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The custom of sending greeting cards can be traced back to the ancient Chinese, who exchanged messages of good will to celebrate the New Year, and to the early Egyptians, who
offered their greetings on papyrus scrolls.
By the early 15th century, handmade paper greeting cards were being exchanged in Europe. The Germans are known to have printed New Year's greetings from woodcuts as early as 1400, and handmade paper Valentines were being exchanged in various parts of Europe in the early to mid-15th century.
However, by the 1850s, the greeting card had been transformed from a relatively expensive, handmade and hand-delivered gift to a popular and affordable means of personal communication, due largely to advances in printing and mechanization.
This trend continued, followed by new trends like Christmas cards, the first of which appeared in published form in London in 1843 when Sir Henry Cole hired artist John Calcott Horsley to design a holiday card that he could send to his friends and acquaintances.
Technical developments like colour lithography in 1930 propelled the manufactured greeting card industry forward.
During the 1980s, the trend began to turn, with consumers increasing looking for greeting cards that were differentiated from the standard offering. In the late 1990s the market was clearly beginning to separate in to three different segments:
handmade and premium cards
mass-manufactured cards
e-cards
All my greetings cards are painted entirely free hand in the finest watercolour - they are not prints, so if ordering more
than one of the same greetings cards please be aware that they will vary a little in colour and size of motif.
When you purchase hand painted watercolour cards they are unique, signed and dated.
They come with the relevant sized and coloured envelope and are wrapped in a
cellophane envelope.
A water colour greeting card paints a
thousand words so why not send your loved one something special.
You may wish to view my online
watercolour Christmas cards, they too are of fine quality and offer great value
for money.
You may even wish to try your hand at painting your own card, if so click
on my art and craft tips on the above menu options where you will find all the
information you need.
Note: You can view a bigger version of the handmade greetings cards by placing your mouse
curser on the image and click. A new window will open with the
bigger image. When finished viewing, just close the window and
come back here to view the other handmade greetings cards.
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