Library of Congress, Christmas Cards 1860-1913
Christmas cards didn’t become common on the American
frontier until the late 1800s. Before that, sending a holiday greeting was a
luxury. Paper was expensive, printing was limited, and mail service could be
unreliable.
When cards did appear in territorial towns, they were often:
- Simple printed cards
- Winter imagery, children, birds, trees
- Purchased from a general store or sent from back East
Many people still preferred handwritten letters, postcards, or notes tucked into packages. Receiving a Christmas card wasn’t just festive. It was proof that someone, somewhere far away, was thinking of you.
On the frontier, a small card could mean connection, comfort, and hope during a lonely season.
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