Sending 'greetings' has been a method of keeping in touch, or letting someone know your sentiments, for hundreds of years.  The ancient Egyptians may have been the first to send greetings written on papyrus.  It's also possible that the ancient Greeks recorded their sentiments on scrolls and, in Europe, during the Middle Ages correspondence was via hand written letters. However, the first commercially produced greetings cards were made by Henry Cole, a British businessman, in 1846.  He produced a printed Christmas card to send to his friends and business associates.  People were so delighted with his idea that it quickly caught on, so much so that by the 1860s Christmas cards were being mass-produced.  Cards for different occasions were developed and as printing processes became more efficient so the mass-production of cards became easier.

Even today, with emailing, texting, twitter, etc, sending a card for a special occasion, or just to say 'Hi', has that 'personal' touch that other forms of communication lack.  Choosing a card means you took the time to select something that you thought the recipient would appreciate.  It is something tangible that can be held by the recipient, shown to others, kept forever in an album or put inside a picture frame to be admired.  Despite all the new technology greeting cards will be around for a long time to come!