A gift beyond words... since 1932
First conceived in the 1920s, National Book Tokens started life in 1932 when Harold Raymond, a publisher, noted with dismay that, of the innumerable Christmas gifts received by his friends and family, only three were books.
He questioned the "capacity for giving pleasure" of many of the presents received, commenting that surely a book is more welcome a gift than a "hatpin, ornament, photo frame…or ashtray".
His conclusion was that the chief difficulty people found when giving a book was the fear of getting the wrong book, a fear he assumed did not "apply equally to cigarettes or powder puffs".
More than 90 years later, his invention is going strong, helping people across the UK and Ireland to share their love of books with friends and family, happy in the knowledge that they have chosen a gift worth giving.
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'An appreciation of a token', The Guardian Life & Style
Lucy Mangan, writing in The Guardian to celebrate the 75th anniversary of National Book Tokens in 2007, reflected on the 'charming origin' of the gift cards we know and love today.
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'80th anniversary: book tokens through the decades'
To mark the 80th anniversary of National Book Tokens in 2012, The Guardian celebrated with a look at the way in which the tokens have changed over the decades, from the 1930s to the present day.
ReadOur gift cards
National Book Tokens are the only gift cards accepted in all major bookselling chains and independents across the UK and Ireland, including Waterstones, TGJones (previously WHSmith), Eason, Dubray Books, Blackwell's, Foyles, and all good indies.
Designed by booklovers for booklovers, our range of gift cards designs and products offer something for every reader, and for every occasion.
We're proud to support the National Year of Reading
If you're into it... read into it! In 2026, every adult, young person and child are invited to Go All In – to discover how reading can make the things you already love even richer.
