With the establishment of the public postal service in 1840, the first 'Penny Post' postal deliveries began. Before that, only the very wealthy could afford to send articles by post. The new Post Office was able to offer a Penny stamp because new railways that could carry larger quantities of freight, were being built.

Sir Henry Cole, a civil servant was very interested in the new public postal service, and he is credited with originating the idea of Christmas cards in order to make use of the new postal service.

Cards could be mailed for half a penny, half the price of an ordinary letter, and as printing methods improved they were produced in large numbers from 1860.

The idea spread gradually to other countries and, by 1890, the volume of Christmas cards had reached such proportions that postal administrations had to make special arrangements for the handling of such more...

15 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Gene Deitch (1924 - 2020) signature and greeting on card with…

Gene Deitch (1924 - 2020) signature and greeting on card with pen drawing of Tom & Jerry, his most famous creations.

1939 King Features Syndicate promotional comic strip characters…

King Features Syndicate Christmas Card Set

1939 King Features Syndicate promotional comic strip characters Christmas card set, with set of 32 stiff paper cards, each 26.5 x 20.5 cm in a stiff paper sleeve. Sleeve text reads 'Merry Christmas from J.V. Connolly and his Associates of King features…

Collection Victorian/Edwardian ephemera including: Victorian…

Victorian and Edwardian Ephemera Collection

Collection Victorian/Edwardian ephemera including: Victorian 'The Longfellow birthday Boo,; circa 1897; and 5 antique embroidered bookmarks; and 6 early embroidered greeting cards, each circa 1915s.

Greeting Cards 1900s-2000s collection in five albums, mainly…

Australian Greeting Cards Collection: 1900s-2000s

Greeting Cards 1900s-2000s collection in five albums, mainly Australian with some colourful Victorian era greeting cards and later Australian themed cards; some greetings postcards; few early Australian trade/advert cards including Royal Piano & Music…

Official Invitations, etc: a collection of invitations, seating…

Official Invitations Collection for Sir Joseph & Lady Cook

Official Invitations, etc: a collection of invitations, seating cards, Christmas cards, etc., mainly endorsed for Sir Joseph & lady Cook, including July 1919 invitation to meet lady Helen Munro Ferguson (wife of the Governor-General & founder of the…

Ranjitsinhji of Nawanagar: A group of 4 greetings cards (16.5 x…

Ranjitsinhji Greeting Cards and Etchings Collection

Ranjitsinhji of Nawanagar: A group of 4 greetings cards (16.5 x 20.50 cm) gilt-embossed crests each with a different coloured etching comprising Ballynahinch Castle (Ireland), Jamnagar House & Flower Garden (Staines, England) plus Vibha-Vilas Palace,…

Greeting Cards 1880s 'Australian New Year Card Series' showing…

Australian New Year Card with Kangaroo and Swag

Greeting Cards 1880s 'Australian New Year Card Series' showing kangaroo with swag & billy can, published in Sydney by Gibbs, Shallard & Co., beautiful colour chromolithography, edges trimmed slightly. Very early example of an Australian themed…

Ranjitsinhji, Cricketer & Indian Prince, a collection of five…

Ranjitsinhji's Palace Greeting Card Collection

Ranjitsinhji, Cricketer & Indian Prince, a collection of five greeting cards, each headed with the gilt-embossed crest of Ranjitsinhji, Maharaja of Nawanagar (in present-day Gujarat), each with coloured etching view of one of Ranjitsinhji's palaces of…

A Colonial New Zealand large greeting card, A Christmas…

New Zealand Christmas Greeting Card with Maori Child

A Colonial New Zealand large greeting card, A Christmas Greeting from our New Zealand Friends', oval watercolour depicting small Maori child in a landscape with a floral border. 29 cm x 23 cm.

The Battle of Polygon wood Australian Comforts Fund Christmas…

Anzac Redoubt: Planting the Australian Flag

The Battle of Polygon wood Australian Comforts Fund Christmas card bearing an illustration of the planting of the Australian flag on Anzac Redoubt by war artist Alfred Pearse, 13 x 8.5 cm

A large collection of early greeting cards and postcards

Vintage Greeting Cards and Postcards Collection

A large collection of early greeting cards and postcards

Signed Thea Proctor Xmas card & 12 H George works. Ballerinas &…

Thea Proctor's Ballet-themed Xmas Card and Artworks

Signed Thea Proctor Xmas card & 12 H George works. Ballerinas & other dancers. Thea Proctor Christmas card to Mr & Mrs Robert Campbell. Pencil & watercolour (12). 10 x 7.7 cm (each)

A large collection of antique/vintage greeting cards

Vintage Greeting Card Collection

A large collection of antique/vintage greeting cards

C1900 pop-up Christmas card, 'Wishing You a Joyful Christmas',…

Pop-up Christmas Card with Cricket Theme

C1900 pop-up Christmas card, 'Wishing You a Joyful Christmas', very attractive and scarce, with pop-up batsman, wickets, wicket-keeper & slips fielder. G/VG condition.

Korean War: c1953-54 range of Royal Australian Regiment items…

Royal Aust. Regiment items from Korean War

Korean War: c1953-54 range of Royal Australian Regiment items relating to the Korean War, consisting of: Royal Aust. Regiment Embroidery in coloured silk on black fabric with blue backing, text includes 'Inchon, Seoul, PUSAn, Kapeong. (signed) Billy…