December 17 - Profitable Problem: How One Man Created Christmas Cards
The Power of Personal Touch
This is the day Henry Cole commissioned the printing of the first commercial Christmas card in 1843.
In today's lesson, we will discover how Henry Cole's practical solution to managing holiday correspondence sparked a tradition that would transform how people connect during the Christmas season. What can we learn from this innovation about maintaining meaningful Christian fellowship? How might God be calling us to deepen our connections within the body of Christ beyond simple greetings and annual traditions?
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
This Date in History
It was a cold December morning in 1843, and Henry Cole sat in his London office, the faint winter sunlight barely filtering through the frosted windowpane. Before him lay a daunting pile of unanswered Christmas correspondence. As a social innovator and a pivotal figure in Victorian civil administration, he was overwhelmed by the prospect of hand-writing hundreds of holiday greetings. The ticking of the clock echoed in the room, a stern reminder of the ticking away of the season. This moment of personal challenge was about to spark a revolution in how we connect during the holiday season, transforming a simple greeting into a global tradition.
Henry Cole's journey to this moment was marked by a meteoric rise through the ranks of London society. Born in 1808 to a military officer, he entered civil service at the tender age of 15. He swiftly distinguished himself through his keen intelligence and fervent drive for public reform. By his mid-thirties, he had ascended to the position of Assistant Keeper at the Public Record Office, where he undertook the modernization of Britain's archival system. His role connected him with the intellectual and social elite of Britain, which significantly increased his holiday correspondence.
The genesis of the printed Christmas card lay in Cole's astute observation of recent innovations in printing technology and the postal service. The advent of the Penny Post in 1840 had democratized mail services. It made correspondence affordable for the burgeoning middle class and led to an explosion in the volume of mail exchanged. Recognizing an opportunity to address his personal dilemma while introducing a novel concept, Cole commissioned his friend John Callcott Horsley, a respected artist from the Royal Academy, to design an innovative solution - a printed Christmas card. Cole paid Horsley 20 guineas for the design, a substantial sum equivalent to several thousand pounds today.
The manufacturing process turned out to be more complex, intricate, and costly than initially anticipated. Cole hired Jobbins of Warwick Court, Holborn, to lithograph the design onto sturdy card stock. Then he employed a professional colorist named Mason to hand-color each card. The total production costs amounted to £150 for 1,000 cards which was an enormous investment at the time. Priced at one shilling each, roughly a day's wage for a laborer, the cards were intended for the upper middle class who, like Cole, valued an efficient way to manage their holiday greetings.
The design of the card cleverly reflected and subtly challenged Victorian values. The central panel depicted a family gathering to celebrate Christmas, complete with a scene of adults and children raising glasses of wine in a toast. This detail, while controversial, highlighted the festive spirit. The side panels portrayed acts of charity, such as feeding the poor and clothing the destitute, integrating traditional Christian virtues with festive celebration.
Cole retained several dozen cards for his personal use and sold the remainder through Felix Summerly's Treasure House, his pseudonymous art shop on Bond Street. Although the venture was not immediately profitable, it eventually recouped its costs. More importantly, it ignited a cultural phenomenon. By the 1880s, the Christmas card industry was flourishing, producing millions of cards annually.
Today, approximately two billion Christmas cards are sent annually in the United States alone. This generates over $7.5 billion each year for the greeting card industry. The tradition Cole started has adeptly adapted to changing times such as expanding from printed cards to include electronic greetings. Yet, this Christmas tradition continues to fulfill its core purpose of connecting people during the holiday season.
Henry Cole could not have envisioned the profound impact his simple innovation would have on the world. His quest for a more efficient way to manage his holiday greetings not only revolutionized Christmas traditions but also permanently altered the way we connect during the holidays. What began as a practical solution for one man has evolved into a global tradition that continues to touch the lives of millions, demonstrating how a single idea can change the world and the way we celebrate.
Historical Context
The creation of the first commercial Christmas card emerged during a period of rapid social and technological transformation in Victorian Britain. The Industrial Revolution had fundamentally altered how people lived and worked, creating a prosperous middle class with disposable income and social aspirations. This new middle class eagerly adopted the customs and social conventions of the upper classes, including the maintenance of extensive social networks through correspondence.
The modernization of Britain's postal system played a crucial role in this social evolution. Before the introduction of the Penny Post in 1840, sending a letter was prohibitively expensive, with costs varying by distance and often paid by the recipient. Under the reformed system championed by Rowland Hill, a uniform penny rate was established for sending letters anywhere in Britain, with the sender paying the postage. This reform democratized written communication and led to an explosion in letter writing, with the number of letters sent increasing from 76 million in 1839 to 350 million by 1850.
The Victorian era also witnessed a transformation in how Christmas was celebrated. Many traditions we now consider timeless were actually Victorian innovations. Prince Albert introduced the Christmas tree to Britain after his marriage to Queen Victoria in 1840. Charles Dickens published "A Christmas Carol" in the same year as Cole's first Christmas card, helping to establish Christmas as a season of both charitable giving and family celebration. The increasing industrialization of society made people nostalgic for traditional celebrations, leading to a revival and reinvention of Christmas customs.
The development of new printing technologies made Cole's innovation both possible and commercially viable. Lithography, invented in the late 18th century, had become more sophisticated and economical by the 1840s. Color printing was becoming more common, though still expensive enough that Cole's first cards required hand-coloring. The combination of these technological advances with the growing Victorian appetite for decorative items and social customs created the perfect environment for the Christmas card to flourish.
Did You Know?
The first Christmas card caused controversy not only for showing children drinking wine but also because some religious leaders considered it too secular, focusing on celebration rather than the nativity.
Today’s Reflection
In 1843, Henry Cole's innovative solution to managing holiday correspondence sparked a tradition that would transform how people stay connected during the Christmas season. While his printed cards offered an efficient way to maintain social bonds, they represent something far more significant for Christians today - the importance of intentional, ongoing connection within the body of Christ. As Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching," genuine Christian fellowship requires consistent, purposeful engagement throughout the year.
The success of Cole's Christmas cards reveals a fundamental human need for connection. People eagerly embraced this new way to maintain relationships, just as they had welcomed the advent of cheaper postal rates that made regular correspondence more accessible. Yet for Christians, the mandate for connection goes far deeper than annual greetings or occasional check-ins. As Hebrews 10:24-25 teaches, we are called to actively consider how to motivate each other toward love and good deeds - a mission that requires regular, meaningful interaction.
Cole's cards featured both celebratory scenes and depictions of charitable acts, reflecting the dual nature of Christian fellowship. Like those illustrated side panels showing care for the poor, our connections should inspire and enable practical expressions of faith. When we maintain strong bonds within the Christian community, we create networks of support that multiply our individual capacity for ministry and service. As Proverbs 27:17 tells us, "Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another," regular fellowship hones our ability to serve God effectively.
The Victorian era's embrace of new communication methods mirrors our modern challenge of maintaining authentic Christian fellowship amid changing technologies and social patterns. While we might use different tools - from printed cards to digital messages - the essential requirement remains unchanged: regular, intentional engagement that encourages spiritual growth. Our connections should go beyond surface-level greetings to foster the kind of relationships that sustain faith and promote accountability.
The Christmas card tradition demonstrates how a simple gesture of remembrance can strengthen social bonds. However, God calls us to forge deeper connections that withstand life's challenges and support spiritual development. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 teaches, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up." Regular fellowship creates a safety net of mutual support, ensuring that when one member stumbles, others are close enough to notice and respond.
In our busy world, it's tempting to reduce Christian fellowship to occasional gatherings or annual traditions. Yet just as Cole's innovation arose from recognizing the importance of maintaining connections, we must actively pursue ways to stay meaningfully engaged with our fellow believers. This requires moving beyond comfortable habits to create intentional opportunities for encouragement, accountability, and shared ministry throughout the year. The Christmas card may serve as a touching reminder of connection, but true Christian fellowship demands our ongoing investment in relationships that reflect God's constant presence in our lives.
Practical Application
Start each day by identifying one person from your church family or Christian circle to contact meaningfully. Move beyond surface-level greetings by sharing a specific way they've encouraged your faith, asking about their current spiritual journey, or offering support for a challenge they're facing. Create a simple system to track these connections, ensuring you maintain regular contact with different members of your faith community throughout the year. Consider setting aside dedicated time each week for writing thoughtful notes, making calls, or arranging face-to-face meetings that go deeper than casual conversation.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Christian fellowship and the countless ways You enable us to stay connected with one another. Help us move beyond occasional greetings to develop deep, meaningful relationships within the body of Christ. Give us wisdom to use both traditional and modern means of communication to encourage, support, and strengthen one another in faith. May we be intentional in maintaining connections that reflect Your constant presence in our lives and Your unwavering love for Your children. Guide us in creating lasting bonds that help us grow closer to You and to each other. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Supplementary Study
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity."
This verse emphasizes the enduring nature of true Christian friendship, reminding us that meaningful connections should persist through all seasons of life, not just during celebrations or convenient times.
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
The early church's example shows us that genuine Christian fellowship involves regular, intentional gathering for multiple purposes - learning, sharing, and spiritual growth.
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
This passage reminds us that meaningful Christian connection involves active support and burden-sharing, going beyond simple greetings to practical expressions of love and care.
Final Thoughts
Henry Cole's practical solution to holiday correspondence launched a tradition that continues to connect people across distances and generations. Yet this innovation serves as a reminder that while periodic greetings have their place, genuine Christian fellowship requires regular, meaningful engagement. When we commit to staying consistently connected with our fellow believers, we create a network of support that strengthens faith, encourages growth, and multiplies our capacity for ministry.
Community Engagement
Share your thoughts or use these questions to get the conversation started.
What personal challenges in your life have led to innovations that ended up blessing others?
How do you balance using efficient methods of communication while maintaining authentic, meaningful connections in your Christian relationships?
In what ways can modern Christians create and maintain the kind of daily fellowship described in Acts 2:42?
How might God be calling you to deepen your involvement in your Christian community beyond surface-level interactions?
Bonus - Did You Know?
Henry Cole went by the pseudonym "Felix Summerly" for many of his commercial ventures, including publishing children's books and designing household items like a teapot that won a Society of Arts medal.
John Horsley, who designed the first card, was nicknamed "Clothes-Horsley" because of his objection to the use of nude models in art classes at the Royal Academy.
Henry Cole also played a pivotal role in creating Britain's first public lavatory, which opened at the Great Exhibition of 1851, and he helped establish the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The original proof of the first Christmas card is now held in the British Postal Museum & Archive, while the first commercially produced card was sold at auction in 2001 for £22,500.
Before designing the Christmas card, Horsley had already achieved fame for painting frescos in the Houses of Parliament and was one of Queen Victoria's favorite artists.
Though considered expensive at one shilling each, Cole's cards were actually cheaper than hiring a scribe to write individual letters, which many wealthy Victorians did to maintain their social correspondence.
Additional Resources
Victorian Christmas - Anna Selby
The History of the Christmas Card - George Buday
The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits - Les Standiford
Christmas in the Victorian Times - Maria Hubert
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In tomorrow's lesson, we'll explore how human wisdom, even at its most sophisticated, can lead us astray when we exclude divine truth from our pursuit of knowledge. Discover how a dramatic scientific announcement reveals timeless truths about the relationship between faith and understanding.
This was so interesting! Thank you, Jason!
I often wondered who started this trend and now I know. I wonder if he was the one who added valentine cards to the mix.