Get in the festive spirit with a collection of artist-designed Christmas cards.
Did you know that Christmas cards are said to be a British invention? The first Christmas card is believed to have been commissioned in 1843 by Henry Cole, founding director of the V&A. He and his friend, the artist John Horsley, designed the first Christmas card as a way of encouraging ordinary people to use the newly-formed postal service to keep in touch with friends and family.
This festive Print Room display will feature over 100 original Christmas cards dating from the 1950s to the present day. It includes cards made by celebrated British artists including Edward Bawden, Glenn Brown, Barnett Freedman, Nigel Henderson, Enid Marx, Ben Nicholson, and Glyn Philpot.