Nativity Set Boxes
Markings Code: (A)=Diamond I, (B)=Hartland Molded, Hartland Wisc., (C)= Hartland Plastics Inc, Hartland Wisc., (NM)= Not Marked
Nativity Set Boxes:
Generally speaking, Hartland used three basic styles of boxes for their Nativity sets. First, the generic corrugated cardboard boxes, second, folded cardboard, and lastly the brightly colored dedicated Nativity boxes. There were a few different sizes and minor style differences of each.
Generic Corrugated Cardboard Boxes:
As noted on the Dealer Jobber Price Sheet below, Hartland packaged their Nativity Sets in a variety of different configurations, and smaller sets. Prior to the introduction of the large plastic stable front and cardboard back, it looks like Hartland sold their sets in plain cardboard boxes similar to the ones shown above.


Generic Corrugated Cardboard Boxes:
The set shown above is a Seven Piece Nativity Set (235-P-7). The Dealer Jobber Sheet above lists a similar nine piece set which would have included the Bull and Donkey, and it probably would have shipped in a similar generic box. Sande Schneider reports seeing a Stable set only, also stored in the same style generic box, and as seen in the jobber list, it would have been numbered 235-ST. Larger 20 and 21 Piece Nativity Sets would have been shipped in the large decorated Nativity box with red and green stripes, with red lettering (shown down the page).
  
Folded Cardboard Boxes:
I am not sure exactly what to call this style of box. Some Internet box companies call them "Candy Boxes", especially the smaller white ones. This style of box was used with several of Hartland's early Religious figures, and based on the Nativity Figures, I'd say that happened in the early stages of the Nativity sets, more than later.
In some of my behind the scenes emails with other Nativity set collectors, I used the expression "Candyland" boxes to describe this style of box. They remind me of our old board games like Candyland and Monopoly. They feature die cut holes for the figures. The box on the left would have been roughly 12" x 24" x 3". I've never seen a lid on a set like this.
The set on the right would have been a Three Piece Nativity Set. (235-P-3). The P stands for Painted. Again, this set has the cheap cardboard folded box. It almost looks like recycled cardboard to me. No doubt it was a very cheap product, even back in the early '50s. I have a five piece Fatima set and a Marching Angel Band set in similar boxes. These Soft Color Nativity sets probably predate the other bright colored sets.
  
Red and Green Decorated Nativity Boxes

Opened Decorated Box (no date)
12" x 19" x 4"
Large Decorated Nativity Boxes:
From the small amount of printed materials, and a few clues we found hand written on these boxes, I am currently estimating the introduction of this box in 1954, or maybe a year earlier. One has been located with "Dec. 8, 1954" written on it. The Dealer Jobber Price Sheet listing all the different Nativity sets was probably printed for 1955 sales, but of course, they could have been around a lot longer. The boxes were designed to hold the large plastic stable front and the folded cardboard background. A folded corrugated divider stacks on top of the stable which holds all the figures necessary for up to a 21 piece set. Figures were wrapped in tissue paper as seen above. Besides the large size, the line "Exquisitely Hand Decorated" adorns all known large boxes. To date, we have never seen an all white (unpainted) set shipped in the larger box, nor have we found an unpainted stable front. The box above has been documented to have shipped with the Standard Color set and the Bright Color set, but we don't know about the Pastel Color set. (yet)
Small Decorated Nativity Boxes:
 11" x 14" x 3.5"

The second decorated Nativity box is a few inches smaller—too small to hold a stable. The line "Exquisitely Hand Decorated" was deleted on this smaller box.
A couple of collectors have reported getting their Pastel Color Nativity Set in a small box, so it apparently served to ship both All White and Pastel sets. (So far, we have not had reports of the Pastel Set being shipped with the full plastic stable) It doesn't appear any of the smaller boxes had dividers. Tissue paper was wrapped around each figure and firmly packed into the box as seen above.
Warner Press Nativity Sets:
Warner Press is still in business. Nancy Young found their web site in March of 2002. At the time, their web site said, "OUR HISTORY, The Gospel Trumpet Publishing Company was established as the voice and publishing house of the Church of God Reformation movement, operating out of Anderson, Indiana, since 1906. The company’s name was changed to Warner Press in 1963. Today, Warner Press creates a variety of products that serve the specific needs of Christians everywhere."
The set inside this box is all white. It is apparent Hartland packaged this set for Warner Press. Based on the dates supplied by the Warner Press web site, that had to have been in 1963 or later. To further back this information, note how the previous owner wrote 12-63 in magic marker on the front of the box.

Printing on the side of a 900 PW box,
Early Champ Horse with short saddle.

Printing on the side of a generic Nativity Set box.
Box Clues:
Marty Ohman sent me a few photos of a Nativity set he purchased with the correct Hartland numbering printed on the side. 236-P-20 is one of the part numbers listed on page two of the dealer price sheets.

Interestingly, the original owner of the Nativity set, below, had written "Noel 1953" on the top of the box. That would basically correspond with the date of the box on the left.
By some time in 1954, it appears Hartland Plastics went to Cornell Paperboard Products Co. in Milwaukee, WI for their boxes. Horse and rider sets started shipping in 1954, an so far, all of the generic boxes marked for horse and riders have been marked with Cornell imprints. Unfortunately, the red and green decorated Nativity Set boxes lack any sort of box manufacturer, but I think we can assume those boxes were produced after the generic boxes.

The opened box on the left is the one with the 235-P-20 printed on the side. It was a 20 piece painted nativity set with the large blue tinted angel.
Sande Schneider says she once found a similar set, but it did not include the Camel or Camel Keeper. Subtracting those two pieces would have made it an 18 Piece Nativity Set.
  
Additional Comments About the Boxes:
In the early years of the Nativity Sets, Hartland seemed to be experimenting with selling their sets and elements in a variety of combinations and individual units. We have found a few examples of complete sets being sold through catalogs, but they may have had numerous other outlets willing to sell smaller configurations, such as a Camel, or the Three Wise Men. Each of those probably had some sort of box, similar to the Three Piece Nativity Set near the top of this page. They could have continued selling the smaller packages for years, but most of what I can find suggests they eventually simplified the Nativity sets to just large packages, such as 17 Piece, 19 Piece, 20 Piece, and 21 Piece. At that point, most sets could have been shipped in the large decorated box. When they stopped painting the sets around 1958 or so, the smaller box would have served the purposes. It appears they used the smaller box for the smaller Pastel sets, too.
   

Text & Photographs Copyright Mike Jackson 1998-2008
This page last modified Friday, October 19, 2007