A Brief History of Christmas Cards

In 1843, the same year Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, John Calcott Horsley, a British narrative painter and a Royal Academician, designed the world's first Christmas card ever, depicting a family party. Sir Henry Cole commissioned him to design the card since he was too busy doing it himself. 1,000 copies of Horsley's card were printed in lithography and then professionally hand-colored.

You can see and buy the World's First Christmas Card at Art.com. Christmas cards soon turned to a big success and became very popular and indeed an integral part of the holiday season.In 1881 the boom of Christmas cards first evoked the 'Post Early for Christmas' notice and during the 1930s the Post Office ran a full-blown campaign advertising this plea.

Of course, we still ignore it to this day.  You can see an example of the "Post Early" posters at the British Postal Heritage site.

The Internet marks a revolution in the history of Christmas cards. E-cards' popularity constantly grows since it is so easy and cheap to send scores of cards with a click of a button. It is unlikely, however, that the printed Christmas card disappears, since it gives the recipient a much more physical and sensual experience when she opens the envelope and holds the card in her hands.