Tag: subscription gift

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The First Christmas Card

The world’s first commercially produced Christmas card, designed by John Callcott Horsley for Henry Cole in 1843

Have you ever wondered when the first Christmas card was created or who made it? The first printed Christmas card was the idea of British inventor Sir Henry Cole. In 1843 Cole commissioned illustrator John Callcott Horsley to create the design, then sold the printed cards for a shilling each. Three years before that he had helped establish the Universal Penny Post, a postal system that enabled people to send letters throughout England for a penny each. Over 4,000 of his Christmas cards were purchased that first year. So he made some money for himself and encouraged people to use the postal service at the same time!

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Christmas Cards in America

A Christmas card printed by Louis Prang and Co.

The first Christmas Cards printed in America were produced by Polish immigrant Louis Prang. Prang founded a printing company that specialized in the newest techniques in lithography. He used these techniques to reproduce works of art, then expanded into printing greeting cards.

He printed the first Christmas cards in America in 1874 and by the 1880’s was printing more than 5 million Christmas cards a year. Other companies started printing Christmas cards and eventually Prang & Co. was forced out of the Christmas card market.

Currently over 2 billion Christmas cards are sent every year in the US alone. That’s a lot of stamps! Now e-cards are becoming part of the Christmas tradition. Over 5 billion e-christmas cards will be sent this year, so check your email!

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Coming Soon to Your Email Box, Digital Delivery!

Digital subscriptions to Arts in Letters will be available soon! The same historical letters and info, just delivered to your email as a PDF instead of through the mail. You’ll be able to view it on your devices or print it out if you like.

This is similar to the individual historical letter packets already available for download, except that subscription PDF’s won’t be watermarked as the individual downloads are.

One cool feature of these PDF’s is that links to extra resources will be clickable, so if you’re reading on your computer or other device, you can click right through to them, no typing in of long link addresses ! (I’m working on that issue, too!)

This is a great option for subscribers outside the US, no more wondering how long it will take the postal services to deliver the letters! I’ve had terrific luck over the years, but every time I send letters to new overseas subscribers, I’ve got my fingers crossed for a speedy delivery.

You’re probably wondering if there will be a difference in price, and yes there will be. Since the production cost is less, the price will be, too. So, same great content, clickable links, less paper, quicker delivery, lower cost, sound good?

I’m working out all the details now and I hope to be set up to start taking orders for digital subs next week, with the first digital delivery planned for Saturday, July 29, just in time for your weekend reading! What would Ada Lovelace think of this? I think she’d be thrilled by the possibilities. Hope you are, too!

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One Letter at a Time?

Now available, individual letter packets! I’m opening up the Arts in Letters archives, making the individual letter packets available for purchase as digital downloads. These are letters that have been sent to subscribers and will not be sent out again. (I work hard to make sure every subscriber receives a new letter every week!)

These are being made available to everyone, whether you are a subscriber or not. This is an opportunity for subscribers to fill in letters they missed or weren’t sent out during their subscription term. It’s a great opportunity for those considering buying a subscription to find out just what a weekly mailing consists of. Or if you aren’t intereested in a subscription right now, you can pick and choose who you want to learn more about.

Downloads consists of a PDF version of the letter packet which you can download and if you want , print out. There are 6-8 pages of information and images. The only difference between the subscription mailings and these downloads is that the downloadable PDF bears an Arts in Letters watermark.

So whether it’s one letter at a time, or a whole bunch at once, these are all available to to you instead of moldering in my digital archives. More are being added every week, so check back if you don’t see the subjects you are looking for. And you can always send me a message to find out when something specific is on its way. Start browsing through the “individual Letter” icon in the Shop section below. And, if you want to get some individual letters to supplement a subscription, the shop is configured so you can do both in the same transaction!

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Arthur Rackham quote on children, fantasy, and education

English illustrator Arthur Rackham provided some of the most fantastic illustrations for children’s books, including Alice in Wonderland and Wind in the Willows. It’s no surprise that he valued fantasy as a way of expanding children’s intellect (and probably adults, too!) It’s always a joy to learn and write about such creative people for Arts in Letters subscribers.

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Thanks from Arts in Letters!

Just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for making this holiday season especially great! We’ve got lots of new subscribers and are looking forward to putting together interesting, informative, and sometimes unusual letter packets out to each and every one.

The Grand SLAM package is the most popular by far so we’re hard at work looking for the most interesting letters from scientists, literati, artists, and musicians. There’s so much to out there to learn!

Thanks again to our Arts in Letters customers, we are very grateful to you.

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2 Ways to Subscribe to Arts in Letters

Not sure how to get started with your Arts in Letters subscription? We’ve got two ways you can go about it!

First, of course you can subscribe right here. We’re more than happy to get you started right away! Just start shopping on the Home page!

Or, you like subscription boxes, you probably know the wonderful things available on Cratejoy. Arts in Letters is listed there, too! And on Cratejoy you can subscribe on a month-to-month basis. To go through Cratejoy, use this link.

We try to make it easy and convenient for you to subscribe to Arts in Letters, whether it is a treat for yourself or a gift for a loved one. You do the subscribing and we’ll do the rest!

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Summertime!

Summertime by Mary Cassatt
It’s high summer and Arts in Letters is focusing on summer-themed letters. What makes you think of summer? How about floating in a boat on a quiet lake and feeding ducks? Sounds like a lovely way to spend a summer day. Subscribe to Arts In Letters and you’ll have a lovely day every week reading about people like Mary Cassatt!