Valentine's Day Card

Verses and Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, when lovers said or sang their valentines. Written valentines began to appear after 1400. The oldest "valentine" in existence was made in the 1400's and is in the British Museum.

Paper valentines were exchanged in Europe where they were given in place of valentine gifts. Paper valentines were especially popular in England. Early valentines were made by hand and were made with colored paper, watercolors, and colored inks.

There were many different types of handmade valentines, including:

Acrostic valentines: had verses in which the first lines spelled out the loved one's name.

Cutout valentines: made by folding the paper several times and then cutting out a lacelike design with small, sharp, pointed scissors.

Pinprick valentines: made by pricking tiny holes in a paper with a pin or needle. creating the look of lace.

Theorem or Poonah valentines: designs that were painted through a stencil cut in oil paper, a style that came from the Orient.

Rebus valentines: verses in which tiny pictures take the place of some of the words. (an eye would take the place of the word I).

Puzzle Purse valentines: a folded puzzle to read and refold. Among their many folds were verses that had to be read in a certain order.

Fraktur valentines: had ornamental lettering in the style of illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages.

In the early 1800's, valentines began to be assembled in factories. Early manufactured valentines were black and white pictures that were painted by workers in a factory. Fancy valentines were made with real lace and ribbons, with paper lace introduced in the mid 1800's. By the end of the 1800's valentines were being made entirely by machine.

In the early 1900's a card company named Norcross began to manufacture valentines. Each year Hallmark displays its collection of rare and antique valentines at card shops around the country. Museums and Libraries also offer antique valentine exhibitions around St. Valentine's Day.

You can design and 'send' your own personalized Valentine's Day card to your loved one......
Create a Valentine's Day card or send one of our free Valentine's Day eCards.

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src

08:43 02/19/2008

 

the story was ok but I did think why have a website on this when you just ask someone the story ...... perhaps are parent of some kind or our friends what they thought about it

chealse

14:54 02/18/2008

 

theres always a lover there always a winner but my v-day chance just got thinner

torrie

10:07 02/15/2008

 

I think valentine day is great I got lots of stuff from my family I'm turly loved my all my family

johnathan mcgravy

09:19 02/15/2008

 

wow this a cool website.. sike

anitha

08:04 02/15/2008

 

its fragrance 2 heart

yass

01:49 02/15/2008

 

im alone who give me a yellow rose

Chase

14:10 02/14/2008

 

wow! i have a good vday!!

Zebu

13:51 02/14/2008

 

Love, Love & Love

Milly

13:35 02/14/2008

 

Have a good day everyone!

wynona

13:16 02/14/2008

 

suzy, happy day valenties day fine thankyou