The Frog’s a Flatterer, I Fear – Victorian Christmas Card

A wonderfully weird Victorian Christmas card featuring a rather forward frog courting a visibly flattered duck, while his considerably more respectable - and fully dressed - amphibian companion looks on, cane in hand, beneath the greeting Wishing You a Happy Christmas.

Dating from 1881, this delightfully absurd design by J. B. Boyle & Co. pairs its unlikely romantic encounter with the verse: “The frog’s a flatterer, I fear, the fond bird’s heart is beating. But I am heartily sincere in sending you this greeting”. Whether his gentlemanly companion approves of the proceedings is less clear, but the scene is a wonderful example of the surreal humour found in 19th-century Christmas cards.

Carefully restored from the original Victorian card, the design preserves the colour, character and wonderfully peculiar details of the period artwork.

- Blank inside for your own message
- Deep green envelopes included
- 5 × 7 in (12.7 × 17.8 cm)
- Fully printed front and back

A little piece of Christmas history

Turn each card over to find the title and approximate date of the original Victorian design, together with a framed detail from the artwork. The fully printed backs have been individually designed to complement each card.

Together, the five cards offer a glimpse into the wonderfully eccentric world of Victorian Christmas greetings - sometimes charming, sometimes funny and occasionally rather unsettling.

Printed in rich colour on silk-finish art card, giving the original illustrations depth and vibrancy while retaining their vintage character. Each card comes with a deep green envelope, chosen to complement the rich reds, aged creams and period colours of the artwork.

Printed in the UK using eco-friendly toner on card made from sustainably sourced pulp and produced as part of the Carbon Capture Programme.

Also available: as part of curated sets of five and ten cards.