Raphael Tuck & Sons
Encyclopedia
In a little shop in Bishopsgate over a century ago, began a business that would have an artistic effect on most of the civilized world. Raphael Tuck and his wife Ernestine worked together in their little shop that opened in October 1866 on Union Street in London, and the influence of that event was to be felt on two continents. During The Blitz
the company headquarters, Raphael House, was destroyed including the originals for most of their series. The company never recovered.
Three of the four sons participated in the firm established by their father. Their second son, Adolph
, was chairman and managing director of Raphael Tuck and sons, Ltd. until his death on July 3, 1926. He was created a baronet on July 19, 1910 (see Tuck Baronets
). The Tuck coat-of-arms features a shield with a flaming antique lamp above which are two hands in the attitude of prayer, with two crossed F’s in a circle at the lower part of the shield. The crest shows a seated lion supporting an artist's palette whereupon is inscribed the work “Thorough". The Tuck motto inscribed on a ribbon below the shield is “Cum Deo”.
Raphael had received training in graphic arts in his home country; and, although he was not an artist himself, he had a flare for commercial art that prompted his interest in this new field. Upon coming to England, he caught the imagination of the public in such a way that he was able to create a new graphic arts business. He was so successful at it that, according to the “The Times”, he “opened up a new field of labor for artists, lithographers, engravers, printers, ink and paste board makers, and several other trade classes”.
In 1880, son Adolph launched a nationwide contest offering 5,000 pounds in prizes for the best Christmas card designs. Over five thousand paintings were said to be have been entered in the contest. Entries were displayed in the Dudley Galleries and vast crowds visited the exhibition. Over 2,500 pounds was spent in buying entries and launching the Christmas card industry as an annual custom throughout the world. Both amateur and professional artists submitted entries for the close scrutiny of the judges. Literary merit was also considered with Grant Allen serving as judge of appropriate texts. Marcus Stone headed a committee of well known artists in the selection of the designs.
Tuck’s continued to run very successful postcard competitions through the early 1900s with the focus changing to collectors of Tuck postcards rather than the artists whose work was depicted. The top part of the 1903 Tuck Exchange Register pictured above announces the second of Tuck’s prize competitions which began in 1900. The prize competitions aroused much interest. The first contest winner turned in a collection of 20, 364 cards over the 18 month duration of the contest. The second prize competition winner submitted 25, 239 cards. In 1914 the fourth prize competition was announced. The competitions were a novel and effective marketing technique.
Although the Tuck firm did some black and white printing in their London offices, the majority of color work was contracted for in Germany, Raphael’s home country. This is evidenced by the printed (or chromographed) in Bavaria, Germany or Saxony inscribed on the majority of the early Tuck postcards.
The greatest period of expansion of the Tuck firm came under direction of Adolph who had joined his father in 1870. Gustave and Herman soon followed their brother in 1871. Adolph became managing director, which included control of the art department. Gustave directed the book and calendar departments, while Herman handled the financial end of the business.
Around 1880 the company moved again, this time to Coleman Street with a branch in Chiswell Street. Tuck established offices in Paris, Berlin, Montreal and New York. The Paris branch opened in 1882 and the New York office opened in 1885. An early advertisement in the June, 1886 issue of “The Art Amateur” offers “4 fanciful and 4 dreamy studies from Fairyland after celebrated originals by W. S. Coleman” being on display “at all Art Stores” and at the Tuck office at 298 Broadway, New York. The Broadway office is thought to be Tucks first American branch. Later, in 1900, the firm moved to 122-124 Fifth Avenue. The 1903 “Collector’s Exchange Register” lists the Fifth Avenue address as the American headquarters for Tuck sales and activities.
In 1883, Queen Victoria granted the firm the Royal Warrant of Appointment. Tuck cards thereafter bore the message, “Art Publishers to Her Majesty the Queen”. Future sovereigns continued the warrant of appointment.
In 1895 Ernestine died and Raphael’s health began to fail. As stated, the firm first established in Union Street (now Brushfield Street), Bishopsgate. During the late 1800s, the Tuck firm occupied various quarters in City Road and Coleman Street. In 1888 Raphael laid the cornerstone of a splendid building on the corner of Moorfield and Tener Street. On July 6, 1899, Raphael House was completed and officially opened. This imposing, five story, Victorian structure was built of Portland and monk’s Park stone, red brick and white glazed brick
Raphael House enabled the Tuck firm to consolidate their various offices and departments that had spread throughout various Parts of the city. In addition to the administrative offices, the new building provided adequate space for eight functioning departments: Card Department (Toy-Books, Gift-Books, Booklets); Birthday Book Department; Educational Department; Wall Text and Scripture Motto Department; Engraving Department; Chromo, Oleograph, and Art Study Department; Relief and Art Novelty Department; and Show-Card Department. These Tuck departments attest to the fact that the Victorian age was the age of printed pictorials that took shape by means of the various printing and engraving processes.
was created for Adolph Tuck. He died in 1926 and was succeeded as 2nd Baronet by Reginald, his eldest son. Soon after that Gustave retired and the business was left in the hands of Sir Reginald and Desmond.
Yet again, war broke out, and on the night of December 29, 1940, the Nazis poured tons of bombs on London. By morning, Raphael House was shell and rubbish. Records of seventy-four years and 40,000 or more original pictures and photographs by the best artists were in ashes. In spite of having to start over, the company was soon making great progress.
Sir Reginald Tuck died in 1954, and Desmond continued the business until 1959 when he retired. The company combined with two others to become the British Printing Corporation, (renamed British Printing & Communications Corporation in 1982 and finally Maxwell Communications Corporation
in 1987), which was originally located only a short distance from where the first shop of Ernestine and Raphael Tuck once stood.
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
the company headquarters, Raphael House, was destroyed including the originals for most of their series. The company never recovered.
History
Raphael was married to the former Ernestine Lissner in March 1848. She gave birth to seven children, four boys and three girls, -all born in Prussia prior to their migration to England. As the family of seven children grew, the children provided more help to the business. Raphael sent out his sons, Herman, Adolph and Gustave to bring in more business. Herman and Adolph also went on selling trips, and at the end of the day they would check the results of the days work. The one with the higher sales would have the bigger egg next morning for breakfast.Three of the four sons participated in the firm established by their father. Their second son, Adolph
Adolph Tuck
Sir Adolph Tuck, 1st Baronet , more commonly known as Adolph Tuck, was a British businessman and chairman of Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd. He was created a Baronet in 1910 ....
, was chairman and managing director of Raphael Tuck and sons, Ltd. until his death on July 3, 1926. He was created a baronet on July 19, 1910 (see Tuck Baronets
Tuck Baronets
The Tuck Baronetcy, of Park Crescent in St Marylebone, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 19 July 1910 for Adolph Tuck. He was Chairman and Managing Director of Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd., makers of Christmas cards, picture postcards, et cetera. The Tuck family is...
). The Tuck coat-of-arms features a shield with a flaming antique lamp above which are two hands in the attitude of prayer, with two crossed F’s in a circle at the lower part of the shield. The crest shows a seated lion supporting an artist's palette whereupon is inscribed the work “Thorough". The Tuck motto inscribed on a ribbon below the shield is “Cum Deo”.
Raphael had received training in graphic arts in his home country; and, although he was not an artist himself, he had a flare for commercial art that prompted his interest in this new field. Upon coming to England, he caught the imagination of the public in such a way that he was able to create a new graphic arts business. He was so successful at it that, according to the “The Times”, he “opened up a new field of labor for artists, lithographers, engravers, printers, ink and paste board makers, and several other trade classes”.
In 1880, son Adolph launched a nationwide contest offering 5,000 pounds in prizes for the best Christmas card designs. Over five thousand paintings were said to be have been entered in the contest. Entries were displayed in the Dudley Galleries and vast crowds visited the exhibition. Over 2,500 pounds was spent in buying entries and launching the Christmas card industry as an annual custom throughout the world. Both amateur and professional artists submitted entries for the close scrutiny of the judges. Literary merit was also considered with Grant Allen serving as judge of appropriate texts. Marcus Stone headed a committee of well known artists in the selection of the designs.
Tuck’s continued to run very successful postcard competitions through the early 1900s with the focus changing to collectors of Tuck postcards rather than the artists whose work was depicted. The top part of the 1903 Tuck Exchange Register pictured above announces the second of Tuck’s prize competitions which began in 1900. The prize competitions aroused much interest. The first contest winner turned in a collection of 20, 364 cards over the 18 month duration of the contest. The second prize competition winner submitted 25, 239 cards. In 1914 the fourth prize competition was announced. The competitions were a novel and effective marketing technique.
Although the Tuck firm did some black and white printing in their London offices, the majority of color work was contracted for in Germany, Raphael’s home country. This is evidenced by the printed (or chromographed) in Bavaria, Germany or Saxony inscribed on the majority of the early Tuck postcards.
The greatest period of expansion of the Tuck firm came under direction of Adolph who had joined his father in 1870. Gustave and Herman soon followed their brother in 1871. Adolph became managing director, which included control of the art department. Gustave directed the book and calendar departments, while Herman handled the financial end of the business.
Around 1880 the company moved again, this time to Coleman Street with a branch in Chiswell Street. Tuck established offices in Paris, Berlin, Montreal and New York. The Paris branch opened in 1882 and the New York office opened in 1885. An early advertisement in the June, 1886 issue of “The Art Amateur” offers “4 fanciful and 4 dreamy studies from Fairyland after celebrated originals by W. S. Coleman” being on display “at all Art Stores” and at the Tuck office at 298 Broadway, New York. The Broadway office is thought to be Tucks first American branch. Later, in 1900, the firm moved to 122-124 Fifth Avenue. The 1903 “Collector’s Exchange Register” lists the Fifth Avenue address as the American headquarters for Tuck sales and activities.
In 1883, Queen Victoria granted the firm the Royal Warrant of Appointment. Tuck cards thereafter bore the message, “Art Publishers to Her Majesty the Queen”. Future sovereigns continued the warrant of appointment.
In 1895 Ernestine died and Raphael’s health began to fail. As stated, the firm first established in Union Street (now Brushfield Street), Bishopsgate. During the late 1800s, the Tuck firm occupied various quarters in City Road and Coleman Street. In 1888 Raphael laid the cornerstone of a splendid building on the corner of Moorfield and Tener Street. On July 6, 1899, Raphael House was completed and officially opened. This imposing, five story, Victorian structure was built of Portland and monk’s Park stone, red brick and white glazed brick
Raphael House enabled the Tuck firm to consolidate their various offices and departments that had spread throughout various Parts of the city. In addition to the administrative offices, the new building provided adequate space for eight functioning departments: Card Department (Toy-Books, Gift-Books, Booklets); Birthday Book Department; Educational Department; Wall Text and Scripture Motto Department; Engraving Department; Chromo, Oleograph, and Art Study Department; Relief and Art Novelty Department; and Show-Card Department. These Tuck departments attest to the fact that the Victorian age was the age of printed pictorials that took shape by means of the various printing and engraving processes.
Death
Raphael Tuck died on March 16, 1900. He did not live to see the postcard blossom into the popular form of social communication that it became just a decade after his death. He did have the vision and that vision was passed on to his sons in good Jewish custom. Adolph and his brothers continued to expand the business after Raphael’s death.The Business After Raphael Tuck
1909 through 1914 saw continued growth of sets and Series including the Postcard Painting Books and Picture Postcard Puzzles. The sons of Adolph Tuck, Reginald and Desmond continued the business their grandparents had started. With the advent of World War I, they volunteered for military service. In 1910 the Tuck BaronetcyTuck Baronets
The Tuck Baronetcy, of Park Crescent in St Marylebone, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 19 July 1910 for Adolph Tuck. He was Chairman and Managing Director of Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd., makers of Christmas cards, picture postcards, et cetera. The Tuck family is...
was created for Adolph Tuck. He died in 1926 and was succeeded as 2nd Baronet by Reginald, his eldest son. Soon after that Gustave retired and the business was left in the hands of Sir Reginald and Desmond.
Yet again, war broke out, and on the night of December 29, 1940, the Nazis poured tons of bombs on London. By morning, Raphael House was shell and rubbish. Records of seventy-four years and 40,000 or more original pictures and photographs by the best artists were in ashes. In spite of having to start over, the company was soon making great progress.
Sir Reginald Tuck died in 1954, and Desmond continued the business until 1959 when he retired. The company combined with two others to become the British Printing Corporation, (renamed British Printing & Communications Corporation in 1982 and finally Maxwell Communications Corporation
Maxwell Communications Corporation
Maxwell Communications Corporation plc was a leading British media business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
in 1987), which was originally located only a short distance from where the first shop of Ernestine and Raphael Tuck once stood.
External links
- Database of Raphael Tuck and Sons Postcards
- Wikimedia Commons Category: Raphael Tuck & Sons
- History of Raphael Tuck and Sons at emotionscards.com
- History of Raphael Tuck and Sons at henrywimbush.co.uk