The British love for animals is clear in this weird and wonderful collection of Christmas cards produced during the Victorian era. There are dead birds, massive insects being tortured by small children and any number of humanised animals eating each other, eating people and spreading Christmas cheer.
Even since the first commercially produced Christmas card, as legend has it, was designed in 1843 by artist John Callcott Horsley for British inventor Sir Henry Cole to send to his friends, we’ve been sharing our feelings without having to say too much. You can see the sentiment in the so-called Vinegar Cards Victorians fed up with all that love and harmony would send at Valentine’s Day, and the rather sadistic trade cards sent by businesses.
So in the spit of revenge being a dish best served piping hot and covered in red sauce (you hope it’s cranberry but it might be blood), we’ll kick off the festivities with this card of two turkeys, a side of talking meat and a Christmas pudding with a face stuffing a human into the oven. D’lish!
Merry Christmas to one and all!
You can, as ever, buy lots of lovely greeting cards in the shop.
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