Photographic Print : First Christmas Card by Sir Henry Cole and John Horsley
Photo Prints 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
Media ID 579216
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1843 1846 Cole Horsley Reputedly Version
11"x8.5" Photo Print
Photo prints are produced on Kodak professional photo paper resulting in timeless and breath-taking prints which are also ideal for framing. The colors produced are rich and vivid, with accurate blacks and pristine whites, resulting in prints that are truly timeless and magnificent. Whether you're looking to display your prints in your home, office, or gallery, our range of photographic prints are sure to impress. Dimensions refers to the size of the paper in inches.
Our Photo Prints are in a large range of sizes and are printed on Archival Quality Paper for excellent colour reproduction and longevity. They are ideal for framing (our Framed Prints use these) at a reasonable cost. Alternatives include cheaper Poster Prints and higher quality Fine Art Paper, the choice of which is largely dependant on your budget.
Estimated Image Size (if not cropped) is 27.9cm x 18.4cm (11" x 7.2")
Estimated Product Size is 27.9cm x 21.6cm (11" x 8.5")
These are individually made so all sizes are approximate
Artwork printed orientated as per the preview above, with landscape (horizontal) orientation to match the source image.
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