Vintage Valentines

Every so often I browse through vintage cards and postcards at antique shops and flea markets. They're so unique and beautifully designed! I came across some vintage Valentines just the other day and decided to find out a little more about the history of Valentine-sending. Here's what I learned...

• The first printed paper Valentines were made in the U.S. around 1840; however, handmade Valentine's Day cards were given long before that. In Europe, printed Valentines started selling in the late 1830's.
• The earliest Valentines were sealed with wax and hand-delivered. If the card was intended to be anonymous it was left in a special place for the recipient to discover.

• The earliest handmade Valentines included sketches, watercolors, and cutouts, as well as natural elements like bark, feathers, and dried flowers. Scraps of fabric, yarn, ribbon, and locks of hair were also used to decorate the card.

• Three-dimensional stand-up cards and honeycomb paper puffs were popular from about 1895 to 1915.
• Victorian Valentines often featured automobiles, ships, and trains with moving parts and a paper lever to create motion.

Have you made handmade Valentines? Or received any?

Enjoy your Valentine's Day!

Source: About.com, Vintage Valentine Images.