Origin of the Christmas Card
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
United States
December 11, 2015 6:52am CST
While you are busy writing out Christmas cards and mailing them to friends and family, have you ever thought about how this custom started?
It wasn't invented by an American, but by Sir Henry Cole in 1843 in the United Kingdom. Cole decided it would be a good idea to send a 'card' to further enhance the the post office and get more of the general public to use that system. He had the idea for the card and he enlisted his friend John Horsley who was an artist. The two men designed the first Christmas card. Those original cards sold for 1 schilling.
That first card only had a production of about 100 and anyone who owns one knows the value of that original Christmas card.
The card business grew from there and it was later in the 1840's when the cards appeared in the US. The majority of Americans could not afford them. Once they were mass produced more people could afford to buy them.
You can buy expensive cards or pick some up at the dollar store. Sometimes the cost of mailing those cards is more than the cost of the card itself.
As you send and receive Christmas cards this year you are following in the footsteps of history and the dream of Sir Henry Cole.
Photo is mine
10 people like this
7 responses
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
11 Dec 15
How interesting. I know a lot of people these days send email Christmas Cards, but I am old school in many ways and still send mine through the Postal Service. I also still send my bills through the Postal Service, that online banking stuff scares me.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
11 Dec 15
I don't pay bills online either and I might send an e-card to a online friend but not to a 'real life friend'.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
11 Dec 15
@fishtiger58 I think many of the sites now make you join and I never had to do that before.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
11 Dec 15
@AbbyGreenhill I don't think I have ever sent a card through email.
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
11 Dec 15
I used to have a candy box full of old Christmas cards. They were lovely. So well made. Today you just get a folded piece of paper with something on it. Back in the early 20th century they were so intricate with cut out and velvet pieces added. Not so anymore.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
11 Dec 15
@AbbyGreenhill ...That is what I was getting at. They can't even afford to produce them like they used to make. Too expensive.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
11 Dec 15
I wouldn't be able to buy anything that intricate today, it would be way to much money. I enjoy sending and receiving cards.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
11 Dec 15
@celticeagle People wouldn't appreciate them any way.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
12 Dec 15
You are very welcome! early Merry Christmas to you.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458178)
• Switzerland
11 Dec 15
@AbbyGreenhill I used to buy really nice cards in the past, but nobody seems to appreciate them anymore. I buy basic cards now.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
11 Dec 15
@LadyDuck This year for the ''special' people (old friends) I had cards made with a photo of Ruby I did it thru Walmart and they were only 28 cents each and they came out really nice, I was very happy with them.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
11 Dec 15
The special cards (my husband, his grandson, my niece) are the only ones I pay more for. The rest are basic. I used to send really nice cards but it seems everyone is sending the ones they get for free!
1 person likes this
@gaylesglimpses (164)
• United States
12 Dec 15
Usually I send inexpensive ones with a couple lines written inside. I'm thinking of creating Christmas postcards through Zazzle and sending those this year.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
12 Dec 15
@JudyEv Since most of my friends keep up with e-mail or FB almost daily I've cut back on the letters I put with cards...now just a line or two instead.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325808)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Dec 15
@gaylesglimpses That's a good idea - making your own. I do the same as you but some people get a letter to keep them up to date with what we're doing.
@FibroGodess (540)
• United States
11 Dec 15
Thank you for that piece of history. *be blessed*
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
11 Dec 15
Thank you, and the same to you.
1 person likes this
