The festive season will be upon us very shortly and that joy or burden of Christmas card writing will be upon us shortly. Blame Henry Cole and his artist associate John Calcott Horsley who lived at the Orestone Manor in Torquay!

This particular Christmas story has its roots in 1843 to be exact. Henry Cole (later to become Sir Henry Cole) was a very busy man, working in the Public Records Office in London, that busy he didn't have the time to write to all his family and friends at Christmas time.

In 1840, he asked well known artist John Calcott Horsley to design a card with a message on it, which he could send to people. The card shows the feeding and clothing of the poor on each side, and in the centre there is a happy family having a drink and enjoying Christmas festivities.

'A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year To You' were printed on the card and the tradition has persisted until this day.

The card was so popular that in 1843, one thousand of the cards were produced for commercial sale at a 12 pence each - making it the first recorded mass production Christmas card.

Not everyone approved of course, the Puritans objected to the picture as it portrayed an alcohol toast, but this did nothing to dampen the favor the card found. This card really marked the start of the commercial card era, although in Europe hand drawn cards were already in existence for some time.

Henry Cole was later knighted for this work helping to org anise the Great Exhibition in 1851. He was also a founder member of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London the following year. .

Mr Horsley contributed drawings to Punch, and was rector at the Royal Academy, having a successful and moderately famous life.