Original 1869 Issue — Santa Claus Cover • Winslow Homer “Christmas Belles” • Alaska Relics

Complete 16-page issue • Frame-worthy engravings • Historic holiday classic

This is an authentic 1869 Harper’s Weekly, published in New York on January 2, 1869—not a reprint. It features one of the most desirable holiday covers of the 19th century, along with a full-page Winslow Homer engraving and multiple exceptional prints perfect for collectors and framing.


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🎄 ⭐ Highlights of This Issue ⭐

🎅 Full-Page Santa Claus Cover

“A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”
A dramatic full-figure Santa carrying a decorated Christmas tree across snowy rooftops. One of Harper’s most charming post–Civil War holiday covers. Beautiful for framing!

🐎 Full-Page Winslow Homer Engraving

“Christmas Belles”
An elegant winter sleigh scene by famed American artist Winslow Homer—always one of the most sought-after Harper’s engravings.

🎁 “Home for the Holidays” — Full-Page Print

A lively Victorian holiday family gathering.

📜 Additional Notable Illustrations Include:

• “The Christmas Tree”
• “A Curious Custom Observed by the Greek Church in Russia”
• “Alaska Relics” — an early ethnographic plate showing Indigenous Alaskan artifacts shortly after the 1867 Alaska Purchase
• “Lynch Law in Indiana — The Vigilance Committee at Work at the New Albany Jail”
• “View of Santa Catalina, District of Guantánamo, Cuba”

Plus serialized fiction, domestic & foreign news, political commentary, and wonderful 19th-century advertisements.


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📚 Condition

Good to Good+ for age.
• Complete in 16 pages
• Light toning, some edge wear, and a few small margin tears
• Clean, crisp engravings
• Santa cover, Homer print, Alaska Relics, and holiday scenes present beautifully
• Ideal for display or archival framing

(See photos for exact details.)


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🖼️ Archival Framing Available

I offer professional archival framing, including:
• Acid-free mat 🎨
• UV-protective acrylic ☀️
• Options for both single-page and double-page centerfolds
Message me for options and quotes!


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🌟 Why This Issue Matters

Holiday issues of Harper’s Weekly are among the most collectible, and this one is especially desirable due to:
• The iconic Santa cover
• A full-page Winslow Homer engraving
• Rare early depictions of Alaska Native cultural artifacts
• Beautiful Victorian Christmas imagery

This issue captures the mood, art, and culture of the era—an outstanding piece of Americana.


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