POSTCARDY: the postcard explorer: Vintage Christmas Monday

Nimble Nicks are little Santa's helpers created for use on postcards and other paper products by the Whitney company of Worcester, Massachusetts. The Nimble Nicks wear little hooded Santa suits. They have holly leaf wings in back and a blonde curl in the middle of their foreheads. They are childlike in appearance, but are smaller than real children.

The Nimble Nicks postcards were probably made between 1915 and the early 1920s. Three of the Nimble Nicks postcards shown here are dated 1916.

Whitney postcards are usually referred to as "Whitney Made" because of the Whitney Made/Worcester Massachusetts postcard logo on the back of the card. The majority of Whitney Made postcards are lightly embossed and feature cute children. The postcards were manufactured in the United states, mostly somewhat later than the imported holiday postcards that were popular during the postcard fad years before World War I.

I'm participating in Vintage Christmas Mondays.
Also see my December Vintage Thingies Thursdays posts for more vintage Christmas stuff.

14 comments:

CafebyJW said...: Beautiful :) Wish you merry christmas.; December 6, 2009 at 8:50:00 AM CST
Brenda @Just a Bed of Roses said...: Love old postcards and vintage pictures...may i put you on my bloglist?; December 6, 2009 at 1:09:00 PM CST
~~Carol~~ said...: Those postcards are absolutely adorable! I've never heard of Nimble Nicks, but I certainly will be on the lookout for some. These would look so great tucked in amongst all of the other decorations!
Happy VCM!
Carol; December 6, 2009 at 1:58:00 PM CST
C'est Moi, Julie Marie said...: Your vintage postcards are wonderful... so many memories of days gone by... Bisous... Julie Marie; December 6, 2009 at 3:58:00 PM CST
Judi said...: Your post is amazing and enlightening! I know a post card dealer and know will be on the hunt for these cards! Thanks for sharing not only your knoweldge, but the charming cards!; December 6, 2009 at 8:19:00 PM CST
Jane said...: I really like the Nimble Nicks postcards. I have never seen any while digging through old postcards. Thanks for the information about them as well. I really like reading about the history of the cards.
Jane; December 6, 2009 at 10:13:00 PM CST
Carol said...: Sending you warmest Vintage Christmas Monday wishes from Boxwood Cottage in Germany
Carola; December 7, 2009 at 8:00:00 AM CST
Sammy Girl said...: Good Morning!
I love your Nimble Nicks! Such sweet li'l guys just PERFECT for the holiday season. Now that I know what they are, I'll have to keep a lookout. (Like leprechauns ... always hiding, I imagine, lol!)
Hugs and have a SUPER Vintage Christmas Monday!
Betty :); December 7, 2009 at 10:28:00 AM CST
Kelly Ballard said...: These are absolutely precious! They remind me of cupie dolls.

Kelly
Second Hand Chicks; December 7, 2009 at 2:04:00 PM CST
Short and Sweet said...: Absolutely precious! I've never heard of the Nimble Nicks but I will be on the lookout for them at yard sales or estate sales. I would love to add them to garland.
Many thanks for sharing this new concept.
Loretta; December 7, 2009 at 5:29:00 PM CST
Gypsy Fish said...: Your postcards are adorable and I love the history behind them
Happy VCM!
Beth; December 7, 2009 at 8:09:00 PM CST
Joan@anythinggoeshere said...: Love these Nimble Nick postcards! They are just angelic! Thank you for joining Vintage Christmas Mondays! Looking forward to next week's post! xo Joan, your hostess; December 9, 2009 at 8:43:00 AM CST
Natacha said...: Thanks for your comment! You really have a lovely collection of vintage postcards.; December 9, 2009 at 10:13:00 AM CST
Joan@anythinggoeshere said...: I just wanted you to know that I featured you in my latest Vintage Christmas Monday recap. Joan, your hostess; December 12, 2009 at 6:14:00 PM CST