Did you know that in ancient China, people used to send written messages to wish others a Happy New Year? The messages were actually part of the tradition to scare away the wild beast Nien.
In the spirit of this ancient tradition, here is a bit of the history of the American greeting card.
According to the Greeting Card Association, greeting cards have been around for a long time. The Chinese sent them; the ancient Egyptians sent papyrus scroll messages; they’ve been popular in Europe since the 1400s. But what really launched their popularity? The printing press!
In 1856, a German immigrant named Louis Prang to the US began creating elaborate reproductions of paintings using a process called color lithography. For ten years he was the top producer of cards in the country. A shift to creating cards with a message instead of just a beautiful picture changed the industry, and during World War I the popularity of cards increased. By the end of World War II, the industry was rapidly expanding, and it hasn’t slowed down since.
The industry has continued to change and grow as humorous cards flooded the market in the 1950s and the dawn of the internet brought about the e-card. The internet has brought out an important point in the history of the greeting card. While e-cards might be quick and easy to send, they aren’t the most popular. So many years later, people still appreciate a physical card.
So as you prepare to send out a card, remember that you are participating in the ancient traditions of the Chinese and Egyptians. When you pick a card with a beautiful picture, you are honoring the creations of Louis Prang.