Metairie-The Jefferson Parish Library's East Bank Regional Library will be host to a display of vintage Christmas cards from the collection of Greg Livaudais. The Christmas card display, "A Look at Vintage Christmas Cards, " begins with examples from early European publishers such as Marcus Ward and Co., Raphael Tuck & Sons, S. Hildesheimer, and W. Hagelberg. The display then turns to the early American publishers: Louis Prang, A.M. Davis, Rust Craft, Hallmark, Gibson, and Buzza. Continuing through the 1950's, various popular Christmas themes are presented, such as floral designs, children, animals, angels, nativity, snow scenes, stagecoaches, sleighs, Santa Claus, and more.

Mr. Livaudais began collecting Christmas cards in 1995 after visiting an antique shop on Magazine Street where he found cards that reminded him of the ones his grandmother used to display at Christmas. His collection now includes more than 4,000 cards dating from the early Victorian period to the present.

Christmas cards began in Europe, when in 1843 Sir Henry Cole of London commissioned John Calcott Horsley to design a Christmas card with a single message that could be duplicated and sent to all those on his long list. Any extras were to be sold to the public. This card is known as the Cole-Horsely card, none of which are currently in Mr. Livaudais's collection. The earliest dated card in Mr. Livaudais's collection is an 1876 card by Louis Prang and Co. of Boston. Prang, known as The Father of the American Christmas Card, first started publishing Christmas cards in the United States in 1875.

Mr. Livaudais created a web site that takes users through the history of the development of Christmas cards decade by decade. The website address is http://www.livaudaisnet.com/xmas.htm.

Information about current and future collections being displayed at the libraries is available on the Jefferson Parish Library's website at http://www.jefferson.lib.la.us, or from Jim Davis, Library Information Specialist, by phone at (504) 838-1100 at the East Bank Regional Library Headquarters.

The Cards on Display. Click thumbnail to view larger image
	Main Lobby Hallway Display
	Closeup of Main Lobby Display
	Display at Special Collections
	Children's Section Display
	Front Hallway Display

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