From the Archives: Holiday Greeting Cards

We have a colorful collection of vintage holiday cards in our archive. Not only do these beautiful cards spread cheer and warm wishes - they also share personal stories of years gone by.

The modern history of holiday cards began in 1843, when Sir Henry Cole asked J.C. Horsley to design a simple card that Henry could send out in response to all of the letters he received from a plethora of friends. Henry was a prominent Victorian arts patron and socialite who was overwhelmed with all the letters he received and wanted a more efficient and simple way to respond to his friends. Henry’s cards became the very first Christmas cards sent out through the mail.

In 1875 the first Christmas cards in the United States were being produced and mailed to friends and family. These early cards were very different from the cards of today. They did not contain typical holiday images, but contained pictures of floral arrangements, nature landscapes, and wildlife.

The modern holiday card industry didn’t take off until 1915, when the Hall Brothers Company (which became Hallmark) created a new format for holiday cards, that allowed for more space for writing and were mailed in an envelope.