If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 490

 

 

 

 

Valentine postcard, illustrated by C. Licht, ca 1913

 

Who doesn’t like to get a box full of Valentines?  These unused, reproduced cards date from between 1900 and 1920.  The one above has an illustration by C. Licht.  I found it, and the others shared this week, in the small shop, Laughing Elephant, where they make re-prints of many vintage cards, books and posters. 

 

 

Valentine, ca 1912

 

According to history.com, Americans probably began exchanging handmade Valentines in the early 1700s.  By the mid 1800s mass produced Valentines were being sold commercially.  Some had decorations of lace and ribbons.

 

 

Valentine illustrated by Ellen Clapsaddle, ca 1912

 

Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the 14^th of February.  As a holiday it most likely originated prior to the death of any one of the three Christian martyrs called St. Valentine, and was associated with the Roman fertility celebration, Lupercalia, held on February 15th.  Lupercalia was deemed un-Christian by the end of the 5^th century and hence outlawed by the Catholic Church.  About the same time, Pope Gelasius declared the 14^th of February as St. Valentine’s Day.  

 

 

Valentine, ca 1914

 

 It was not until much later, in the middle ages, that it was believed that the beginning of birds’ mating season began around the 14^th of February.  That idea helped reinforce the idea of the holiday as a day of romance.  As early as the 1400s people were sending written love notes on St. Valentine’s Day.  The earliest Valentine love poem in existence today was written in 1415 by Charles Duke of Orleans to his wife when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.  That note is now part of the British Library collection in London, England.

 

 

Valentine, undated, ca 1910

 

During the early 1900s, when postcards were at their most popular period, cards such as the ones shared this week were a common Valentine’s greeting.  Today regular greeting cards have mostly replaced this type of postcard.

 

 

Valentine, ca 1910

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day

https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2