How the Tradition of Mailing Christmas Cards Started

Mailing Christmas cards to express Christmas messages came into existence  in 1843 by an Englishman, Sir Henry Cole.

Because he had too many clients to hand compose Christmas greetings, Sir Henry Cole employed artist John Calcott Horsley to fashion a card onto which he had printed “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You”.That year, he typeset one thousand cards.  At present, only twelve remain.  Before long, sending Christmas cards caught on and became tradition. 

In the late 1800′s and early 1900′s, Christmas cards produced  by Kate Greenaway, the Victorian childrens writer and illustrator, were popular.  Like the scrapbookers of today, her cards often featured many different types of papers, fabrics 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 producing them.  Prior to to then, Americans imported Christmas cards from England.  Sadly for Prang, less expensive cards were introduced from overseas in the 1890′s, which forced him out of business.  Even so, Prang is known as the forefather of the American Christmas card.

Technical advances in card publishing during World War I was spurred by competition among card publishers. 

During the Great Depression, the use of color lithography put new life into the card industry. 

A major change in greeting cards in the 1950′s was the introduction of staple cards.  These cards, for the first time, used humor as an element. 

The 1990′s saw the introduction of the e-card, an electronic version of a greeting card sent via e-mail. 

Christmas cards today are available in many formats to appeal to the masses.  From traditional and religious Christmas cards to cards with jokes, there is something for everyone.  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.

For some people, Christmas cards are a way to keep in touch in an otherwise hectic life; a way to say, “Hi, I’m still here!”   While the Christmas card is changing from one decade to the next, the sentiment is the same:  “Merry Christmas!”