Christmas Cards

The modern Christmas card industry began in 1915, when a small company in Kansas City that made postcards, founded by Joyce Hall, later joined by his brothers, Rollie and William, published its first holiday card.

The Hall Brothers, a decade later became Hallmark, soon adapted a new format for their cards, four inches wide and six inches high, folded once and inserted into an envelope.

The Hallmark company had discovered that most people found the cards large enough for a brief holiday message, but small enough to “show you care.”

Various artists who have designed cards for Hallmark include Jacqueline Kennedy in 1963 with the benefits going to the Kennedy Center. The most popular card of all time is a simple one. Three angels, two bowed in prayer, the third angel peers out from the card with big, baby blue eyes, her halo slightly askew, “God bless you, keep you and love you at Christmastime and always,” reads the sentiment. This card has sold 34 million copies since it was introduced in 1977.

Many well wishes to each of you and yours.