Christmas cards

Tracing the history of the Christmas card from its Victorian origins up to the end of the Second World War, the text illustrates examples in colour of a wide variety from each decade and shows how to create your own collection.

The first Christmas card appeared in 1843 but the idea did not catch on until almost twenty years late.

The invention of the chromolithographic process and the introductin of comprehensive postal reforms sealed the success of the Christmas card.

By the 1880s, sales were well into the millions per year and the Christmas card has retained its popularity ever since