Sir Henry Cole's Christmas Card Problem
Cole’s Solution Resulted in Today’s Holiday Greeting Cards
Nov 19, 2008
In 1843, Sir Henry Cole (1808-1882) faced a dilemma. He had so many Christmas greetings to send that handwriting them was impossible.
This interesting man, founder of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, was in step with one of the underlying messages of Christmas: He wanted to make his friends aware of the need to help the destitute on that holiday.
Making Christmas Cards Cheaper and More Available
In Henry’s day, Christmas cards were more expensive than they are now. They were individually painted and delivered by hand. Although greeting cards go back to an ancient Egyptian prototype, what we know today as the Christmas card came to life in 1843 because this brilliant idea man was frustrated.
His problem-solving track record was nearly flawless. Henry, without benefit of a university education, started his career at age 15 in the Public Records Office, where he became instrumental in reforming the organization and preservation of the British national archives. He had conquered many problems relating to mounds of papers.
Then the answer came. It was a marriage of art and technology. Sir Henry—often referred to in the press as “Old King Cole”—commissioned artist John Calcott Horsley to paint a card showing the feeding and clothing of the poor. A center panel displayed a happy family embracing one another, sipping wine and enjoying the festivities.
The First Printed Christmas Cards
Cole took the artwork to a printer and asked for enough copies to meet his need. Now all he had to do was sign them. The rest is history.
The original Christmas card, shown below, carried the message "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You"
.We know “King Cole” had good intentions, but his Christmas card design, showing a child enjoying a sip of wine, was described as “fostering the moral corruption of children.”
Old King Cole Gets Knighted
Henry was knighted in 1875 by Queen Victoria in recognition of his work improving industrial design standards and organizing exhibitions to introduce the latest products of the industrial revolution to the public.
It has been said that when the Queen and Prince Consort needed a facilitator for one of their pet projects, the prince would say: “We must have steam, get Cole.”
Henry Cole, using the pseudonym Felix Summerly, was an inventor and writer. He came up with an award-winning teapot and wrote several books. His children’s stories included the popular Reynard the Fox. Cole has also been cited as designer of the world’s first postage stamp.
SOURCES: Online Greeting Card Museum; BBC (Devon) online; Buday, George, The History of the Christmas Card (1964: London); Chemung Valley History Museum, Elmira, NY.
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