Louis Prang

Louis Prang (1824 –1909) was an American printer, lithographer, and publisher.  He is sometimes known as the "father of the American Christmas card."  Prang's early activities in the US publishing architectural books and making leather goods were not very successful, and he began to make wood engravings for illustrations in books.  In 1864, Prang went to Europe to learn about cutting-edge German lithography.  Returning the next year, Prang began to create high quality reproductions of major art works.  He felt that chromolithographs could look just as good as, if not better than, real paintings.  The reason Prang decided to take on the challenge of producing chromolithographs, despite criticisms, was because he felt quality art should not be limited to the elite.  Prang also began creating series of popular album cards, advertised to be collected into scrapbooks, showing natural scenes and patriotic symbols.  At Christmas 1873, Prang began creating greeting cards for the popular market in England and began selling the Christmas card in America in 1874.

References: 

•  Bethany Neubauer. "Prang, Louis"; American National Biography Online Feb. 2000. Taber Prang Art Co.

• David Raizman, History of Modern Design, Prentice-Hall