The first commercial Christmas cards were commissioned by Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843 In 1875 Louis Prang became the first printer to offer cards in America, though the popularity of his cards led to cheap imitations that eventually drove him from the market. The advent of the postcard spelled the end for elaborate Victorian-style cards, but by the 1920s, cards with envelopes had returned.
Santa
Wheaties
The first Christmas card produced in America was printed in Albany NY, by the merchant and printer Richard H. Pease (1813-1891) in 1850-51. It was a commercial Christmas card bearing the greeting: "Pease's Great Variety Store, in the 'Temple of Fancy', A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year". Only one copy of this card is known to exist. It is in the collection of the Manchester Municipal Library, Manchester University, UK. Pease was also the first person to use an image of Santa Claus as an advertisement in print, in the Albany Evening Journal, December 17, 1842. The Albany Institute of History & Art (in Albany NY), has information about the Pease family, and this card.
There isn't any symbolism associated with cards - they began and remain a written form of holiday greeting. A civil servant with a strong interest in art and design, Henry Cole (1808-1882) began his career in the Public Records Office in London at the age of 15. Here he played a key role in organizing Britain's national archives. While assistant to Sir Rowland Hill, Cole was instrumental in reforming the Penny Post (British postal service) and in introducing the first adhesive postage stamp known as the "Penny Black". When Cole found he did not have time to send personal Christmas letters one year, he approached friend and artist John Callcott Horsley and commissioned Horsley to illustrate a Christmas greeting card. In 1843, Cole's cards, featuring Horsley's illustration, were printed in lithograph form and then colored by hand. 1,000 cards were initially printed featuring the sentiment, "A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year To You." After addressing cards to his friends and family, the remaining cards were sold for sixpence each, thus becoming the first commercial Christmas cards.
The first commercial Christmas cards were commissioned by Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843.
According to some historians, the first commercial Christmas card was designed and printed for Sir Henry Cole by artist John Callcott Horsley in London in 1843.
In 1843, Sir Henry Cole commissioned artist John Callcott Horsley to create the art for the world's first commercial Christmas card.
The first Christmas cards were printed in the year 1843.
A Star
it was printed in 1780
1843
The first commercial Christmas card was made in 1843
Sir Henry Cole commissioned the first Christmas card in London in 1843.
1843 was when the first commercial Christmas card was made! xD
The first Christmas card was created and sent in 1843. A man named John Calcott Horsely printed the first Christmas card for Sir Henry Cole, the friend who had given him the idea.
Initially Dickens paid for the first 6000 copies to be printed as publisher felt the story would not attract much interest. The 6000 sold in a week and more were commissioned this time by the publishers