Probably the most widely used piece of festive design, the Christmas card, originated around 1843 in London. Before this, people exchanged festive greetings in a handwritten letter. John Calcott Horsley printed the first Christmas card for Sir Henry Cole, a wealthy businessman, too busy to write letters to all of his friends and business acquaintances. He required a card to wish ‘A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year To You’ (copywriting has not come far in this department then…).
The card depicted a typical family raising a glass and toasting the recipient and people performing acts of charity, which was the other type of spirit important to the Victorians.
The card was so popular that a thousand copies were eventually printed and sold for one shilling – the first mass produced Christmas card.