His simple design caused a royal ruckus

And gave birth to 179 year-old annual holiday tradition

It wasn’t really considered the polite thing to do.

But Henry was the kind of person who didn’t mind mixing things up.

In particular he loved combing art with industry. In the most unusual way, Henry found it fascinating “fitting form to function.”

So in 1845 when The Royal Society of Arts (RSA), of which Prince Albert was a member, announced that it was holding a new kind of competition – one that combined art with function, Henry Cole didn’t hesitate to enter.

Now the Society isn’t your normal kind of art center.

It was established in 1754 in London with the specific purpose of promoting art, manufacturing, and commerce. In fact its full title is The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce.

This year, the Society’s “art with function” contest was centered around tea sets. Yep, just what you’re thinking … teapots, cups, and saucers.

And since Henry was not your normal kind of designer, this contest seemed like it was designed just for him.

All Kinds of Jobs In Between

Now Henry didn’t start his career out as an artist/designer. It’s more like something he fell into in his spare time.

After graduating school at the age of 15, Henry was clerking for one of London’s public-records historians, and eventually became assistant keeper of the public records office.

Then sometime in 1838, Henry left that position and was appointed secretary for the newly formed committee on postal reform.

As you can imagine trying to reform a postal service is a big commitment, one that would consume most of your time. But not for Henry. In his limited spare time, he studied watercolor painting under one of England’s most famous artists, David Cox.

In fact David is considered one of the greatest English landscape painters and a major figure of England’s Golden Age of Watercolor.

Henry also studied engraving and taught himself how to etch. By 1841 he had created a series of children’s stories that included his own etchings. But he did so under the pen name of Felix Summerly.

And The Winner Is

I can’t tell you why he chose a pen name or why he chose that one in particular, but what I can tell you is that’s the name he used to enter the RSA’s tea set competition.

Henry Cole’s tea set design

Now I don’t drink much tea, although I do have some British friends who do … but his tea set looks as plain and simple as tea set comes.

However professional tea set people say what makes his design stand out is the teapot’s spout.

And also the spout on the water/milk jug. That’s because both are reminiscent of Greek pottery.

Let’s not forget that as far as Henry was concerned, function was equally as important as looks. When you consider that, his “Plain-Jane” tea set makes perfect sense.

It also made sense for the RSA too because Henry was awarded the silver prize for design.

That was all the inspiration he needed to create Summerly’s Art Manufactures, which began producing the tea sets in 1847. And the sets sold well.

The next thing you know, Summerly’s Art Manufactures was producing all kinds of objects, even sculpted designs for different industries.

All For a Good Cause

Although Henry had now formed his own manufacturing firm, he still maintained his position on the committee to reform the UK’s postal service.

In fact he worked alongside Sir Roland Hill, who at the time was one of England’s foremost social reformers.

Roland believed that if letters were cheaper to send, people including the poorer class, would send more of them. And the more they sent, then the more money the postal system would make.

Roland and Henry were serious about this new way of overhauling the system and wrote up essays, gave speeches … even created petitions to further their cause.

Eventually they convinced the proper authorities to make the postal system more affordable for all UK citizens. It was now known as the “penny post.” A letter could be sent for one penny.

Henry is also credited with designing the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black (a topic for a future issue of this newsletter).

His Best Work Yet

Now if you can change a country’s postal system, then you can do just about anything.

And good ol’ Henry had another idea brewing in his head … but this one would solve the problem of having too much mail.

You see letters had been piling up around Henry’s door because it’s the one thing he didn’t pay attention to in his spare time. And those piles were getting bigger as the holidays were approaching.

Henry needed something that he could send out to everyone without having to write individual letters … something short and sweet … something like a postcard.

So in the winter of 1843, he sought the help of fellow painter and friend, John Callcott Horsley. Henry had a rough idea for a sketch that could be drawn and then hand-colored onto a postcard with a special message embedded in the center.

Now, we’re not talking just any design. And we’re not talking just any old message.

Nope, Henry asked John to sketch out something that depicted two acts of charity … one that represented feeding the hungry and one that depicted clothing the naked.

The special message to be transcribed on the postcard would read, “A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You.”

Once it was created, then he could mail it out to all of his family and friends. In an instant, his problem of not staying in touch with people was solved.

Henry had 1,000 cards printed up. He mailed several dozen to his friends, leaving him with plenty left over.

And that was on purpose. Because Henry intended to sell the remaining cards. He ran an advertisement in the popular newspaper Athenaeum, offering the card for one shilling each. The ad read:

“Just published. A Christmas Congratulations Card: Or picture emblematical of Old English Festivity to Perpetuate kind recollections between Dear Friends.”

His card wasn’t exactly a commercial success. The truth is it created a major controversy.

The Royal Ruckus

In the center of the illustration is three generations of a family, celebrating the holiday. Every is holding a glass of wine, even the children.

The fist ever Christmas card by Henry Cole

And that wasn’t the right thing to do back then. The temperance movement was gaining in popularity in the UK, so a postcard showing people drinking was considered taboo.

Especially if children were doing the drinking. And since Prince Albert, consort and husband to Queen Victoria was a member of the RSA, the Royal family didn’t take too kindly to Henry’s “happy holidays” postcard.

However the Royal family very much liked the idea of sending holiday greeting cards. And it was Queen Victoria who sent out the first official Christmas card.

A 179 Year-old Tradition

While his first Christmas card might not have been the success he hoped, Henry didn’t give up. The next year he created another illustration for his cards … this one less controversial.

It was the rage of London. And just like that, Sir Henry Cole gave birth to the annual tradition of sending Christmas cards … one that continues to this very day.

It’s so popular that here in the U.S., over 2 billion cards are sent out annually. In fact Christmas cards top the list of best-selling cards, followed by Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Easter.

In a survey done by the Greeting Card industry, 75% of people who send Christmas cards say they do it because it feels good … not just to send one but also to receive one.

And so Dear Reader in honor of the tradition Sir Henry Cole started 179 years ago, I wish you the merriest of Holidays and a Happy, Healthy New Year.

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Awesome Quotes by Awesome People

“I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year long.” – Charles Dickens

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