Christmas Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year

This Christmas card is a treasured piece of Robert E. Howard’s legacy, noted for being one of the few extant Christmas cards from the author. The presence of Howard’s handwritten signature adds to its rarity and value, considering he typically used a typewriter for his signatures. This personal touch, along with the direct connection to Howard through its recipient, Lenore Preece, in the late 1920s, marks the card as a significant historical artifact. The card is owned by Patrice Louinet, a notable Robert E. Howard scholar and collector. He has provided a clear scan of the card ensuring its details and the story behind it are preserved and appreciated within the community of Howard enthusiasts. This card was once part of Lenore Preece’s scrapbook.

The card’s design is redolent of the era’s aesthetic, with “Christmas Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year” emblazoned in a traditional typeface. The front illustration captures a tranquil winter scene—a solitary tree burdened with snow and a horse-drawn sled moving across the ground. A church steeple visible in the distance contributes to the serene depiction of a New England village in winter, while snowflakes falling through the air enhance the overall festive mood.

Earlier interpretations based on a darker scan conjured a more ominous and mystical backdrop, misrepresenting the actual peaceful and charming scene that Howard selected for his holiday correspondence. Now, with a clearer image, the card is seen as Howard intended—a warm and inviting winter landscape, free from the fantastical elements previously imagined.

The card was used by the Robert E. Howard Foundation as a Legacy member perk in 2014.