Home > Europe > United Kingdom > England > Wiltshire > Devizes
First Christmas Card by Sir Henry Cole and John Horsley
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Mary Evans Picture Library
First Christmas Card by Sir Henry Cole and John Horsley
Reputedly the first Christmas card, this was designed by Horsley in 1843, and a coloured version sent out by Sir Henry Cole in 1846.
Commissioned by Sir Henry Cole and illustrated by John Callcott Horsley in London on 1 May 1843. The central picture shows three generations of a family raising a toast to the cards recipient: on either side are charity scenes including food and clothing being given to the poor. Allegedly the image of the family drinking wine together proved controversial, but the idea was shrewd: Cole had helped introduce the Penny Post three years earlier. Two batches totaling 2, 050 cards were printed and sold that year for a shilling each, and of those just a dozen are known to have survived.
We are offering reproduction prints of the original design. In 2001 an original version sold for a record 22, 500 pounds sterling at auction in Devizes, Wiltshire, England. After attracting bids from collectors in Britain and America, it eventually sold for the record-breaking price.
The auctioned card was especially sought after because it was sent by Sir Henry to his grandmother and aunt, and signed by the great Victorian.
John Callcott Horsley was an English painter, illustrator, and designer. Born in London on 29 January 1817, he was the grand-nephew of the English landscape painter Sir Augustus Callcott. His sister, Mary Elizabeth Horsley, was the wife of the famous British engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Horsley studied painting at the Royal Academy where he met the painter Thomas Webster. His paintings were largely of historical subjects set in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, influenced by the Dutch masters Pieter de Hooch and Vermeer. From 1875 to 1897, Horsley was a rector and treasurer of the Royal Academy. Because he was strictly against nude models he earned the nickname " Clothes-Horsley".
Cole is credited with devising the concept of sending greeting cards at Christmas time
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 579216
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10021527
1843 1846 Cole Horsley Reputedly Version Designed
FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS
> Arts
> Artists
> H
> John Callcott Horsley
> Arts
> Artists
> H
> Pieter de Hooch
> Arts
> Artists
> P
> D.J. Pound
> Arts
> Artists
> W
> Thomas Webster
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> London
> Royalty
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> Paintings
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> Wiltshire
> Devizes
> People
> Industrialists
> Isambard Kingdom Brunel
> Popular Themes
> Brunel
EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph showcases the First Christmas Card, reputedly designed by Sir Henry Cole and John Callcott Horsley in London on 1 May 1843. The central image depicts a family of three generations raising a toast to the card's recipient, surrounded by scenes of charity, with food and clothing being given to the less fortunate. The idea behind the design was shrewd, as Sir Henry Cole had helped introduce the Penny Post three years earlier, making it affordable for people to send greeting cards. Two batches of 2,050 cards were printed and sold that year for a shilling each, and only a dozen of the originals are known to have survived. In 2001, an original version sold for a record-breaking 22,500 pounds sterling at auction in Devizes, Wiltshire, England. The card that was auctioned was especially sought after because it was sent by Sir Henry to his grandmother and aunt, and signed by the great Victorian. John Callcott Horsley was an English painter, illustrator, and designer. Born in London on 29 January 1817, he was the grand-nephew of the English landscape painter Sir Augustus Callcott. Horsley studied painting at the Royal Academy where he met the painter Thomas Webster. His paintings were largely of historical subjects set in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, influenced by the Dutch masters Pieter de Hooch and Vermeer. From 1875 to 1897, Horsley was a rector and treasurer of the Royal Academy. Known for his strict opposition to nude models, he earned the nickname 'Clothes-Horsley.' Sir Henry Cole is credited with devising the concept of sending greeting cards at Christmas time, although he did not establish a card company. This photograph is a reproduction of the original design, offering a glimpse into the history of Christmas traditions and the evolution of the greeting card industry.
MADE IN THE USA
Safe Shipping with 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
FREE PERSONALISATION*
We are proud to offer a range of customisation features including Personalised Captions, Color Filters and Picture Zoom Tools
SECURE PAYMENTS
We happily accept a wide range of payment options so you can pay for the things you need in the way that is most convenient for you
* Options may vary by product and licensing agreement. Zoomed Pictures can be adjusted in the Cart.
