World's first Christmas Card goes on display at the Dickens Museum in London

world's first printed and hand-coloured Christmas card has w gone on display in Charles Dickens Museum in London just in time for festive season. Printed in 1843, card was sold originally for one shilling and shaped a centuries-old tradition. Among  1,000 Christmas cards that were printed in 1843, only 21 survive today.  

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An -old Christmas tradition                         

Designed by Henry Cole and illustrated by John Callcott Horsley, in same year that Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was published, hand-coloured card shows a family gared around a table enjoying a glass of wine with a mess: “A merry Christmas and a happy new year to you.”

Reportedly, among 21 cards, one has been lent to Charles Dickens Museum in London by a book dealer based in San Francisco.

Both Dickens and Cole worked at same time and subsequently shaped what would become a popular Christmas tradition.  In 1877 when concept of giving and sending Christmas cards really took off, some 4.5 million cards were sent to families. museum curator, Louisa Price said that this was a very important day for modern Christmas because Christmas card is such a big part today's Christmas.

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'Historic' attractions' 

Cole was instrumental in setting up Penny Post letter-delivery system in 1840 and today billions of Christmas cards make ir way around world. Charles Dickens Museum in London is an author's house museum at 48 Doughty Street. It was Charles Dickens house from 25 March 1837 to December 1839.

While Christmas card is biggest attraction in museum, re are or attractions as well. or attractions include sketches of Dickens' Scrooge, Fezziwig and Christmas Ghosts by John Leech and books illustrated with woodcuts and steel plate engravings.