Today In History with The Retrospectors The First Christmas Card
Dec 17, 2024
Discover the intriguing origins of the first mass-produced Christmas card from 1843, commissioned by Henry Cole. Explore why robins became holiday favorites, and learn about the artistic struggles against nude depictions in Victorian art. Delve into the commercialization of Christmas cards and their gradual rise in popularity among the middle classes. Reflect on the charming illustrations of pets and the evolution of design that kicked off with the Hall brothers, leaving behind an era of whimsical themes now absent from modern greetings.
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First Christmas Card
- Henry Cole, a busy civil servant, created the first Christmas card in 1843.
- He was tired of writing individual Christmas letters to everyone.
Christmas Card Convenience
- Pre-printed Christmas cards offered a convenient alternative to handwritten letters.
- Cole, connected to the royal family, saw the value in simplifying holiday correspondence.
Christmas Card Design
- The first Christmas card depicted a family enjoying a festive meal, including a child with wine.
- It featured charitable acts but lacked overt religious symbolism, focusing on Victorian 'old English festivity'.