The History of Christmas Cards
Expressing Christmas messages by sending Christmas cards started in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole of England.
Because he had too many customers to hand compose Christmas regards, Sir Henry Cole employed artist John Calcott Horsley to produce a card onto which he had printed “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You”.That year, he printed one thousand cards. Today, only twelve exist. Before long, sending Christmas cards caught on and became a standard formality.
In the late 1800′s and early 1900′s, Kate Greenaway, a successful childrens storyteller, created some of the most well-known Christmas cards.Her creations featured satin, silk, and fringe. Some were even elaborate pop-ups featuring skaters and tiny mangers.
In the United States, Christmas cards were not readily available until 1875 when a German immigrant, Louis Prang began printing them. BeforeUntil to then, Americans imported Christmas cards from England. In the 1890′s, Prang could not compete with cheaper cards produced overseas and went out of business. Still, Prang is known as the father of the American Christmas card.
Technical advances in card publishing during WWI was spurred by competition among card publishers.
Color lithography, first was used during the Great Depression, revived the card industry.
In the 1950s, the studio card made its debut. Studio cards introduced humor as a staple in the greeting card industry.
In the 1990′s, the electronic card, or e-card, was introduced.
Today, there are many types of Christmas card available, including traditional and religious Christmas cards to funny Christmas cards. In fact, the industry has evolved so much that there is a card for virtually any event, or “non-event.” Still, Christmas remains the highest ranking of the card-selling holidays.
As a staple of the holidays, Christmas cards are sent to family, friends and business colleagues to express holiday wishes. With people’s busy lives, it is often the only time they update family and friends on events that happened in their lives during the year. While the Christmas card is changing from one decade to the next, the sentiment is the same: “Merry Christmas!”
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Sheridan’s Final Charge by L.Prang Company 1886 20″x15″ $17.17 |
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Capture of Fort Fisher by L. Prang & Company 1887 15″x1 $7.81 |
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CDV General Burnside US Army Prang & Co. Boston $9.99 |
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Battle of Chattanooga by L. Prang & Company 1880 15″x11 $9.98 |
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Capture of Fort Fisher L. Prang & Company 1887 21″x15″ $13.98 |
