A Visitor's Guide to Victorian England

Sunday, 20 December 2015

DAY 9: 12 DAYS OF VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS CARDS

Today is day 9 of 12 Days of Victorian Christmas cards and I have another image of a shaped card to share. This one's in the shape of an envelope with a rose seal.

The clue to what you'll find underneath the seal is in the dog collar at the top:

The card is dated 1890 on the reverse and was sent to 'Master Hippo' from Annie.

Saturday, 19 December 2015

DAY 8: 12 DAYS OF VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS CARDS

For day 8 of 12 Days of Victorian Christmas Cards, here's a very unusual card. Look away if you're scared of spiders! In a circular shape, the design is of a large spider on its web with a fly approaching:

The verse isn't clear at all on the scan but it says:

Will you walk into my parlour
Said the spider to the fly.
I've a very nice plum pudding
And a beautiful Mince pie.

Friday, 18 December 2015

DAY 7: 12 DAYS OF VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS CARDS

In today's card for 12 Days of Victorian Christmas cards, I'd like to share another card with an animal design. This one is dated 1884 and it was published by Louis Prang & Co., Boston. A group of owls and rabbits are playing blind man's buff by moonlight.

In case you can't read the verse, it says:

By loving friends you are surrounded,
Oh, be not blind to this, I pray.
They wish that joy and mirth unbounded
May crown your happy Christmas day.

Thursday, 17 December 2015

DAY 6: 12 DAYS OF VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS CARDS

On Day 6 of 12 Days of Victorian Christmas cards, here's an example of the Victorians' often very odd sense of humour.

The card looks very unassuming with a baby's bottle design but it opens up to reveal this:

Imagine receiving this card as a 'soother' for Christmas! This is a very late Victorian or early Edwardian card published by Raphael Tuck & Sons.

Wednesday, 16 December 2015

DAY 5: 12 DAYS OF VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS CARDS

Today, I'd like to share an image of a shaped Victorian Christmas card. These are my favourite types of cards because they're all so different and unusual. This one has a Yule log design.

Dating from the 1880s, the card is entirely flat but it's embossed and has a three-dimensional effect. 'Bringing in the Yule log' was a tradition when a large log was brought home on Christmas Eve and burned for the 12 nights of Christmas until Twelfth Night.

Tuesday, 15 December 2015

DAY 4: 12 DAYS OF VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS CARDS

Today, it's Day 4 of 12 Days of Victorian Christmas Cards and we return to the anthropomorphic theme - I did warn you!

This card from the late 1880s is signed RD for Robert Dudley and it's published by Castell Bros. In case you can't read the verse, it says:

In spring the cuckoo calls, in summer swallow twits.
Plump goose to autumn falls, winter brisk robin fits.

The sender has hand-written in the 'from' section:

The Town Friend the swallow
To the Country Friend the cuckoo.

Monday, 14 December 2015

DAY 3: 12 DAYS OF VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS CARDS

On Day 3 of 12 Days of Victorian Christmas cards, here's a design that doesn't look very Christmasy at all: a chick with a special message.

This slightly scary card is dated 1878 and is published by R. Canton. The design was part of a set which also included parrots, mice, cats and dogs. This is the card that first got me interested in Victorian Christmas cards, not just because of the unusual design but because it has a very cryptic message on the reverse. As mentioned yesterday, until the 1890s, most Victorian cards were flat, not folded, and the sender wrote a greeting on the back.


Copyright Michelle Higgs

In case you can't read it, the message says:

Good-bye! I leave on Sunday next - fare thee well!!!
Ato Acton [not sure of these words]
23 - 12 - 78

It's difficult to work out the two words above the date because the way the letters are written is inconsistent. But the message has always intrigued me: who was the sender? Did he or she and the recipient ever meet again? All very intriguing...