Life — December 8, 1887 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is the cover of Life magazine's 1887 Christmas issue (Volume X, Number 268). The title "The Christmas Number" appears in ornate Victorian lettering against a black band. The main illustration depicts "Revels at the Court of King Christmas"—a densely detailed engraving showing a crowded medieval or fairy-tale court scene. Numerous figures in period costume appear to be celebrating and feasting in a fantastical Christmas celebration. The intricate linework is characteristic of late-19th-century wood-engraving style. Rather than political satire, this appears to be holiday-themed entertainment content typical of Life's seasonal special issues, offering readers festive illustration and presumably stories. The price of 25 cents is noted at the bottom.