Images(2)

Christmas Card

DateLate 19th - early 20th century

Object NameCard

Mediumpaper, silk

ClassificationsMuseum General

DimensionsClosed: 7.5 x 11.5cm
Open: 15 x 11.5cm

AcquisitionPresented in 1980 by Miss E Cadenhead.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS015184.12

Keywords

About MeA folded Christmas card featuring crosses, horse shoes and flowers. The card is made up of four separate pieces of paper stuck together over silk fringing to make the double sided card. There are printed Christmas verses on all four pieces.

One of the ways we celebrate Christmas is in the giving and receiving of cards.

The first Christmas card was produced by Henry Cole, founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum, in 1843. It was a hand-coloured lithograph designed by John Calcott Horsley. Although, commercially, it was a failure the popularity of Christmas cards grew and by 1880 the Postmaster General had issued the first 'Post early for Christmas' plea.