Valentines Day is one of the earliest ‘special’ days to be celebrated with the sending of Greetings Cards. So as my small collection of Victorian Christmas Cards were so well received, I thought that I would dig out a few of my early Valentine Cards to amuse you. The first is very traditional in style, intricately cut out to resemble lace, dated about 1880 and as it is so very fragile I am surprised it is still in one piece (or just about)……
Most Valentines Cards of that era were in fact just that…flat cards, with an image on the front and some times a verse on the reverse, but mostly blank for the sender to write their very own personal message. This card from the 1900’s did include a verse……
May there be no Measure
To your Happiness To Day
Blossom of Pure Pleasure
May it Grow upon your way
May there be no Bounding
Of To Days Horizon Fair
Save the Bright Surrounding
Of the Sunny Prospect There!
The Card is Raphael Tuck and the verse credited to EDEN HOOPER
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Whilst many were simple and traditional illustrations of love tokens and flowers……..
Others took the form of a pretty picture…….
or even a cartoon style evoking a supposed Shakespearean style…..
In the early 1900’s war loomed on the horizon and Valentine Cards took on another more sombre aspect to reflect the moment. Military Illustrations and a plaintiff verse on the front, were accompanied by a much more poignant verse on the reverse encouraging both partners to be bold and brave as he heads off with his comrades to serve his country…..For a great many it was to be a last farewell
On a more cheerful note……….Happy Valentines Day to you all
I hope you have enjoyed this little historical trip back to Victorian times.
14th February
© David Oakes 2013
All cards from the David Oakes – Images Card Collection ©
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 
Happy Valentines Day to you David, my photo blogging friend!
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We are supposed to keep ‘our Valentines’ a secret….well that was the tradition in days of old. Now it seems as if the bolder the brasher the better! have a good day.
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Happy Valentine Day to you too dear David, these are so beautiful, I loved them. Thank you, love, nia
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We never had this tradition before, but this was entertaining.
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The giving and receiving of ‘Love Tokens’ goes way back over very many centuries. The token varied between cultures but carved wooden gifts were a popular one. In Wales they took the form of intricately carved wooden spoon’s. I guess it was the cheap paper alternative that brought tokens to the wider population…and of course turned it into a very commercial business.
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I haven’t sent a greeting card for decades, – not to anyone 🙂 and I’m still alive!
Valentines day and Halloween has becom substitutes for an extra Christmas or a celebration day only serving the ones in the gift trades.
But I did buy my wife some roses, not because it was Valentines day, but because I love her!
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and so you should…..and not just on St Valentines Day!
Although high jacked by commercial enterprise Vatentine’s love tokens go way back before print and paper.
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A wonderful collection of cards. Happy Valentine’s Day.
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What a great collection, hope you had a great day 🙂
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Great collection of cards!!! Hope you have a good Valentine’s Day!!!
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The beautiful fuchsias card is my fave; they describe a richness that, I guess, love is meant to be! Love is Heaven….I like that! However, to put a kybosh on that idea, I received a photocard a while ago from a family member in Germany which shows a rather unhappy looking couple, with the saying “Don’t marry, Be happy”….hmmm!!
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Romance has gone!
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Nice collection of old cards!
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