National Book tokens were the brainchild of Harold Raymond, who dreamed them up after a disappointing Christmas in which, of the presents received by his friends and family, only three were books. He came to the conclusion that the main difficulty people faced when giving a book was the fear of getting the wrong one - a fear he assumed did not “apply equally to cigarettes or powder puffs”. Tokens solved the problem; 80 years later, his invention is still going strong Photograph: National Book Tokens
Although conceived during the 1920s, the first book tokens weren't issued until 1932. This early token, worth 21 shillings (around £12.50 today), takes its illustration from a 1909 picture of the Scottish town of Culross by the artist Sir Muirhead Bone - explicitly literary illustrations were a later development Photograph: National Book Tokens
The advent of the second world war saw advertising for book tokens, now into their second decade, concentrating on books' ability to comfort and sustain Photograph: National Book Tokens
The pen and ink illustration on this token issued just after the war evokes a magical, rural England in keeping with the spirit of hope that suffused the country in the wake of the war years (another token from the era shows the end of blackouts) Photograph: National Book Token 1948National Book Tokens
The 1950s was the American decade: the US economy boomed, industry expanded and consumerism took centre stage. The cowboys-and-Indians illustration on the front of this token reflects the cultural fascination that the US exerted on the UK, which was itself only just emerging from rationing Photograph: National Book Tokens
The progressive spirit of the 60s - which opened with Harold Macmillan’s ‘Wind of Change’ speech and ended with Armstrong and Aldrin walking on the moon - weren't reflected in the designs of the book tokens of the time, which tended to hark back to an idealised pastoral yesteryear Photograph: National Book Token Adverts
While some of the book tokens of the 70s showed space rockets and fast cars, this beautiful picture of an owl is more traditional (but nowadays looks far less dated) Photograph: National Book Tokens
Postman Pat first graced our television screens in 1981, and made an appearance on the front of a book token in 1985, emphasising both the tokens' connection with children, and their practicality as long-distance birthday presents Photograph: National Book Tokens
In the decade of globalisation, mobile phones and the internet, this token promotes the pleasures of a more peaceful activity Photograph: National Book Tokens
Eight decades after the first book token was issued, the organisation launched its first electronic gift cards. The technology has moved on but the idea remains the same: giving someone the gift of a book of their choosing. Happy birthday, National Book tokens! Photograph: al Book Tokens
