A photo from open sources
It turns out the first serial Christmas card was printed in London in 1843. Back in Victorian England homemade handwritten christmas cards enjoyed enormous popularity. However, the innovator of that time, Sir Henry Cole, decided to simplify this process with the help of a card – record. Taking advantage new printing technology, Cole commissioned artist John Horsley to design a holiday greetings and in 1843 released 1000 copies of it. After that, Cole congratulated his family and friends, and the remaining cards sold at a price of one shilling for every. In 1851, Cole played an important role in composing Great Exhibition at London Hyde Park (now the Victoria and Alberta). His postcard is recognized as the first commercial Christmas postcard, today 20 copies of which are preserved in libraries and archives. And on December 14 of this year, his son sold on UK auction of one of the rare, unpainted copies of Cole’s card for 4200 euros. The postcard shows a friendly family, which got together to celebrate Christmas, posted there banner that reads: “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year You “! This innovation was quickly intercepted by the United States, since another early christmas card from the collection Grossman, which was printed in Philadelphia in 1850, also showcases a family of five gathered around hearth, and the servant who sets the festive table. Other Victorian serial cards are more like familiar ones us Christmas cards, because they usually depicted snowmen, Santa, red stockings for gifts, wreaths of needles and frolicing children. However, some postcards made in Grossman’s book “Christmas Curiosities”, a modern look may seem a little strange: Krampus dragging and dropping bad kids in the underworld kissing pine trees lighting a cigar from the Christmas tree Santa decorating mouse trees; cats playing snowballs. Postcards with animals acting like humans you can still understand, but how do you like the postcard with the image of a dead bird and the inscription: “Maybe at least your Christmas will be more joyful “?
