Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Who is J.C. Horsley?

In simple: the designer of the first Christmas card.  

John Calcott Horsley (1817-1903) was an English painter, who attended the Royal Academy of Arts.  Most of his artwork featured historical scenes, such as this painting of Mary Queen of Scots: 
Mary Queen of Scots in Captivity, J.C. Horsley
Then in 1843, Sir Henry Cole, a British civil servant, commissioned Horsley to design a card for him that he could mail out that Christmas.  The card's main image depicts a family sitting down to a meal.  But on the sides, scenes depict people providing food and clothes to the poor.

That year, approximately 1,000 of Horsley's cards were printed using a lithograph technique, and were hand-colored.  However, they were expensive (1 shilling each) and it took quite a few years for the tradition to catch on.  

Amazingly, a few of the original cards still exist:
Horsley Christmas Card 1843, Auctioned in New York, 2010
So, if you are thinking of carrying on a Victorian tradition this Christmas, remember J.C. Horsley and Henry Cole, and send a Christmas card!  In fact, you may want to make or buy handmade cards:

French Christmas Card by Darby Cards, Nasheville
Vintage Cards by Claryce Design
Angel Card by NewCreatioNZ
Steampunk Card by Immortal Visions
Vintage Card by GoGoSnap
Merry Christmas!

8 comments:

  1. Think cards were a great invention - especially at Christmas. It's the time of year all my friends old and new catch up (as I do with them). Look forward to the postman pushing through the door! They're just beginning to do so: and I'm smug, because I sent mine a week ago!

    Happy Holidays - not long now! Isobel from www.ColdhamCuddliescalling.blogspot.com

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  2. I would like to learn how to make cards. Everything handmade is soooo much better!

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  3. Thank you for sharing the history of Christmas cards! How interesting!

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  4. Inessa - I agree! I'm actually thinking about making my own...

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  5. Unique Cozy Treasures - Thanks for the history lesson on Chrismas cards. I have made my own cards many a Christmas and even designed my own wrapping paper. Much fun!

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  6. Wow - great post! And thanks for featuring my card! I love to make them!

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  7. Thank you so much for featuring my Steampunk Christmas card in your wonderful post. As an old paper collector, I would love to get my mitts on one of Horsley's cards!

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  8. Melissa - I know right! :) They auctioned off several of his next designs as well-sold for about $10,000 each card... too rich for me :)

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