Who would have thought that a cost saving measure in 1939 would spawn the huge industry and collectibles market that exists today for Santa's favorite reindeer, Rudolph!

Everyone knows how he saved Christmas one foggy Christmas eve, but not many know just how Rudolph came to be.

In the 1930s the Montgomery Wards department store purchased and gave away children's coloring books to their customers as Christmas gifts.

In 1939 they decided to save a little money and use their staff to create their own comic book. The job fell to copywriter Robert May and his story was so popular that 2.4 million copies were handed out the first year.

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Collecting Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer