Vigo County Historical Society

First New Years cards denounced for promoting drunkenness

As we begin a new century, we feature greeting cards sent long ago to express good wishes for the New Year.

The first greeting card ever published did not establish the greeting card business. Designed by John Calcott Harsley and published by his friend Henry Cole in 1843, this first commercial Christmas and New Year’s card was strongly denounced for promoting drunkenness. The picture on the card depicted a family, including children, toasting the season with wine!

It was not until 1860 that English publisher Charles Goodall and Son entered the greeting card business by producing visiting cards or calling cards. Other manufacturers between 1860 and the 1890s include Marcus Ward & Co., Raphael Tuck & Co. in England and L. Prang & Co. in America.

Commercial production of colorful greeting cards rose after the Civil War. In the mid-1890s, less expensive cards, many made in Germany, flooded the market and many old firms went out of business.

The cards pictured are postcards, all sent in 1909. Two were received by Mr. and Mrs. H. Stakeman, 1347 Eagle St. The handwritten message on the back of one is, "May the coming glad New Year be to you one of joy and cheer." The greeting written on the other is, "Best wishes for a joyous and prosperous New Year."

Those two messages written nearly 100 years ago reflect the sentiments that the staff of the Vigo County Historical Museum would like to express on this first Sunday of the new millennium.