History of the Valentine's Day Card
Re-Gifting Old Valentines is Green and Chic!
Behind Christmas, Hallmark lists Valentine's Day as the second largest card-giving holiday.
What better way to celebrate than to look at the history of the valentine card and to re-gift an old valentine card. Yes, with our Green economy, it is now okay to re-gift, especially old Valentine's Day cards!
Since it's meager beginnings in the Middle Ages, the valentine has sparked love and visions of Cupid all over the World.
Please sit back and relax and enjoy this website as you peruse some beautiful cards that have been used throughout the last two centuries.
You may find an old one buy & give to your love and there may be a bit of fun for you in here also!
Enjoy!
Origin of Valentine's Day Cards
Valentines date back to the Middle Ages and lovers either recited them or sang them. One of the oldest physical valentines is in the British Museum. In the beginning, the paper valentine was first used in Europe where they were exchanged in lieu of valentine gifts.
Since the early 19th Century, valentines were made in factories and by the beginning of the 20th Century, valenties were mostly made in factories by printing presses or machines. Fancy valenties originated in the mid 1800's and many were made with lace and ribbons to go along with the Victorian era and the ornate way of doing things.
Esther Howland has been attributed with the first published and printed valentines in the United States and one of those is pictured below.
Valentines have skyrocketed in sales ever since!
1850 - This is One of the First Valentines in the USA - Attributed to Esther Howland
1887 Valentine - Attributed to Charles Whitney of Worcester, Massachusetts
"Some love lasts a lifetime. True love lasts forever."
Unknown
Late 1800's Die Cut Valentine of a Heart
1899 Valentine with Angels, Birds and Flowers
Early 1900's Valentine with a Depicition of a Simpering Miss
Early 1900's Fantastic 3D Foldout Valentine
Let Frank Sinatra Serenade You While You Browse - My Funny Valentine
Early 1900's Card of a Woman with Cherubs - A rare depicition from this time period with a baby of African-American descent
Early 1900's Dog Valentine Card
"The Eskimos have 52 words for snow because it is so special to them; there ought to be as many for love!"
Margaret Atwood
1909 Valentine with Cherubs and a Heart
Paul McCartney Croons "My Valentine"
1910 Valentine of Woman Holding Heart and Flowers
1910's Kewpie Doll Valentine
1910's Valentine - My Dearest Miss
"My Valentine" by Martina McBride and Jim Brickman - Let's all go to the Lobby!
1920 Valentine - Attributed to Charles Twelvetrees
1920 Mechanical Valentine of a Girl in a Vase
"If love is great, and there are no greater things, then what I feel for you must be the greatest."
Unknown
1920's Mechanical Valentine of a Girl in Short Shorts
1920's Mechanical Valentine of a Girl With a Gun
"Valentine" by Jessie Ware & Sampha
1920's Mechanical Valentine of a Boy on a Rocking Horse
1920's Mechanical Puppy Valentine
If You Don't Want to Re-Gift an Old Greeting Card, Here Are Some Cool Recylcing Ideas - Recycle old greeting cards for household items
1920's Valentine Greetings Card
1920's Valentine of a Girl on a Swing
"To love another person is to see the face of God."
Les Miserables
1920's Valentine of a Girl in a Fancy Dress
1920's Valentine Card of Two Cupids Playing with Your Heart!
"Valentine" by Maurice Chevalier - 1925
1930's Policeman Valentine
1930's Shirley Temple Inspired Mechanical Valentine
"Valentine" by Nils Lofgren - Wonderful Guitar Solo in Cologne, Germany
1930's Mechanical Valentine of a Boy in a Boat
1930's Mechanical Apple Valentine
1940's Hot Dog Valentine
St. Valentines Day Massacre - Not everything about Valentine's Day has been pleasant
1960's Valentine of a Boy on the Moon - This is the type of Valentine that I remember
