Christmas card, circa 1880.

A$15 · Offered by Douglas Stewart Fine Books

[Belfast : Marcus Ward Co. Ltd., circa 1880]. Gilt-edged card, 96 x 128 mm, chromolithographic illustration, with the word Christmas and border in gold; imprint of Marcus Ward Co., Limited to lower margin recto ; addressed to Mr. Mrs. Thomson from Mr. Mrs. McCardel ; verso blank; in very good condition. From an Australian photograph album associated with the Thomson and Condon families of Melbourne. Although the card was printed in Ireland, it was probably purchased in Melbourne and sent locally. In the 1860s Marcus Ward Co began mass-producing calendars and greeting cards. Initially they printed cards for other publishers such as Charles Goodall Son and Charles Bennett. By the late 1860s they began printing greeting cards under their own name. This venture turned out to be very successful, the company engaging Thomas Crane as artistic director and talented artists such as Kate Greenaway and Walter Crane as illustrators. In the early years of card production they marked the reverse with their trademark. In later years the company name was printed on the front side of their greeting cards. (Wiki.)

• Binding: Hardcover

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