The History of Christmas Cards

Are you one to still send Christmas cards?  It seems as if less and less cards are sent and received with each passing Christmas.

The custom of sending Christmas cards was started in the UK in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole.  He was a civil servant (government worker) who was very interested in the new ‘Public Post Office’ and wondered how it could be used by more ordinary people.

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 on 8 cents today but in those days it was worth much more.)  The card had three panels.  The outer panels showed people caring for the poor and in the center panel was a family having a large Christmas dinner.  Some people didn’t like the card because it showed a child being given a glass of wine!  About 1000 (or it might have been less) were printed and sold.  They are now very rare and cost thousands of dollars to buy now.