1910 Valentine [reproduction]
Valentine's Day is coming up next Tuesday. These three Valentine postcards shared this week are reproductions of original Victorian postcards from 1910 and 1911. They were printed by Laughing Elephant, a small local printing shop that specializes in reproducing Victorian cards, books, and art prints.
When this card was issued in 1910 it was only 6 years after the Wright Brothers first flight at Kitty Hawk. That makes the airplane depicted, without the cupid, hearts and flowers (of course), a state of the art, most modern plane of that time period. Even though the poem suggests that the plane is flying as a super high rate of speed, planes of this era probably went 60 mph or less. In comparison, commercial passenger airliners today fly between 500 and 600 mph.
Ca 1911 Valentine [reproduction]
This second Valentine also has an airplane theme. Information on the reverse gives the date as approximately 1911. Perhaps a newer model than the plane shown on the top card? No illustrator’s name is credited, although the initials G. H. can be seen at the lower right corner on the front of the card. There were several artist-illustrators who used G.H. as a signature during the early 1900s.
The third card, seen below, has an illustration by Ellen Hattie Clapsaddle. She was a prolific postcard and greeting card illustrator. A few of her postcard illustrations have previously appeared as Thursday postcards. Some of her artwork was used for advertising, calendars, paper fans, porcelain goods, and on trading cards. She is credited with over 3,000 souvenir postcard designs.
Valentine card with design by Ellen Clapsaddle, ca 1910
[reproduction]
Happy Valentine’s Day!
For additional information, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Clapsaddle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine’s_Day
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