The first commercially printed Christmas card is up for sale – a merry Victorian-era scene that scandalised some when it first appeared in
1843
.
Who invented the Christmas card?
Our founding director,
Henry Cole
, sent the first Christmas card in 1843. We now hold the national collection of cards for all occasions, with over 30,000 examples, more than half of which celebrate Christmas.
Who printed the first Christmas card?
Queen Victoria sent the first official Christmas card, and
Sir Henry Cole
, who amongst other things was an assistant to Sir Rowland Hill in the introduction of the penny post and the first Director of the V&A, commissioned the first commercial Christmas card in 1843. The initial print run was for 1000 cards.
Which country sends the most Christmas cards?
UK consumers lead the rest of the world in sending greetings cards, new Ofcom research reveals. As the final posting date for Christmas arrives, Ofcom's survey finds that more consumers in the UK send greetings cards than in any other country surveyed.
Why were Victorian Christmas cards Creepy?
Some historians have suggested that the portrayal of dead animals on nineteenth century Christmas cards were meant to serve as
a reminder of the poor and hungry during the holiday season
. Stories of poor children freezing to death were common during the winter in Victorian England.
How much is the first Christmas card worth?
One of world's first Christmas cards sells for
over $6,800
At an auction on Saturday at British auction house Henry Aldridge & Son, an anonymous bidder paid £4,200, which equates to $6,846, for a card designed in 1843 that is considered part of a set of the world's first Christmas cards.
How much did the first Christmas card cost?
Sir Henry had the idea of Christmas Cards with his friend John Horsley, who was an artist. They designed the first card and sold them for
1 shilling each
. (That is only 5p or 8 cents today(!), but in those days it was worth much much more.)
What year was the first commercial Christmas card?
Queen Victoria sent the first official Christmas card, and Sir Henry Cole, who amongst other things was an assistant to Sir Rowland Hill in the introduction of the penny post and the first Director of the V&A, commissioned the first commercial Christmas card in
1843
.
How many Christmas cards does the average person receive?
90 percent of all U.S. households participate in the greeting card category, purchasing at least one greeting card per year. Those households on average purchase 30 individual cards per year. The average person receives
more than 20 cards per year
, about one-third of which are birthday cards.
How many Christmas cards does the average person send?
How many Christmas cards does the average American household send out? An average household in America will mail out
28 Christmas cards
each year.
Which country sends the most birthday cards?
Brits
‘ Card Sending Is Most Ingrained In The World, Confirms Card Factory Research. Over three quarters of the UK adult population (76%) have purchased a greeting card in the last 12 months, head and shoulders above engagement in any other country in the world.
Why do Victorian Christmas cards have dead birds?
Dead birds in many of these cards are thought to either represent
the plight of the poor
—who were likely to die in the cold winter streets—or to be a more general symbol for the winter season. As for kittens, frogs, and other weirdness? Victorians liked them because they were entertaining.
What do with old Christmas cards?
- Go to a Recycling Center. If you're looking to get rid of a bulk pile of cards, go green. …
- Upcycle Them Into a Christmas Card Craft. If you want to transform your old greeting cards into a forever keepsake or fun holiday decorations, we have you covered. …
- Donate Old Greeting Cards.
Why was the Victorian era so creepy?
The Victorians were
a little bit obsessed with death
. … That gave rise to the seriously creepy trend of death photography. The bodies were often kept at home for the mourning period, and photographs were staged with not just the deceased, but their parents or siblings, sometimes posing as if everyone were still alive.
Where do Christmas cards originated from?
The first recorded Christmas cards were sent by
Michael Maier to James I of England and his
son Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales in 1611. It was discovered in 1979 by Adam McLean in the Scottish Record Office.
Where did the idea of Christmas cards come from?
Louis Prang, a
Prussian immigrant with a print shop near Boston
, is credited with creating the first Christmas card originating in the United States in 1875.
