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Sunday, February 12, 2012

Valentine Cards by Paty Jager



According to a website on Valentine history the first valentines were either sung or verbalized in the Middle Ages. In the 1400’s the first written Valentine was recorded and can be found in the British museum. It was written romantic sentiments to Charles, Duke of Orleans’s wife while he was detained in prison.

A booklet known as the “writer” came to America in the 1700’s. This was a booklet of poems and verses that could be copied onto fancy paper to make valentines for a loved one. Some would contain return messages that the “sweetheart” or woman would return to the man.
   
Paper valentines became popular in the early 1800’s in England.  This is when they were manufactured in numbers and sold. Esther Howland, an artist and printer, began making American Valentines in 1850. A popular valentine in America in 1860 was the “ Daguerreotype” . This was a card with a tintype likeness in the center surrounded by a wreath. During the Civil War, cards with flaps like tents were popular with a soldier behind the flaps.

In the Victorian Era, when the postage to send a letter was a penny, more valentines were sent by mail.  They had previously been hand delivered.  

I have a short flash fiction Valentine story at http://romancefromthegenre-istas.blogspot.com/ I did the above research to write the 1500 word flash fiction short story titled Heart of Gold.


19 comments:

  1. I enjoyed hearing how the Valentines came to be. My hubby remembers every now and then, but I always like to fix him something special on the day. My daughter is the one who sticks hearts everywhere in her home, including on the bathroom mirror. Not sure her hubby is ready for all the little things she leaves around the house for him, but he is a good sport. :)

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  2. Thanks, this was very interesting. I love my gooey cards my husband gives me every year. Marian

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  3. What wonderful information on how Valentine's cards began. Enjoyed your post, Paty. This Valentine's Day we are going to a movie and then out for desert!

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  4. Paty, I read your story and loved it! As usual, you've done your research. :)

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  5. Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

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  6. This was very interesting, Paty. Thank you for the information!

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  7. I'm always fascinated by where things like this come from, and it's good to see someone doing good research :)

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  8. Paisley, When the kids were young I made heart shaped pancakes for their breakfast and had heart-shaped cookies or brownies for dessert. But with them gone, I get y hubby a card and make him a heart shaped brownie or chocolate chip cookie.

    Marian, Cards from hubbies are great! I always tell my hsuband if you do nothing else at least take the time to pick me out a card.

    Thanks Diana. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Have fun on your Valentine date!

    Thanks, Sarah. Glad you liked my story.

    Thanks Patricia, you too!

    You're welcome, Gerri!

    Thanks Icy. I have to know things before I write about them.

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  9. My husband always remembers to give me something special on Valentine's Day. I'm hoping it's not candy, as we both need to lose weight.

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  10. I love Valetine's day. But I didn't think far enough ahead before getting laid up with foot surgery. My son and five-year old grandson got taken care of...but never got that festive onesie gotten for my new baby grandson. Oooh, and looks like hubby might get left out, too. YIKES. ooxox

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  11. Caroline, I keep thinking this year when I really don't need candy that will be the time when my hubby decides to get me some. LOL

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  12. Tanya, Wishing you a speedy recovery and a wonderful Valentines. I'm pretty sure your family will forgive you if you didn't get as many valentine gifts as you'd hoped.

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  13. Loved your story, Paty! I won't to read the rest of it now. Please tell me there is an entire novella or novel behind this.

    I've always loved Valentine's Day as a child. It was a time every person in class would receive several valentines and feel that they were cared for--at least as a friend. I think that tradition helped me to be a more caring person in general.

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  14. Love to look at the old-time Valentine cards. Very nice! Viola

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  15. Hi Maggie,

    Yes, the full story will be coming soon to my blog and website. Thanks for stopping in!

    Hey Viola! It was good talking with you on Saturday. Thanks for checking out my post.

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  16. I heard Esther's name linked with Valentine cards before...glad she got involved!
    Happy Valentine's Day!

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  17. Thanks for stopping in Marianne! And Happy Valentines to you too!

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