ALL AROUND | Life & times

OLD HOUSE RESTORATION VIDEOS- Historic Valentine’s Day Cards

by bungalow101 | ALL AROUND, Life & times | 0 comments

Historic Vantines Day cards A $14 billion dollar a year industry, the history of Valentine’s Day is both sweet & rather scary. It has long been a wonderful holiday for me. I can remember the Valentines that we shared in grade school, the sweet, beaming 50’s children & the corny rhymes.

My mother & I collected historic Valentine’s Day cards from the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s. The box of them from when I cleared her apartment remains on the top shelf of my closet, unopened after 5 years.

But, I still love love & I still love Valentine’s Day, though its origins are a bit unsavory, so I thought I’d share some entertaining information, a fun love song from the 1920’s, a darling Victorian craft project & show you some cards that were so insulting that they were immediately destroyed!

LET’S ENJOY SOME HISTORIC VALENTINE’S DAY CARDS!

Someday You’ll Say ‘O.K!.-Arthur Fields Assassinators (3:47)
Bigband Lou

A charming 20’s song by a determined suitor.

History of the Holidays: History of Valentines Day (3:17)
History

Some interesting & slightly horrifying history!

DIY: Victorian Puzzle Purses (9:39)
Your Juliet

I had to include this delightful how-to for a person at any skill level. Victorian Puzzle Purses were designed to fascinate & engage with their intricate construction & hidden compartments. Unfortunately, you do not see a finished piece until you are well into the construction so you might want to slide ahead to see what

A brief history of (charming and mean) Valentine’s cards
Victoria & Albert Museum (16:08)

I love this museum & find everything that they produce to be illuminating & charming. Their sampling of historic Valentine’s Day cards is exception!

Sending Love: Valentine Greetings 1900-1910 (1:15:22)
Ridgewood Public Library

A more in-depth look at the holiday with some beautiful historic valentine’s day cards examples. The intro is way too long. I encourage you to scan to 3:30 to get started. The video ends with a sampling of “Vinegar Valentines,” very rare because the recipients usually destroyed them!