Then & Now: The Magic of Greeting Cards
Let’s explore the historical events and designs that led to one of the oldest and most beloved forms of communication.
For centuries, people have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, births, religious festivals, and holidays with handwritten notes. What began with messages on papyrus scrolls in ancient Egypt and inscriptions on bone or bamboo in ancient China has evolved into a global market boasting billions in sales.1
Let’s explore the historical events and designs that led to one of the oldest and most beloved forms of communication: sending letters and, more specifically, greeting cards.
THE TIMELINE
3400 B.C. | In Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), Sumerians founded the cuneiform script, the world’s first written language.2
2900 B.C. | The earliest known papyrus roll was crafted in ancient Egypt. This tradition continued for nearly 4,000 years.3
500 B.C. | According to the ancient historian Hellanicus, Queen Atossa of Persia sent the first letter.
105 A.D.* | Cai Lun, the director of the Imperial Workshops at Luoyang, is credited with inventing paper.4
Tang Dynasty (618–907 A.D.) | The Chinese invented xylography (woodblock printing). In 762, the first commercially printed texts were sold in the capital’s markets. More widely available in 782, paper was an acceptable material for printing records of business transactions and tax payments.5
Song Dynasty (960–1279 A.D.) | A commoner named Bi Sheng, who was highly skilled at woodblock printing, developed movable-type printing with baked clay.6
15th century A.D. | Master wood engravers designed prints that featured festive symbols for Christmas, New Year’s, and other occasions. One example is included here.7
ca. 1450 A.D. | German inventor and craftsman, Johannes Gutenberg, designed and constructed the first known mechanized printing press in Europe.8
1477 A.D. | A gentlewoman named Margery Brews sent the world’s first valentine to her beloved.9
16th century A.D. | The international postal service of the Holy Roman Empire was founded by the Thurn und Taxis family. It is widely considered to be the world’s first modern postal service.10
ca. Early 18th century A.D. | Inspired by Japanese tatogami, people across England and Colonial America exchanged romantic messages with Victorian puzzle purses. Derived from letterlocking, this technique includes intricate folds and symbols alluding to “the beguiling nature of love and courtship.”11
1787 A.D. | In the United States, Congress established Post Offices and post roads.
1837 A.D. | Sir Rowland Hill invented the postage stamp.12
1843 A.D. | England’s Queen Victoria sent the world’s first official Christmas card.13 Although commissioned by Sir Henry Cole, it featured a design by painter John Callcott Horsley.
1869 A.D. | The first postcards were issued by Austria-Hungary.14
1875 A.D. | Louis Prang, a printer originally from Germany, began mass producing greeting cards in America, making them more affordable.15
1910 A.D. | J.C. Hall co-founded Hall Brothers, which later became Hallmark, now one of the most successful greeting card companies in the world.
*Centuries before, Chinese writers used bamboo, wooden strips, and even expensive silk to preserve their words.
HISTORICAL GREETING CARD DESIGNS (Before 1900)
Famous Designers: John Callcott Horsley, Kate Greenaway, Esther Howland, Johannes Endletzberger, and Walter Crane
More about cobweb valentines here!
More about the Kate Greenaway here!
MODERN GREETING CARD DESIGNS
Big Brands: Hallmark, American Greetings, Rifle Paper Co., Minted, Papyrus, Lovepop
Smaller Brands: Em & Friends, Ramus & Co., Hello Small World
“Thinking of you greeting card features Hallmark's iconic watercolor design of a cart full of purple pansies paired with a sweet rhyming message. This die-cut greeting made its original debut in 1939 and went on to become the best-selling greeting card in history. Perfect for birthdays, encouragement, get well, congratulations and more.”16
It’s no secret that texting and emailing are far more efficient than mailing messages. But, when a loved one sends you a greeting card—a tangible manifestation of their joy, thanks, sympathy, humor, or admiration—you feel seen and appreciated. Besides selecting (or creating) the perfect design, they also devoted time to drafting and writing a special message. The process is personal!
Whenever I give or receive cards, I can’t help but feel sentimental. They symbolize the best times with friends, family members, and significant others. And rereading old notes is incredibly transportive—like walking through a memory! How could I throw them away?
Unlike journals, greeting cards aren’t limited to the first-person perspective… You view the world—and yourself—through another person’s eyes, which is a true gift. Sometimes, we need to be reminded of our unique potential.
There are countless ways to spread love and tell people how much they matter. It can be as simple as mailing a greeting card or sneaking sticky notes into a family member’s lunchbox. Or, if you’re feeling especially nostalgic, write with a quill pen by candlelight and seal your envelope with a wax stamp. I’ll let you choose your own memorable method of greeting!
