Grandmother Stover's Toy Tree

This is one of my most favorite vintage Christmas decorations ever! It was made by Grandmother Stover's, an American company that manufactured dollhouse miniatures and tiny novelty items in the 1950s and 60s.
Measuring about 8 inches tall, it consists of a heavy cardboard die-cut Christmas tree strung with cords that are just loaded with charms, favors, and tiny toys, including a miniature harmonica, an itty bitty dexterity game, a roller skate, cups and saucers, a little tin streetcar, tiny dolls, and lots more.
The box the tree comes in is rather deceiving: it looks just like an old stationery package, thin and flat, and gives no hint of the amazing object within. In fact, I almost passed it over when I saw it in a pile of Christmas junque at an antique store, assuming it held old cards or handkerchiefs. It was a big surprise to open it and discover this amazing item inside.

Vintage Snowman Package Trim

Last week I found a big bag full of vintage 1950s Christmas package trims at a local antique mall. My favorite was this fantastic little 2 inch snowman, with a glittery paper body and plastic head. The back is marked "Made in Japan," and has a peel-off sticky part for attaching him to a package. He's just so cute!

Antique Christmas Postcards

Here are a couple of antique Christmas postcards from my collection. The first one features a great image of a toy-filled sleigh pulled by a rocking horse, while the second is a more subtle design, of Santa flying over a cozy village. Both are from 1906.

Old Photographs: Children With Toys

I'm always on the lookout for old photos of children with toys. They make nice accessory pieces to a toy collection, plus they're just interesting items in their own right. I usually set up a display of several at Christmas time. Here are a few of my favorites. (Click on the pictures to see them in more detail.)


This first picture is of my friend Ron, who can be seen here in about 1939 - 1940 driving his pedal car down a street in his Detroit neighborhood.


I don't know who this little girl is, but I love her bobbed haircut, funky boots, and stuffed doggie. Circa the 1920s.


This last picture is considerably older, probably around 1900. Two sisters in fancy dresses posed for a studio portrait, with another stuffed dog.

Tracy's Vintage Christmas Photos

Here are some of my favorite pictures from Christmases past (click to see 'em bigger):

I think I'm one year old here. Mom is trying to hand me off to Santa. I'm not happy about it, and am, in fact, about to begin screaming. Meanwhile, my cousin David takes advantage of the distraction to loot Santa's gift box.


Here I am aged about 2 with my new dollhouse and footy pajamas.

And in this one, I'm about 3 or 4, and have just opened two of my favorite gifts: a Viewmaster and the classic Inchworm riding toy. Moments after this was taken, I crashed into the sofa while attempting to ride the Inchworm while looking through the Viewmaster.