This postcard has neither an address nor a postmark.

I suspect that the correspondents are neighbors or schoolmates living in southeast Pennsylvania, and that the postcard was exchanged in a year near 1910.

These assumptions are supported by the presence of the family names in the area near Lancaster, PA where I have collected hundreds of postcards, and by the style of this postcard which was “Printed in Germany”.

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Sometime near Christmas in a year near 1910, Miss Lydia Sauder received a postcard from Lizzie Riehl.

The face of the postcard is fully decorated, as was customary for most German postcards exchanged in the US before 1914.

On a pale blue background that seems to be dotted with snow, sprigs of holly (which are bound by a garland of roses) support a pair of small gold bells.

The scene is illuminated by a star radiating light.

A large calendar page displays in red ink a bold “25 December”.

Printed in a delicate script (also in red) is the greeting, “A Merry Christmas”.

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On the reverse, the message begins without a greeting – which might have indicated the nature of the relationship between Lizzie and Lydia.

Lizzie writes, “I will send you a card for Christmas.”

She adds, “I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year”.

This postcard message is similar to many that appear on postcards exchanged by schoolmates – although there is no direct evidence that Lizzie and Lydia are connected in this way.

Lydia preserved the postcard throughout her life’

From age and exposure to sunlight, the postcard shows evidence of fading and foxing.

I made some digital repairs to the margins and other areas of the face.

One hopes that al the members of the Sauder and the Riehl families enjoyed a wonderful Christmas.