A Visit from St. Nicholas, aka The Night Before Christmas
A large collection of antique “Twas The Night Before Christmas” (”A Visit From St. Nicholas”) books and publications is reprinted below. “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (also known as “A Visit of St. Nicholas”, “The Night Before Christmas” or “Twas The Night Before Christmas”) was first published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel (New York) on December 23, 1823 and was reprinted for a number of years without attribution. In 1844 Clement Clarke Moore claimed authorship (see below for a scan of Poems which was the first publication of Moore’s own claim to authorship) himself in one of his books of poems. The first currently known credit to Moore was the December 25, 1837 edition of the Pennsylvania Inquirer and Daily Courier which credited “Professor Moore” as the author.
We reprint hundreds of scans from Christian Riley’s SantaClaus.com collection of A Visit from St. Nicholas for the enjoyment of people around the world (if you wish to link to material from SantaClaus.com, VisitFromStNicholas.com or TheNightBeforeChristmas.com we kindly ask that you note it). Both SantaClaus.com and TheNightBeforeChristmas.com reprint selected versions of the poem as the shear number of editions reprinted here may be considered overwhelming by some. However, as we fully scan in the entire collection, we believe that as people’s tastes in food varies, so may their tastes in favorite adaptions of the poem. Likewise, as the three sites contain the largest collection of “The Night Before Christmas” scans on the internet, it may be useful for those interested in the history of the poem to have a complete collection available.
If you would like to discuss The Night Before Christmas, the SantaClaus.com Christmas forums are the perfect place.
Would you like to include a scan that you don’t see here? If it is pre-1923, then we would love a full scan of the book. If it is pre-1964, it may be out of copyright so if you have a scan we can probably check. If it is post 1963, then it is not out of copyright, but a scan of the cover would be useful, discuss The Night Before Christmas with us here.
The names represent the following:
1837-3-14-New-York Mirror-Dec-23
1837 – the year, followed by a number indicating the # published, 3 being the 3rd item for that year
14-The number from Nancy Marshall’s bibliography (if it is followed by an “s” it is similar but not identical)
New York Mirror – Publication, followed by date if available.
We are adopting a “year-number” format in order to facilitate referencing the books while allowing for additions that are as yet unknown. The numbers from Nancy H. Marshall’s bibliography are included for reference.
Copies may be available at Biblio, AbeBooks – Rare Books, or Alibris if you are interested.
Without further ado, here are the scans, clicking on a thumbnail will bring up a full sized image:
I have a copy of The Night Before Christmas and other Popular Stories for Children, 1903 by Homewood Publishing Co. in Chicago A.E. Wilcox not seen here, though the cover and color print match the 1905-Wilcox from above. My book also has: The Night After Christmas, The Three Legged Lamb, My Dear Dolly, Christmas Day, The Dolls Christmas Party, Grandma’s Christmas Gifts, Mama’s Happy Christmas, The Christmas Carol of the Birds, A Turkey For One, Little Christmas Carollers, Preparing For Christmas, A Present From Santa Claus and Jennie, The Bread Dough Queen, Christmas in the Country, A Christmas Stocking in march, Christmas Through The Centuries, A Very Merry Christmas, Pug and the naughty Monkey, What Happened Christmas Eve, and Annie and Willie’s Prayer.
Comment by Eileen — December 5, 2009 @ 7:13 am
Hi,
I recently obtained a copy of Mary Ogdens little caligraphied version of the poem published in 1855. Can someone tell me what is the value of this book, or rather pamphlet?
Seems very unlikely that something this frail would survive this long in this kind of shape.
Can you tell me how many were printed and how many are known to exist?
thanks,
Patrick
Comment by Patrick McAndrews — July 23, 2010 @ 9:05 pm
we have holographic copy similar to the one shown 1863-1-53 and we are interested in the value. can you help us out?
thank you
brian
Comment by brian winslow — July 29, 2010 @ 8:07 pm
Hi,
There was only one original, but then there were reprints later. As far as I know there are no accurate figures as to the number that were printer or known to exist. I’m guessing the value is in the $100-$300 range, but it is really hard to tell which is why the range is so large. I don’t think it is super-rare (e.g. there are some where only 2-3 copies are known, some with only 1 copy).
Chris
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 8:44 pm
Hi,
The holographic copy shown is a copy of a holographic copy. There are only 4 (if memory serves) known original holographic copies, one of which hasn’t been seen since the 1870s I think. (Those are off the top of my head, but reasonably accurate). If it were a true holographic copy it would be extremely valuable, but the odds are against it. In all likelihood it is a reprint of one of the 3 surviving ones and so the value would really depend on the age. E.g. a copy printed in 1890 would be a more valuable than one printed in 1990. If you want to send along an image, I’ll take a look. You can also see for yourself if it is an identical match to one of them. Then the question would become when it was printed.
Chris
Comment by admin — July 29, 2010 @ 8:48 pm
I would like to send you a copy of what I have. It is indeed a copy of the same photo you have listed of 1862-1-53 Holographic- Clement Moore. I know my grandmother and grandfather both worked and retired from R.R. Donnelley & Son’s Publishing. I was told it is an original copy, highly doubt it just because I read there’s only four copies, but this one has no publishing date does appear to be a paper that was treated to protect it. It does not have any rips or tears, but at the end of the page it states…
Original poem first written by Clement Moore.
This is his handwritten copy,with signature, of 1862 (one year before his death.
It does state all of that on the page. It was put in a construction folder with a piece of yarn and I have to say it was well taken care of. Maybe it was sold as a souvinere, but I don’t really know. It was passed down to me because I always read this to my son every christmas eve her great grandson. It does appear to be aged, but no tears at all so if anything it looks a lot better than the copy you have posted.
Comment by Tabatha Jasker — August 16, 2010 @ 11:08 pm
I CAME ACROSS AN ANTIQUE BOOK OF THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND OTHER POPULAR STORIES FOR CHILDREN. I DON’T SEE THE EXACT PRINT OF THE ONE I HAVE ON THIS WEBSITE. THE FRONT COVER HAS “THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS” WRITTEN VERTICALLY TO THE LEFT OF THE COVER WITH AN ILLISTRATION OF SANTA IN HIS SLEIGH AND THE REINDEER FLING UP WITH AN IMAGE OF “SANTA CLAUS’ HOME” TO THE BOTTOM RIGHT. THE BACK COVER HAS IN ILLISTRATION OF A GIRL AND A BOY WITH THE BOY PULLING A SLEIGH. INSIDE THE COVER THE ONLY INFORMATION IT GIVES IS “HANDSOMELY ILLUSTATED”, COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY W.B. CONKEY COMPANY, CHICAGO, W.B. CONKEY COMPANY. THE COVER SEEMS TO POSSIBLY BE A “SILKSCREEN” WITH ALL OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS IN BLACK AND WHITE. CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ON THE RARITY, VALUE OF THIS BOOK?
Comment by GINA — March 4, 2011 @ 10:59 pm
I would like to get a copy of the book cover, 1896 ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’. I do not care if it is physical or scanned whenever a good resolution. Does anyone know how I could get it?
Comment by Miriam — August 29, 2011 @ 12:37 pm
The Porter in Coates ir probably in the $150-$250 range, but I’ve seen some sold by booksellers in the $400 range if they are perfect and/or have a rare version of the cover.
Comment by admin — December 2, 2011 @ 4:30 pm
I’d take a look at the booksellers listed on the page.
Comment by admin — December 2, 2011 @ 4:30 pm
I have The 1862(or a copy) The Night before Christmas Linen book when I was 7 my parents found it in the attic of the 1800′s house they had bought in upstate NY. Every year it has been read on christmas eve. to me and then in turn to my chldren, never would I dream of giving it up. But every christmas we would take out the mag. glass to see when it was printed I was sure it always said 1802 but now I know it must be 1862 it has faded and I can’t read it this year it but thanks to this site for letting me find something on this book that is so close to my heart !
Comment by Pattie — December 11, 2011 @ 9:09 pm
Hi,
Some of the same editions may be available on AbeBooks, Alibris etc. There are links at the top of the page. ;_)
Comment by admin — December 26, 2011 @ 4:05 pm
Sounds like something that makes a great family tradition!
Comment by admin — December 26, 2011 @ 4:05 pm
I am looking for a Night Before Christmas: A Visit From St. Nick book that was published sometime in the 70′s (that’s a guess but probably right). It has Santa on the cover with a bag of toys and the book is cut-out to be shaped like the Santa on the cover. It has bright colors and the red on each page is covered in fuzzy red fabric…felt kind of but fuzzier. Any help of where I can track this down would be appreciated!
Comment by Melissa — January 26, 2012 @ 1:01 am
I have acopy of the The Night before Christmas on your list dated 1910-CA-Cupples (prob 1907 or before. This dated by the orignal owner, December 1902. Their initials and the state of colorado are also printed in ink. I would think this copy would be well before 1910 or 1907….Thanks (If anyone would like this copy let me know, its in fair to good condition)
Comment by Stan S. Smith — February 23, 2012 @ 3:39 pm
I recently purchased the 1899 (Bertano’s) The Night Before Christmas. Good condition. Pages are in fantastic shape a little frays on cover How much is it worth? Are there many of them around?
Comment by Joy Manning — October 17, 2012 @ 10:35 am
I think it is probably in the $200-$300 range.
If it is pristine then more
Comment by admin — May 14, 2013 @ 6:08 pm
That is a great deal!
Comment by admin — May 14, 2013 @ 6:08 pm
I rarely see them around, but I am not sure what it is worth. Probably at least a couple of hundred dollars.
Comment by admin — May 14, 2013 @ 6:10 pm
Cool! The memories and feelings of Christmas make it worthwhile!
Comment by admin — May 14, 2013 @ 6:11 pm
Hi,
I am not sure which book this is referring to, but if you let me know I’ll give you a guess!
Comment by admin — May 14, 2013 @ 6:12 pm
Most of the books that are this age are at least worth $100 or greater unless they are in terrible shape. Some of them much more depending on how well it has held up over the years!
Comment by admin — May 14, 2013 @ 6:13 pm
I don’t know off the top of my head – which book are you referring to?
(I have to find different software that ties in the comments with the books!)
Comment by admin — May 14, 2013 @ 6:14 pm
Hi,
Let me know which one it is exactly – if I am looking at the right one, and it is in good shape, I’d say at least a few hundred dollars. I’ve seen them for $500-700.
Comment by admin — May 14, 2013 @ 6:15 pm
The Cupples and Leon is probably in the $200-$300 range. As far as the date, it probably depends on the edition.
Comment by admin — May 14, 2013 @ 6:16 pm
Melissa, hey, if you give more information on the book – publisher etc, I might be able to find out more info.
Chris
Comment by admin — May 14, 2013 @ 6:16 pm