An original creation created using Inkscape by Merlin2525. Santa in Outline mode perfect for kids coloring book. Santa is drawn with fancy hair, beard and moustache. This image is a layered image. With Inkscape use Shift CTRL L to see the layers.
This was based on a public domain print provided by the NARA. It was fascinating and had some sort of appeal that I thought should be shared with the future.
Is it just me or are many old illustrations really quite creepy? Why is Santa dancing with this ferocious looking bear? Why are the children lining up behind them without being scared? I don't why, this whole picture just creeps me out. Originally used to illustrate a December 1904 (read that as: totally public domain) advertisement in the The San Francisco Call newspaper. The original ad was for a company called Pragers. They sold things like: scarf pins for men, women and children (50 cents), vests ($3.85), kindergarten goods for girls (50 cents), porcelain clocks ($2.50) and all other manner of things. (They should have posted the ad with a warning like this: prices subject to change due to temporal readjustment when advertisement is read over 100 years later.)
This Old Timer is a true American Cowboy. Though no gun is in his pocket, just a towel to wipe his brow. None the less, he has his arm in the air and he is ready to do a good old dance for you all.