Hallmark introduced its first Christmas cards in 1915. The company, founded by Joyce Hall in Kansas City in 1910, initially built its business selling picture postcards.
A 1915 fire destroyed much of the Halls’ inventory, encouraging Joyce and his brother Rollie to buy printing equipment and produce their own greeting cards. Their new Christmas cards were designed for mailing in envelopes, giving senders more privacy than postcards.
A common mix-up is confusing 1915 with 1928. Hallmark began printing the Hallmark name on the back of its cards in 1928, helping establish the brand identity that became famous. Christmas cards themselves are much older: the first commercial Christmas card is generally associated with England in 1843, decades before Hallmark entered the market.