Raphael Tuck & Sons

Raphael Tuck & Sons
Company type	Private company (until 1959)
Industry	Publishing, Printing, Greeting cards, Postcards
Founded	October 1866; 160 years ago
Founder	Raphael Tuck and wife Ernestine Tuck
Defunct	1959
Fate	Merged into British Printing Corporation
Headquarters	London, England, United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom, International (including Paris and New York branches)
Key people	Raphael Tuck (founder), Adolph Tuck (chairman and managing director), Reginald Tuck, Desmond Tuck
Products	Postcards, Greeting cards, Books, Calendars, Children's books with pop-ups and movable parts
Number of employees	Not specified
Parent	British Printing Corporation (from 1959)

Raphael Tuck & Sons was established in October 1866 by Raphael Tuck and his wife in Bishopsgate, City of London. Initially, they retailed pictures and greeting cards before concentrating on postcards, which became their flagship product line. The firm rose to prominence during the postcard craze of the late 1890s and early 20th century. Unfortunately, their headquarters, Raphael House, along with most original collections, were destroyed during the Blitz, an event from which the company never fully recuperated.

History

Raphael Tuck was born on 7 August 1821 in Koschmin, East Prussia. Trained in graphic arts, he relocated to London in 1864, fleeing the Second Schleswig War. Together with his wife Ernestine, they had seven children who later contributed to the business. To broaden the company’s market presence, Raphael dispatched his sons Herman, Adolph, and Gustave on sales missions.

Among his sons who joined the enterprise, Adolph held the positions of chairman and managing director until his passing in 1926 and was honored with a baronetcy in 1910 (see Tuck baronets). The family’s coat-of-arms represented their dedication to superior quality and craftsmanship.

Utilizing his expertise in commercial art, Raphael Tuck founded a graphic arts enterprise in England that generated substantial employment across related industries. The company gained public recognition through inventive postcard competitions initiated in 1900, which encouraged collector participation and increased sales.

The majority of colour printing was outsourced to Germany, as evidenced by marks such as "printed (or chromographed) in Bavaria," reflecting Raphael’s German heritage. Under Adolph’s direction from 1870 onward, the business expanded swiftly: Adolph managed artistic direction; Gustave supervised books and calendars; Herman was responsible for financial affairs.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Raphael Tuck & Sons innovated with movable books, panoramas, and pop-up designs. Renowned for their superior chromolithography and inventive paper engineering—including pull-tabs and pop-ups—the company produced interactive children’s books that continue to be sought after by collectors.

Raphael House consolidated the company’s previously dispersed offices into eight dedicated departments specializing in cards, books, educational resources, engraving, chromolithography, relief art novelties, and show-cards. A supplementary annex completed by 1925 further augmented their operational capabilities.

1866

Raphael Tuck inaugurated a store on Union Street (now Brushfield Street), Bishopsgate, retailing pictures and frames.

1870

The business relocated to 177 City Road as it expanded into publishing and importing, with Raphael’s three sons joining the firm.

1871

The company issued its inaugural Christmas greeting card.

1880

The firm moved to new premises at 72–73 Coleman Street. Son Adolph organized a nationwide competition offering 5,000 guineas for the finest Christmas card designs. This contest attracted over 5,000 submissions showcased at the Dudley Galleries. The company invested more than £2,500 acquiring entries, helping to establish the Christmas card as a global annual tradition. Both amateur and professional artists entered; literary quality was assessed by writer Grant Allen, while artist Marcus Stone led design selection. That year also saw the application for the company’s renowned trademark, which was officially registered on 2 March 1881.

1882

The company expanded internationally by establishing a branch in Paris.

1893

Queen Victoria bestowed the firm with the Royal Warrant, authorizing the use of the phrase "Art Publishers to Her Majesty the Queen" on their cards. This distinction was upheld by subsequent monarchs. Among their distinguished offerings were tri-fold cards featuring embossed gold leaf and relief embossing, designed in London but produced in Germany.

1895

On 27 December, the business transitioned into a limited company, registering its office at 72 Coleman Street, London. Concurrently, a new branch was launched in New York. During this year, Raphael’s wife Ernestine passed away, and his health began to deteriorate.

1899

Raphael House officially opened on 6 July, situated between Tenter Street and White Street, consolidating all company departments within a five-story building. The inaugural Snowdon experimental postcard titled "View," depicting scenes of London with unique numbering, was created.

1900

At the start of 1900, the company introduced its first 45-card sets showcasing major London landmarks and views of the River Thames. These postcards featured undivided backs, permitting messages to be written alongside the images on the front.

Raphael Tuck passed away on 16 March 1900 at the age of 78. Subsequently, his sons Adolph and his brothers took over expanding the enterprise.

In July 1900, Tuck initiated its first postcard competition, offering £1,000 prizes for those who amassed the largest collections sent through the postal service. The winning participant collected 20,364 cards over an eighteen-month period, significantly contributing to the "postcard boom."

Adolph Tuck’s sons, Reginald and Desmond, inherited leadership of the family business. With the outbreak of World War I, both enlisted for military duty. In 1910, Adolph was honored with a baronetcy; following his death in 1926, Reginald succeeded him as the 2nd Baronet. Gustave retired shortly thereafter, leaving Sir Reginald and Desmond at the helm.

1903

The firm launched its famous "Oilette" series along with the high-end "Proof" series—printed on premium card stock with numbered editions and purchaser registries. Around this period, American cartoonist Richard F. Outcault, creator of Buster Brown, contributed artwork for Tuck postcards.

1906

In 1906, prominent artists added to the portfolio: Lance Thackeray designed sets such as "Amateur Gardening" and "Society Pets," while John Hassall produced illustrations for "Humour of Life."

In February, another contest was held to create the longest chain of postcard collectors associated with public institutions. Rewards included £1,000 for the institution gathering the most cards and £50 prizes for individuals sending cards to that institution.

1914

The fourth competition took place in March and accepted only cards posted after 1 January; victory was awarded to whoever submitted the largest collection. Additionally, a children’s contest called "Father Tuck’s Painting Book Competition" encouraged youngsters to paint perforated cards from a dedicated book.

First and Second World Wars

Despite wartime limitations, Raphael Tuck & Sons sustained consistent production of postcard sets, shifting themes toward patriotic and military subjects such as "The Call of the Flag" and "Prisoner of War."

1940

On 29 December 1940, bombing raids on London destroyed Raphael House along with seventy-four years’ worth of records and more than 40,000 original artworks. Despite this devastating loss, the company rapidly reestablished its operations.

1950

The post-war period brought back numerous staff members, contributing to a resurgence in the company's prosperity. During this time, new offices were inaugurated in London's West End, accompanied by the establishment of a branch in Northampton.

1954

After the passing of Sir Reginald Tuck, his son Bruce assumed the baronetcy but soon departed from the enterprise, resulting in Desmond Tuck assuming leadership.

1959

With Desmond Tuck stepping down, the firm combined forces with two other companies to create the British Printing Corporation, which later evolved into the British Printing & Communications Corporation in 1982 and subsequently Maxwell Communications Corporation in 1987. The new headquarters remained close to the original Tuck store location.

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