Raphael Tuck & Sons, London
Raphael Tuck & Sons began publishing holiday cards in the 1870's. They are well-known only after 1880 when they sponsored a prize exhibition to generate publicity and seek new designs for cards. In 1882, the firm commissioned several members of the Royal Academy to design cards, but the cards did not prove to be popular. White writes:
"It would seem that to commission an artist to go out of his way and prepare a scheme for work outside his sympathy is nearly always fatal. Hence, the Royal Academy was commissioned to revolutionize the art of the Christmas card, and failed even to divert its current for a year..."
The Tuck firm became one of the most prolific and prominent publishers of holiday cards. The firm produced cards for Queen Victoria, including lavish 3-dimensional cards for her royal relatives. The firm produced cards for all tastes and pocketbooks, and gave great attention to the verses included on the cards.
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Tug of War, ca. 1880's
This shaped card bears a verse by Frederick Langbridge, note the drunken dialect.
Ye pragmatical baste, ye sophistical swine, Will ye set yer opinion conthrary to mine When I bought ye for cash, an reserved the resate With a dhrink just to make the thransaction complate? Be silent, ye blaggard-don't spake till yer hit-- Won't I hear me remarks for the squales ye emit? Conviction won't move ye the divle a stir, Thin I'll give ye compulsion-'tis that ye prefer.
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Girl circus rider, ca. 1880's
An example of greeting card verse by the prolific Frederick Langbridge, who wrote for the Tuck firm for over fifteen years:
The Circus! Magic sawdust ring Where clown would cut his Killing caper, And acrobats would whirl and spring And riders crash through hoops of paper! The season's fun, the season's rest From cares that strain and overwork us Shall come with all the piquant zest Of childhood's mad and merry circus.
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Girl with donkey, ca. 1880's
Shaped cards foreshadow the trend toward novelty that overtook the holiday card business at the end of the 1880's. The verse by Frederick Langbridge reads:
Of all the gifts
that fate can send
To make your journey blest,
An honest friend, a loyal friend
Is rarest, dearest, best
This boon may fate accord to you,
The path of life to cheer--
Friends no wise few, and all as true
As this depicted here.
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Skating couples, ca. 1880's
A verse by Frederick Langbridge:
Sing of May in dainty lay Gentle hearted bard! Hawthorn snows and opening rose Fields with daisies starred I shall sing a better thing Fuller stronger bliss Shower and flower And resting bower-- What are they to this?
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Two children in a garden, , ca. 1881-1882
A verse by Eden Hooper, who wrote for Tuck from 1880-1890:
With all that can charm you, With naught that can harm you, May this glad Season teem With garlands above you With those round that love you With happy thoughts supreme! With hands warm to speed you! With hands strong to lead you With prospects fair and clear! May peace dwell within you And joy long continue Your Christmas you New Year!
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Angel's head, 1881-1882
Rebecca Coleman won 7th place in Tuck's 1881 design competition for her series of paintings, "Angel's Heads". The cards were produced in several different formats, with different messages and verses, for the following year's holiday season. They proved to be immensely popular. This one bears a verse by A.J.F.
Beauty so bright, an angelic wing, Comes smiling from heaven to earth; While zephyrs as light with their burden bring Celestial rejoicings and mirth: A star from the firmament steals adrift, A sunbeam is falling apart; With joyfulness hail them as heaven's gift-- A smile for the weary heart.
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