Thanksgiving Greetings for Cards

1910s

In Hallmark’s early years, the turkey illustrations were traditional and so were the sentiments.

The turkey was almost as big as the young chef presenting it in this early Thanksgiving postcard.

Overeating must have been just as much a part of the Thanksgiving tradition early in the 20th century as it is in the 21st.

1920s

Wonder what the turkey thought about the breaking of the wishbone…

1930s

Better hurry! That turkey isn’t going to last long…

Instead of a turkey, a little birdie shares Thanksgiving wishes in this Depression-era greeting.

1940s

This hearty bird offered very formal best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving.

A turkey-riding elf brings Thanksgiving wishes to a secret pal.

1960s

Greetings to a nephew feature a more casual and cartoonish gobbler.

Groovy Tom Turkey suggests sending out for a pizza in this contemporary-style greeting.

1970s

Too cute to eat was this friendly gobbler.

1980s

“He wanted to send you a Thanksgiving card with a picture of a woman in a skimpy bikini. I wanted to send you one with a picture of a cute funny animal. So we compromised, ” reads the front of a card with a bikini-clad bird.

1990s

T-shirts tell the story of a turkey’s ideal Thanksgiving.