Collecting vintage Christmas doesn’t get any sweeter than a village of pint-size putz houses.

Brightly colored cardboard putz houses began appearing on the pages of mail-order catalogs, such as Montgomery Ward and Sears, Roebuck and Co., in 1928. The miniature houses also sold at local five-and-dimes for just a few cents. New Jersey dealer Lauren Rethwisch says the houses evolved from Nativity scenes to villages with scenes of everyday life.

The houses draw their name from the German word “putzen,” which means “adorn” or “decorate.” Collectors arranged the houses into scenes underneath the Christmas tree, on the branches, or along a mantel. Many of the most colorful houses were made in Japan, says Rethwisch, while those with more detail and subdued colors are often German or Eastern European.

Lots of dealers specialize in Christmas collectibles. Some belong to a club called The Golden Glow of Christmas Past, which specializes in pre-1966 Christmas collectibles, says member and dealer Ann Sizemore. She attends the club’s annual convention in search of the glittery houses.

For an average-size house (2 to 5 inches tall) in good condition, you can expect to pay $8 to $15, says dealer Paul Kachinsky of New Hampshire. Some of the rarer pieces, such as a barn, mailbox, or two-story house, can cost more than $20, he says.

Boxed Sets
Beginning in the late 1930s, putz houses were sold as boxed sets, including a church and a number of houses -- an instant village! Today it’s difficult to find a full set since families often split them up. Many sets came with a strand of lights that illuminated the cellophane windows of the houses as they sat on the branches of a Christmas tree. Expect to pay around $100 for a complete set in good condition.