New Year showcase | The National Archives

With Christmas over, it’s time to celebrate a new year. Our small sample of New Year greetings cards give a splash of welcome colour during the darker days of winter.

Indulge in winter sports such as curling or ice-skating to work off any extra pounds. Warm yourself up with a shot of whisky and celebrate Hogmanay and Burn’s night with this popular tipple. The National Archives holds many whisky advertising posters and labels among other themes. Such advertising material was registered under various Copyright Acts between 1842 to 1912 and is held in The National Archives under the record series COPY 1.

Our online bookshop is selling a set of six coasters featuring our whisky labels. Any profit from gifts featuring our images is reinvested back into The National Archives, to help continue our vital work.

Other party-related illustrations held here include a design for a cork screw and an advert for mineral water for the health-conscious – or those on a detox!

So wrap up, keep warm and a Happy New Year to all!

A Happy New Year card, 1875
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/new-year/copy1-29-a-happy-new-year-card-robin-1875.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/29
'Cold is my name...' riddle card, 1879
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/new-year/copy1-47-cold-is-the-name-1879.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/47
Hen and cat New Year card, 1879
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/new-year/copy1-47-new-year-card-hen-and-cat-1879.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/47
Strathgillan scotch whisky label, 1894
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/new-year/copy1-114(ii)-(29)-strathgillan-scotch-whisky-label-1894.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/114 (ii) (29)
A Happy New Year to You, 1876
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/new-year/copy1-33-a-happy-new-year-1876.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/33
Carruthers mineral waters, 1899
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/new-year/copy1-152-(93)-carruthers-mineral-waters-1899.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/152 (93)
Curling, 1901
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/new-year/copy1-180-(166)-curling-1901.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/180 (166
Lady with handwarmer
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/new-year/copy1-181-(183)-handwarmer.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/181 (183)
The Wee McGregor scotch whisky label, 1903
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/new-year/copy1-208a-(231)-the-wee-mcgregor-scotch-whisky-label-1903.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/208a (231)
Skaters on Craiglockhart lower pond Edinburgh, 1907
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/new-year/copy1-508-(17)-skaters-on-craiglockhart-lower-pond-edinburgh-1907.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/508 (17)
Corkscrew design, 1842-1843
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/new-year/bt43-1-(1913)-corkscrew-design-1842-1843.jpg
Catalogue reference: BT 43/1 (1913)
Black bottle scotch whisky, 1904
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/new-year/copy1-221-(316)-black-bottle-scotch-whisky-1904.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/221 (316)

This is just a selection. Contact licensing@nationalarchives.gov.uk for more image solutions.

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A Happy New Year card, 1875Catalogue reference: COPY 1/29'Cold is my name...' riddle card, 1879Catalogue reference: COPY 1/47Hen and cat New Year card, 1879Catalogue reference: COPY 1/47Strathgillan scotch whisky label, 1894Catalogue reference: COPY 1/114 (ii) (29)A Happy New Year to You, 1876Catalogue reference: COPY 1/33Carruthers mineral waters, 1899Catalogue reference: COPY 1/152 (93)Curling, 1901Catalogue reference: COPY 1/180 (166)Lady with handwarmerCatalogue reference: COPY 1/181 (183)The Wee McGregor scotch whisky label, 1903Catalogue reference: COPY 1/208a (231)Skaters on Craiglockhart lower pond Edinburgh, 1907Catalogue reference: COPY 1/508 (17)Corkscrew design, 1842-1843Catalogue reference: BT 43/1 (1913)Black bottle scotch whisky, 1904Catalogue reference: COPY 1/221 (316)