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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-12-02, Page 25THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1987. PAGE 25. ^Nortfi Huron Gift Guide When Sir Henry Cole, founder of Britain’s Victoria and Albert Mu­ seum, commissioned the first Christmas card back in 1843 he had little reason to believe he was starting a tradition that would continue to grow nearly a century and a half later. The first Christmas card was simple, a hand-colored litho­ graphy that read “A merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You ”, cost one shilling and was a commercial failure. Fortunately, the idea didn’t die, and today the tradition of exchang­ ing Christmas cards has spawned a multimillion dollar industry in Canada alone. According to indu­ stry leaderCarltonCards, more than 600 million cards were sent or given in Canada last year. Both the cards themselves and the sentiments expressed have gone through a series of changes over the years. “Many early Christmas cards were nothing more elaborate than writing paper decorated with Christmas symbols, ” says Bar­ bara Huard, Senior Product Man­ ager at Carlton Cards, “and later cards were sold in sheets of 12 that had to be cut out and hand finished by the sender.’’ But it was the fashion of mounting Christmas cards in albums that changed the design of the cards in the 1860’s. The picture became all-important and the verses and greetings transferred to the back. The result was a folded card, a look that became standard for cards around the world. “It wasn’t until the British established a halfpenny postage rate for cards sent in unsealed envelopes in 1870 that Christmas cards really caught on,” explains Ms. Huard. “But once they did, the custom grew so quickly that within lOyearsthe British Post­ master General had to issue “Post Early For Christmas” warnings. No one appreciates the “early nature’’ of the Christmas card­ giving business more than the people at Carlton. While consum­ ers may just now be thinking about holiday festivities, the production facilities at Carlton’s three Ontario plants were humming with Christ- Continued on page 26 Decorator CANDLES______________25 MICROWAVE OVENS [As Low As] I Ow All Full Size r"”/\ MICROWAVE OVENS____50 Selected Models of JI fl CLOCK RADIOS_________4U Philips EDVideo Cassette Recorder_OU M.T.C. ■■■ Video Cassette___________5 Philips monitor style 20” Remote Color T.V. JI Color T.V___________omy 459 MANY OTHER IN-STORE SPECIALS "We're a Bly th Buck Participating Store!” EVERYBODY WINS! FROM NOW UNTIL CHRISTMAS ANY PURCHASE OF $20. OR MORE ENTITLES YOU TO A DRAW FOR AN INSTANT WIN! PLUS... Your name goes in for our Christmas Eve Draw for: 1st, A Sharp Ghetto Blaster; 2nd, A Clock Radio; 3rd, A Decorator Candle [your choice]. Book NOW for Christmas and New Year’s COMPLETE LADIES' & GENTS' HAIRSTYLING Turnberry St., Brussels 887-6751 5 IjIjIJV cunp