Greeting card

A greeting card is a specialized piece of card stock used to convey human sentiments.

These items usually feature an illustration or a photograph on the front cover. They are made of high-quality paper to express feelings like love, friendship, or celebration. People traditionally use them for major life events. These include weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, baptisms, and baby showers. They are also vital during holiday seasons. Common holidays include New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Beyond celebrations, cards express sympathy, encouragement, or well wishes for someone recovering from an illness.

Greeting cards follow several distinct production styles and formats. A standard greeting card is rectangular and folded. It features a decorative motif on the front and a pre-printed message inside. Senders often use the blank space within to add a handwritten signature or personal note. Some premium cards utilize fancy materials like gold leaf, ribbons, or glitter. Handmade cards include a production stage performed by hand. This category includes items with applique, ribbons, or mixed materials. Some handmade cards are created by amateurs, while others are mass-produced but include hand-finished details.

Specialized mechanical and artistic designs offer even more variety. Pop-up cards create a three-dimensional surprise when the recipient opens them. These designs are inspired by Kirigami, a Japanese art form. Quilling cards use an art form called quilling, where thin strips of paper are rolled into intricate designs. Some cards are even musical or sound-based. They may play traditional songs like "Happy Birthday To You." Some use a Botski, which is a small, sticker-based recording device. This allows users to record specific songs, sounds, or spoken words.

There are also photo cards. A photo insert card uses a pocket or clip to hold a sender's photograph. A printed photo card combines a photograph directly with artwork during the printing process.

Digital and reusable options have also emerged to meet modern needs. Electronic greeting cards, or e-cards, can be sent via email or social media platforms like Facebook. Some companies now provide e-cards as downloadable videos for instant messaging apps like WhatsApp. Printable cards are digital files, often in PDF format, that people print at home or at a shop. For those seeking value, reusable cards offer a budget-friendly alternative. Some have slits to hold new pages, while others use a notepad style. These allow the sender to remove used pages and replace them with fresh ones.

The history of greeting cards stretches back to ancient civilizations. The ancient Chinese exchanged messages to celebrate the New Year. Early Egyptians used papyrus scrolls to convey greetings. By the early 15th century, handmade paper cards were being exchanged across Europe. In 1400, Germans used woodcuts to print New Year's greetings. Handmade paper Valentines also appeared in Europe during the 15th century. The oldest surviving Valentine is held in the British Museum. It was written by Charles, Duke of Orléans, to his wife, Bonne.

The message was written while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Technological shifts in the 19th century transformed the industry. In the 1850s, advances in printing and mechanization made cards affordable. The introduction of the postage stamp also reduced delivery costs. Sir Henry Cole helped launch the modern Christmas card in London in 1843. Later, in the 1860s, Hugh Pierce Jr. invented the birthday card. Mass production soon followed through companies like Marcus Ward & Co. and Charles Goodall & Son. In 1930, the development of color lithography propelled the industry forward. By the 1950s, "Modern Cards" began to compete with traditional styles. This era saw a massive increase in sales and new customers.

The greeting card industry has significant global economic impact. In the United Kingdom, people spend an estimated one billion pounds on cards every year. The average person in the UK sends 55 cards annually. In the United States, the market is even larger. Approximately 6.5 billion greeting cards are purchased each year. This represents a total cost of more than 7 billion U.S. dollars. In the U.S., a single counter card typically sells for between $2 and $4. However, boxed cards are often available at a lower cost per unit. This massive industry helps maintain social connections through shared sentiment.