Sentimental images

Girl with doll & basket of holly

Many cards contain images typical of what we consider to be Victorian sentimentality. These include the use of holly and mistletoe motifs, winter and family scenes, and romantic renderings of children.

"Angel head" card

The "angel head" card on this page was a very popular card of the 1881-82 holiday season. Raphael Tuck company sponsored a design exhibition in 1880 for Christmas card designs where Rebecca Coleman won 7th place for her series of paintings, "Angel's Heads". The cards were produced in several different designs, with different messages and verses, for the following year's holiday season.