RARE original antique German Advent Calendar printed in the early 1900s.
Printed in colors on cardboard.
7 13/16" x 11" overall.
The original owner attached a hand-written letter on the back; the message is written in the German language.
The paper is marked at the head :
" A. Lange Papierhandlung
Hildesheim , Friesenstieg 2 "
The address "Friesenstieg 2" is located in the historic Mitte (city center) district of Hildesheim, in Lower Saxony, Germany.
The historical German stationery and paper shop ( Papierhandlung ) operated by G. Lange produced the first printed Advent calendar in the early 1900s.
At the upper right, a grandmotherly figure leans out the open windows of Heaven, shaking out a large cloth bag which causes it to snow on the happy German children in the village below. Childlike angels / fairy children with wings look out of the windows and also fly in the sky among the stars and moon. Two hold large magic wands with a large star, spreading Christmas magic on the landscape.
A child holds a glowing lantern and reaches toward Heaven, a boy holds a small Christmas tree, a blonde girl pushes her friend on a sled through the snow, a little white dog with a long bushy tail joins in the fun.
The scene is decorated with silvery glitter.
All of the 24 numbered windows are intact.
[ the first ( window 1 ) is located near the hat of the boy holding the Christmas tree , and the last ( window 24 ) is located on the bag which grandmother is shaking to make it snow ]
Attached to the back is a paper with printed illustrations which will be revealed when the numbered cardboard squares ( 24 of them, leading up to Christmas ) are each removed.
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In the early days, Advent calendars typically did not follow the full 4 week period of Advent. Instead, they would begin on December 1 and mark the 24 days leading up to Christmas Day.
The tradition of Advent Calendars dates to the mid-19th century, when German Protestants made chalk marks on doors or lit candles to count the days leading up to Christmas.
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An original, antique German Advent Calendar from the early 1900s; a rare find!
Carefully packed for shipment to the buyer.