The time for wrapping up warmly and preparing for Christmas is now upon us.
Photographs and illustrations from our collections show festivities in full swing – from ice skating and shopping for seasonal novelties and 'fancy articles', to catching the Christmas turkey.
Our COPY 1 series is filled with artwork for cards, posters and other advertising materials promoting the festive season and all that makes it magical. In our images below, a young girl rides in on a polar bear to bring us some Christmas biscuits, while a railway poster advertises holiday excursions. Further illustrations show a tougher time for yuletide travellers, with coaches and horses battling the snow.
Not started your present shopping yet? Take a look at the Christmas gift selection in our bookshop.
You can also see more COPY 1 images in our Designs, advertising and photography showcase.
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May Christmas be bright and happy, 1882
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/christmas/copy1-56-may-christmas-be-bright-and-happy-1882.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/56
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Christmas in the 18th century
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/christmas/copy1-262(i)-(257)-christmas-in-the-18th-cent-1907.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/262(i) (257)
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Brown Davies & Co., London E2, 1878
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/christmas/copy1-43-brown-davies-and-co-london-e2-1878.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/43
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Great Northern Railway Christmas excursions, 1903
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/christmas/copy1-209-gnr-christmas-excursions-1903.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/209
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Christmas scene, Santa's airship, 1903
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/christmas/copy1-207-(3)-christmas-scene-santas-airship-1903.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/207 (3)
-christmas-scene-santas-airship-1903.jpg)
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Boys catch a turkey, 1878
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/christmas/copy1-41-boys-catch-a-turkey-1878.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/41
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'I wish you a merry Christmas', with lilies, 1876
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/christmas/copy1-33-lillies-1876.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/33
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Royal George Hotel with coach and horses, Christmas postcard, 1905
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/christmas/copy1-230-(146)-royal-george-hotel-with-coach-and-horses-christmas-postcard-1905.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/230 (146)
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Huntley & Palmers Christmas biscuits, Reading and London, 1904
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/christmas/copy1-218-(370)-huntley-and-palmers-christmas-biscuits-reading-and-london-1904.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/218 (370)
-huntley-and-palmers-christmas-biscuits-reading-and-london-1904.jpg)
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Saunders & Sons of Brighton, Autumn and Winter novelties poster, 1905
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/christmas/copy1-235(ii)-(189)-saunders-and-sons-of-brighton-autumn-and-winter-novelties-poster-1905.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/235 (ii)(189)
-(189)-saunders-and-sons-of-brighton-autumn-and-winter-novelties-poster-1905.jpg)
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Christmas in London, 1905
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/christmas/copy1-232-(295)-christmas-in-london-1905.jpgCatalogue reference: COPY 1/232 (295)
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Snowed up on Christmas Eve, 1889
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/christmas/zper35-17-snowed-up-on-christmas-eve-1889.jpgCatalogue reference: ZPER 35/17
This is just a selection. Contact licensing@nationalarchives.gov.uk for more image solutions.
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-(189)-saunders-and-sons-of-brighton-autumn-and-winter-novelties-poster-1905.jpg)
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