Australia’s First Christmas Cards

In the late 1800s, the first Christmas cards produced in Australia began to emerge. Commercial cards had been shipped out from England for use in Australia, but their wintry scenes of snow & sleigh rides hardly captured the essence of an Australian Christmas. The very first Australian Christmas cards were based on paintings of wildflowers by NSW artist, Helena Forde (nee Scott), one of the best known Australian-born artists & natural history illustrators in the second-half of the nineteenth century. A set of twelve beautifully detailed cards were in fact produced by her sister, Harriet Scott, also a talented illustrator, and advertised in the Sydney Mail on 9 November, 1879.

Commercial art publishers quickly recognised a need for uniquely Australian festive greeting cards. In 1881, John Sands held its first Christmas Card Competition in Sydney, inviting the public to submit their art for a new range of cards. All designs had to be in colour, ‘Australian Subjects Only’, and not exceed 8 by 6 inches. Prizes of 60 guineas were offered for the winning designs, with a portion of sale proceeds going to each artist. They received over 660 entries from all around Australia.

In May 1881, an exhibition of competition entries was held at the Art Gallery of NSW, and over 800 people came to view the designs. The judges selected 21 of the designs for production, and by December, Sydney shops these were advertising the new Australian cards for sale.

Since then, we have produced greeting cards showing scenes of an Australian Christmas to send to loved ones overseas. Picnics in the bush, seaside views, unique Australian flora & fauna, and novelty cards - a kangaroos painting a portrait, or snoozing by the river after a couple of beers on Christmas Day.

These days, although Christmas greetings are now easily sent via e-cards and social media, there’s still something special about opening your letterbox and receiving a thoughtfully chosen, handwritten card - a tradition in Australian for over 140 years.

By Charles Henry Hunt, c.1881

Gibbs, Shallard & Co. Christmas card no. 112, c.1881. Collection of Michael Aitken

Submitted to John Sands’ Christmas Competition, c.1881

‘Australia sends her greetings far and near, A Merry Christmas and a bright New Year’ - H. Phillips, c.1881

Sydney publisher Gibbs, Shallard & Co produced cards with amusing scenes of Australian animals, including playing summer sports of cricket & rowing.

‘A Merry Christmas’ - Artist Unknown, c.1881

By Gibbs, Shallard & Co, Sydney, c.1884

By Gibbs, Shallard & Co, Sydney, c.1884

For John Sands’ Christmas Card Competition, c.1881

For John Sands’ Christmas card competition, c.1881

Australian Floral Series by Helena Forde, c.1881

Australian Floral Series by Helena Forde, c.1881

Australian Floral Series by Helena Forde, published by Turner & Henderson, Sydney, c.1881

Gibbs, Shallard & Co Christmas cards, c.1883, featuring Japanese and Egyptian vases

References:

https://abc.net.au/news/2009-12-24/the-origins-of-the-aussie-christmas/1190624

https://australiantraveller.com/australia/vintage-australian-christmas-cards/

https://blogs.sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/cook/a-box-of-christmas-mangoes/

https://www.ephemerasociety.org.au/kangaroos/

https://latrobejournal.slv.vic.gov.au/latrobejournal/issue/latrobe-84/fig-latrobe-84-007a.html

https://remembering-the-past-australia.blogspot.com/2018/12/john-sands-christmas-card-comp-1881-gal1.html

https://remembering-the-past-australia.blogspot.com/2018/12/john-sands-christmas-card-comp-1881-gal2.html

https://sl.nsw.gov.au/blogs/topsy-turvy-christmas-john-sands-christmas-card-competition