Santa Reads the Christmas Story #150/1000 | The Simpich Santas

Condition: Pristine | Limitied Edition of 1000 | Introduced in 1990

Santa has stopped mid-sentence.

He holds the book open in one hand, with a red ribbon marking his place. His other hand is raised the way a storyteller’s is when he gets to the good part. His spectacles are down on his red nose, and his pipe is clamped in his beard. Look closely at the pipe and you’ll see a small bearded face carved into the bowl.

The pages are carved and lettered by hand: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” This isn’t a Santa in a sleigh. It’s a Santa reading the Christmas story the way a grandfather reads it to a room full of family.

He’s dressed for a night at home. He wears a red vest piped in black, a homespun shirt with a ribbon of little red hearts down the front and at the cuffs, a black belt with a brass buckle, red knickers buttoned at the knee, and laced black boots.

At his feet, an orange-and-white cat with a red bow at her neck has curled up on a crocheted rug, sound asleep. She’s heard the story before.

Each piece was hand-painted and dressed in hand-sewn clothing in the Simpich doll shop, then set on an oval wooden base. Underneath is the Simpich Character Dolls label, the date 1990, the edition number in ink, and the signature of Robert Simpich.

This is number 150 of 1,000.

And this Santa Reads is signed by Robert Simpich, something that is very rare for the early Santas in particular. It is the first signed one I’ve ever seen.

Details

• Introduced 1990

• Limited edition of 1,000. This piece is #150/1000

• Signed by Robert Simpich on the underside of the base

• Hand-lettered pages from Isaiah 9:6

• Includes the sleeping cat on her crocheted rug