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Story
December 25, 1913
The Ontario Argus
Ontario, Malheur County, Oregon
What is this article about?
The origin of Christmas cards traces to 1844 when English artist W. C. T. Dobson created the first as a seasonal sketch for a friend, then lithographed copies in 1845 for wider distribution, delighting recipients and inspiring its tradition.
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Full Text
ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS CARDS.
First One Was Designed Nearly Seventy Years Ago.
The Christmas card as we know it has an origin easily traceable, and it is now not quite seventy years ago since the first was designed. The artist who claimed to be its originator and who was at any rate the first to see its possibilities was W. C. T. Dobson, R. A., an Englishman who when quite a young man in 1844 was prompted at Christmas to make a little sketch symbolic of the season's joys and festivities and to send it to a friend. It seemed to give great pleasure, and the next year Mr. Dobson determined to follow up the idea on a larger scale and by having his card lithographed was enabled to send copies to twenty-five or thirty friends. The delight with which they were received was so great that Mr. Dobson was quick to perceive that he had found out a new pleasure for Christmas.
First One Was Designed Nearly Seventy Years Ago.
The Christmas card as we know it has an origin easily traceable, and it is now not quite seventy years ago since the first was designed. The artist who claimed to be its originator and who was at any rate the first to see its possibilities was W. C. T. Dobson, R. A., an Englishman who when quite a young man in 1844 was prompted at Christmas to make a little sketch symbolic of the season's joys and festivities and to send it to a friend. It seemed to give great pleasure, and the next year Mr. Dobson determined to follow up the idea on a larger scale and by having his card lithographed was enabled to send copies to twenty-five or thirty friends. The delight with which they were received was so great that Mr. Dobson was quick to perceive that he had found out a new pleasure for Christmas.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Biography
What themes does it cover?
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Christmas Cards
Origin
W. C. T. Dobson
1844
Lithographed Card
What entities or persons were involved?
W. C. T. Dobson
Where did it happen?
England
Story Details
Key Persons
W. C. T. Dobson
Location
England
Event Date
1844
Story Details
W. C. T. Dobson designed the first Christmas card in 1844 as a sketch sent to a friend, then in 1845 had it lithographed to send to multiple friends, recognizing its potential as a new Christmas pleasure.