To learn more about the history of Christmas in America:
• Stephen Nissenbaum, The Battle for Christmas (New York: Vantage, 1997).
• Penne L. Restad, Christmas in America: A History (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996).
To read "A Visit from St. Nicholas":
•
www.lnstar.com/mall/main-areas/Night_B_Xmas.html
To learn more about the history of obsolete paper currency in America:
•
Winthrop S. Boggs, Ten Decades Ago, 1840-1850: A Study of the Work of Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson of New York City(State College, Penn.: American Philatelic Society, 1949).
• William H. Griffiths, The Story of the American Bank Note Company (New York: n.p., 1959).
• James A. Haxby, A Standard Catalog of United States Obsolete Bank Notes, 1782-1866,4 vols. (Iola, Wis.: Krause Publications, 1988).
• Virginia Hewitt, ed., The Banker's Art: Studies on Paper Money (London: The British Museum, 1995).
Some of these selected references may be difficult to find in your local library, but all are available through the American Numismatic Association. See the ANA website at www.money.org for details on how to become a member and borrow books.