First commercial Christmas cards sent in London (1843)

In 1843, Sir Henry Cole commissioned the first commercial Christmas card, illustrated by John Callcott Horsley in London. This event marks the origin of the commercial greeting card tradition, distinct from earlier private correspondence. The collaboration established a new format for holiday communication, leveraging artistic design for mass production.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Sir Henry Cole, an English civil servant and inventor, is credited with devising the concept of sending greetings cards at Christmas time. He introduced the world's first commercial Christmas card in 1843. This innovation distinguished itself from earlier private greetings, such as those sent in 1611, by being commercially produced and designed for widespread distribution.

Commissioning and Design. Henry Cole commissioned artist John Callcott Horsley to create the artwork for the card. Horsley, an academic painter and illustrator, designed the first ever Christmas card in 1843. The collaboration resulted in a commercially produced card, marking a significant shift in how holiday sentiments were conveyed through standardized, purchasable items.

Historical Significance. The card produced in 1843 is recognized as the first commercial Christmas card. One of these original cards, sent to Cole's grandmother, sold at auction for £22,500 in 2001. The event established a precedent for the commercial greeting card industry, though specific developments regarding the card's content or exact sending date are not detailed in the provided sources.

People involved

Sources

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