SIR HENRY COLE (1808-1882)

Details

SIR HENRY COLE (1808-1882)
A proof copy printed in brown of the first Christmas card, designed by J.C. Horsley at the request of Sir Henry Cole in 1843, signed and inscribed in pencil: "To Mr and Lady Dorothy Nevill from Henry Cole 1865" (corner-mounted on album leaf with adhesive, some soiling and spotting), 4¾ x 6¼in. With a later facsimile of the original published design, printed by De la Rue & Co, ca. 1880, mounted on the same leaf, signed and inscribed: "To Lady Dorothy Nevill and Daughter. From Sir H. Cole and Lady Cole." (2)

Lot Essay

George Buday in his book The History of the Christmas Card (Rockliff, 1954), describes a similar proof given to Miss Henrietta L. Cole by her father in the same year, 1865. Another example can be seen in the Victoria & Albert Museum.

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