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History of Christmas Cards

The history of Christmas cards reveals a prime example of need inspiring the creation of something to meet that need. As the saying goes, “necessity is the mother of invention”. The need, then as now, was something with which you can probably identify; a lack of time.

In 1843 Britain, Sir Henry Cole just did not have the time to write the traditional Christmas letter to some 1,000 friends. As a result he commissioned John Callcott Horsley, an artist, to create a small artistic missive that would convey a blanket season greeting and only require his signature. The result was the first Christmas card.

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The history of the Christmas card in America shows that, as often the case, Americans will copy anything that starts out in Britain. It happened then and is happening now as evidence by the number of American television shows that originated in Britain, most notably: “American Idol”, “The Office”, and this year’s “Eleventh Hour”. Thankfully, Christmas cards have been and will continue to be around a lot longer than television shows.

Here are just some interesting facts contained in the history of Christmas cards:

That first Christmas card angered those in the temperance movement as it showed a family, including a child, raising a glass of wine in a Christmas toast.
From 1843 until 1875 Americans had to import Christmas cards from Europe.
1875 Louis Prang began printing Christmas cards in the US, and within six years was producing five-million plus card per years.
In 1902 Kodak introduced the first homemade photo Christmas card
Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to send Christmas cards from the White House. That was 1953 and only 2000 were mailed.
Today almost two million cards are sent from the White House.
In the US, most homes receive 20 cards each year
Almost two billion Christmas cards are mailed every year in the United States.

After the holiday seasons have passed many people throw out all their cards. Others people save all the cards they receive thus creating their own History of Christmas cards. The value of those cards in vastly increased when they are photo cards of precious family and friends.

Did you remember the Baby Shower Invitations?

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