It's 11:55 and nearing the end of 1946. Time is ticking away on another of Adolph Link's Christmas cards.

With the clock on the card, Mr. Link has taken a basic approach to the season by depicting the pendulum swinging back and forth, ticking down the minutes to a new year. Note, too, that the date of the card--1946-47--is noted on the clock. World War II is over and the world has settled down.

Looking more closely at the card, it almost appears Mr. Link colored parts of it in himself. We have to wonder if he did this for every card he sent out. And, if so, how many recipients were on his list?

This is the interior of the card. It is an allusion to the cover of the card where it says "It's about time." (What time is it?) "Christmas Time--That is..."

Here he has also chosen to illustrate the Three Kings traveling towards, what, has traditionally been known as the Star of Bethlehem.

Notice that he has included his name in two spots--at the the foot of the camel and written out in full at the bottom of the card.

Tik. Tok. Tik. Tok. The season is upon us.

Jane Rozek
Local History Librarian
Schaumburg Township District Library
jrozek@stdl.org