Christmas Carols and Their Stories
Puzzle 76 · Christmas Customs and Traditions · Page 106 in print
The Christmas Card
Early Christmas cards borrowed paper lace from valentines, and Victorian makers such as Raphael Tuck and Marcus Ward settled familiar pictures of the season, from robins to snowy landscapes.
Jump to a word
The words
Egley
William Maw Egley, designer of the second Christmas card (1848).
Felix Summerly
Henry Cole’s pen name for his designs and children’s books.
Henry Cole
Sender of the first Christmas card in 1843.
Victoria and Albert Museum (opens a new tab) · Science Museum Group Collection (opens a new tab)
Horsley
John Callcott Horsley, artist who designed Cole’s card.
Louis Prang
Boston printer called the father of the American Christmas card.
Marcus Ward
Victorian publisher of religious Christmas cards.
Paper Lace
Embossed, pierced paper borrowed from valentines for early cards.
Penny Black
First postage stamp, whose design is sometimes credited to Cole.
Penny Post
Postal reform of 1840 that Cole helped bring in.
Victoria and Albert Museum (opens a new tab) · Science Museum Group Collection (opens a new tab)
Raphael Tuck
London publisher of Victorian Christmas cards.
Robins
A favourite Victorian Christmas-card image.
Rowland Hill
Postal reformer whom Cole assisted, 1837–1840.
Shilling
The price of each of Cole’s cards.
Trellis
The decorative frame around the centre of Cole’s card.
Valentines
The earlier greeting cards that influenced Christmas cards.