Exchanging holiday greeting cards became widespread during the nineteenth century. A more educated middle class and the growth of the postal service as people migrated are just two of the reasons. Christmas time seemed like a natural opportunity to share good will in the form of a cheerful missive.

Holiday card designers bring that tradition to a new level with a whole range of vintage Christmas greeting cards. With such a long history you might think designers would’ve run out of designs long ago. Not so. One Christmas card may feature an early nineteenth century graphic design. Another might be as ‘modern’ as a movie theme from the late’50s. Creativity is neverending.

The Vintage Whimsy Christmas Photo Card is an excellent example. It adapts the artwork of the late nineteenth century/early twentieth century, featuring delightful scrollwork. The design might have been seen on a mansion gate. Or, it could have been used for furniture of the period. That flexibility reaches a new peak, thanks to the inclusion of three image areas where you place your favorite photos to complete the card.

We tend to think of vintage designs as ornate. But those motifs can range from simple to complex. Sometimes, both may be found on the same card. The Holiday Hoedown Card design is a good example. It might sound like it was designed for a southern holiday dance, but the nineteenth century scrollwork is classic. Fine art transcends geography. Add your photo and demonstrate that to all your friends and family.

That vintage artwork gets another lovely treatment with the Joyful Strokes Christmas Photo Card design. A simple line drawing becomes a more complex motif and culminates in a simple word - “JOY” - at the center. But the emotional center of this lovely design is sure to be the outstanding photo you choose to share with friends and family.

Proving how intricate and varied the vintage theme can be, the Fanciful Flowers Holiday Greeting Card presents a delightful combination of old and new. A floral graphic combines with splashes of symmetric snowflakes in holiday red and white. The photograph of your family that occupies the left half fits in perfectly. Some things are simply timeless.

The term “vintage” doesn’t always mean “long past”. The Festive Film Holiday Greeting Card design is based on sprocketed film of the sort used in classic films from Hollywood’s Golden Age of the ’40s and ’50s. Your photos fit in three of the film frames, with a fourth reserved for your holiday greeting. Let your family star and send one of these cards to all their fans.

Holiday card designers have selected from and adapted over 150 years of graphic design to create unique vintage Christmas cards. Far from copying the past, they’ve created timeless holiday greetings that are sure to become keepsakes. Take a look and see why…

Looking to buy christmas cards online? Select from joyful, fun, warm and unique personalized vintage christmas cards at greetingchristmascards.com.