That’s a dead eyed Santa, yikes
This SAS card dated 1913 features a pretty girl in a green cap and yellow coat holding a Santa mask. I think. It’s the only explanation I have for how dead eyed Santa looks. That will certainly give a new meaning to the “nightmare before Christmas”!! The text reads The brigtest [sic] memories I hold dear / Are of old friends year after year. The card is embossed with flowers and lightly gilded.
Who Were They? 
I agree, it’s an unusual image. At first glance I thought it was supposed to depict the girl sitting on Santa’s lap, but the more I look, the more I think you’re correct about the girl holding a mask. Either that or it’s a cute Christmassy version of Judith with the head of Holofernes. ;-)
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I think the “artist” missed the mark in any event!
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I seem to recall some fad of Santa masks in vintage magazine ads. Creepy none the less.
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