoking his pipe with a look of confidence as he inspects the chimney for safe passage downward. I love the full moon and twinkling stars in the background, and certainly Santa and the reindeer appreciate the bright and clear skies that it provides. The icicles and snow on the chimney help to create the Christmas mood in this Night Before Christmas Illustration. The loyal reindeer wait patiently for Santa to do his duty before moving onward.

Early Santa Image with Toys in fireplace

Santa taking a deserved short break for a few moments of relaxation as he enjoys a pipe while sitting on a mantle. It appears that he might be winking at someone (most likely Mom or Dad), just letting them know that ‘mission accomplished!’ His face looks a bit worn and old, but happy, and he is timeless. There is a huge sack bursting with toys for all the good girls and boys.

Santa tips his hat as he and his brave and loyal reindeer press forward in the final of our Night Before Christmas Illustrations. He says, “Goodbye until next year when I once again will return to bring you happiness and joy. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

Story Page

Here is the latest addition to this collection. Here is the first page in the book. The pages with the story are so decorative!

I hope you enjoyed these beautiful Night Before Christmas Book Illustrations. You might also like our Best Christmas Images HERE.

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Comments

Irene says

December 23, 2023 at 10:10 am

Hi Karen,
This is a lovely story with the way it is illustrated. You would always see the toys in Santa’s sack. I also love the last one that is your latest. There’s so much excitement going on – these are real treasures! Thanks so much for sharing these with us!
Merry Christmas and the best to you in the New Year!

- Karen Watson says
  
  December 25, 2023 at 5:08 pm
  
  Thank you Irene. I’m glad you enjoyed my old family treasure! Merry Christmas to you too.
  
Sherry says

December 22, 2023 at 8:18 pm

I would love to have the rest of the pages of the story poem as well

SHHDP says

December 9, 2022 at 11:58 pm

What I find the most amazing is that your ancestors saved this stuff, never being able to imagine what you, so far into the future, would be able to make of/with them. Thanks for sharing these beautiful and beloved images with us.
Shauna

- Karen Watson says
  
  December 10, 2022 at 11:01 am
  
  Thank you Shauna, on my Dad’s side of the family we are savers! My Mother likes to get rid of things. I take more after my Dad. 🤣 I think my Grandmother would be really happy that these things are shared on my blog as she was an amazing crafter herself and made many beautiful things. She had me crafting at a very early age and she inspired my love of antiques as well!
  
Rosalie says

December 9, 2022 at 11:13 am

Wonderful traditional graphics. Really appreciate all the wonderful images and ideas.

- Karen Watson says
  
  December 9, 2022 at 2:46 pm
  
  Thank you so much Rosalie!
  
Amy Holmes says

December 2, 2018 at 11:12 pm

Thank you so much for posting these. I had seen one of them before, but never the others. I just adore them all.

- graphicsfairy says
  
  December 3, 2018 at 11:45 am
  
  Oh I am so glad Amy, enjoy 🙂
  
Irene says

November 30, 2018 at 6:21 pm

Hi Karen!
These illustrations truly depict the winter, the Christmas season and the hardships of the night before Christmas. I love the detail and the ‘old fashioned feeling.’ When I was growing up, my grandparents and parents made me feel that Santa and his reindeer were real when they left tracks in the snow, leading to the cherry tree with what looked like steel bowls with food for the reindeer. (They told me that the reindeer had to eat too.) Christmas was real back then. I’m not a fan of Santa flying in on his helicopter the day after Halloween to some mall as they do now. It’s so commercialized and has been for too many decades. Thanks for sharing!

- graphicsfairy says
  
  December 3, 2018 at 11:41 am
  
  What lovely memories you have Irene, thanks so much for sharing with us 🙂
  
Karen says

December 9, 2007 at 12:38 am

Yes, they have a certain depth to them that you don’t find today don’t they.

Junie Moon says

December 8, 2007 at 10:05 am

I so love these older illustrations as opposed to the modern ones used nowadays. There’s so much more character and whimsy in older graphic design.