12-22-2023, 09:02 PM
The first recorded Christmas card was sent by the alchemist Michael Maier to James I of England and his son Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales in 1611. This discovery was made by our very own Adam McLean at the Scottish Record Office in 1979. The card did not include the now traditional imagery but a simple greeting with the words laid out to form a rose:
“A greeting on the birthday of the Sacred King, to the most worshipful and energetic lord and most eminent James, King of Great Britain and Ireland, and Defender of the true faith, with a gesture of joyful celebration of the Birthday of the Lord, in most joy and fortune, we enter into the new auspicious year 1612”
A very happy alchemical Christmas (or whatever) to you all and have a great 2024!
“A greeting on the birthday of the Sacred King, to the most worshipful and energetic lord and most eminent James, King of Great Britain and Ireland, and Defender of the true faith, with a gesture of joyful celebration of the Birthday of the Lord, in most joy and fortune, we enter into the new auspicious year 1612”
A very happy alchemical Christmas (or whatever) to you all and have a great 2024!