Among the delightfully odd bequests my mother left me was a small collection of “Christmas Numbers”, as they called them, of popular English picture magazines, mostly from the 1950’s. Mom was an anglophile. She’d traveled to England, had friends there and, no doubt, those friends gifted her with these old copies. Knowing I love looking at almost anything printed—if not specifically printed things from England—these were passed to me.

These magazines were, I suppose, equivalent to Look, Life, and The Saturday Evening Post in their day. They’re filled with quirky little stories and articles of contemporary and very traditional English life. I love the vintage ads! But mostly, I love the illustrations. Unlike their American counterparts which showcased photography, these English magazines have page after page of wonderful full-color illustrations and art. For the visually attuned, turning each page is like opening a new gift on Christmas morning.

During the Holidays, I sometimes drag them out from the closet in which they’ve been stuffed and enjoy a bit of Christmas from another time in another place.

1958 cover of the “Christmas Number” for The Illustrated London News

1952 cover of “Holly Leaves”, the Christmas Number of Sport & Country

Almost all the covers, regardless of edition, are printed with Union Flag red and a special metallic gold.

1958 cover of Sphere.

1942 Christmas Number for The London Illustrated News

This wartime edition of The London Illustrated News wistfully recalls “Days of Peace” with a placid painting of sailboats.

Who wouldn’t rush out to invite “Uncle Johnnie” to Christmas dinner after seeing an ad like this?

A wonderful example of an ad designed to be a Christmas card to customers.

This charming illustration of an Elizabethan Christmas needs little copy to tell the story.