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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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Christmas cards
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The development of the Christmas card
The design and giving of Christmas cards originated in England over 150 years ago.
By the late 1800's there was such a demand for Christmas cards that many
famous artists and writers were employed in what was a growing and
important industry. Writers like Kate Greenaway, and the Victorian illustrators Frances
Brundage and Ellen H. Clapsaddle, were
favourites at that time. Many cards became extremely elaborate and finished with fringe,
silk and satin. Others were sculpted liked fans and crescents, and others cut into images
of Christmas like bells, birds, candles and even plum puddings. Other
Christmas cards were 'pop-up', puzzles and some made amusing noises when opened.
For some strange reason this Christmas industry did not spread to America
immediately but they had to import English Christmas cards for more than 30
years. Fortunately Louis Prang, a German immigrant, set up a lithographic shop and produced
the first series of American Christmas cards in 1875. Soon he was printing more than five
million Christmas cards each year with traditional Christmas images like snow scenes,
fir trees, glowing fireplaces and children playing with toys. They were so beautifully
produced his cards are collectors' items today.
In the UK, John Calcott printed the first Christmas card and set it to his
friend Sir Henry Cole, a wealthy industrialist, who it is claimed, came up with the concept
in the first place. Many of the first images were of charity scenes with rich
people giving to poor people - perhaps a reflection of guilt in an age were few were wealthy
and many were poor! As with the present day, nativity scenes were always popular and
illustrated by painters of the time.
With the growth in electronic technology consumers developed the desire to use the Internet
to send the electronic greeting card or E-card in the late 1990s. Unfortunately this lazy
trend is still
gaining momentum.
Do talk to Peter or Rebecca if you need a specially designed
and illustrated personalised birthday card, they enjoy the challenge, just click
enquiry@celtic-1.co.uk
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Xmas cards with illustrations
and photography
