Valentine’s Ephemera Collectibles

by admin January 25, 2022

Vintage valentine postcard cupid 1 3c041a094e2b2249dc75264db192a3aa — Early Valentine’s ephemera often includes beautiful graphics, like this cupid postcard, perfect for displaying during the holiday.

Valentine’s Day is celebrated each year by sending messages of love and gifts to family, friends, and significant others. This time-worn tradition has taken place for centuries. What better way to honor those expressions of love sent long ago than to display them in your home leading up to the holiday.

Vintage cards can be displayed on a table or shelf by mounting them in pin flower frogs or stringing them on twine using clothespins or clips to create a garland. Then, drape the garland on a wall or across a mantel.

Love letters, cards, and cardboard candy boxes sent to celebrate Valentine’s Day are considered ephemera. Most vintage ephemera are paper materials originally meant to be discarded after use but have since become collectibles. Purchasing and showcasing early Valentine’s ephemera brings recognition to surviving items and is a creative way to observe the holiday.

LOVE LETTERS

Although officially declared a holiday by Pope Gelasius during the end of the 5^th century, Valentine’s Day didn’t represent a celebration of love until centuries later. The first documented hand-written love letter referencing the holiday was sent in 1415. It contained a poem composed in French by Charles Duke of Orleans to his wife, which he sent while imprisoned in the Tower of London. The oldest surviving Valentine’s letter written in English was penned by Margery Brews to her fiancé John Paston in February 1477. The love letter describes John as her “right well-beloved Valentine.”

The earliest Valentine’s love letters still existing today came from European lovers during the Victorian period. The practice of hand-writing and sending love letters on Valentine’s Day flourished until the mid-20^th century.

Early Valentine’s love letters contain poetic verses of endearment, expressions of fondness, romantic memories, marriage proposals, and, sadly, declarations ending a relationship. Since most Valentine’s love letters were mailed to their recipient, the envelope may have a postage stamp (a bonus for you stamp collectors). Festive ways to display your vintage love letters include framing and hanging them on a wall or placing them in a protective sleeve to showcase them inside a glass cabinet.

GREETING CARDS AND POSTCARDS

Vintage feb 1921 valentines day 1 ee66783eec3bfd8e08eff57d9751c34f — Some early Valentine’s cards were 3-dimensional with a foldout honeycomb design, like this 1921 version with an adorable boy and girl.

In the 18^th century, handmade Valentine’s cards were exchanged with loved ones. Mass-produced Valentine’s greeting cards were introduced in the early 19^th century. Exchanging Valentine’s greeting cards with classroom friends became popular in the United States during the mid-20^th century. The most sought-after Valentine’s cards are from war eras, such as the Civil War and World Wars I and II.

Although rarely used today, during the mid-19^th to mid-20^th century, Valentine’s postcards were purchased, addressed, and sent to loved ones in celebration of the holiday. Early Valentine’s cards mostly contain images of hearts, flowers, birds, butterflies, animals, ribbons, cupids, children, men, or women.

Besides the beautiful graphics, some early Valentine’s cards contain poetic messages by well-known poets like Robert Burns and Walt Whitman. Others had a humorous or even offensive spin on their Valentine’s greetings, often called vinegar valentines.

HEART-SHAPED CHOCOLATE BOXES

Lot vintage valentine heart shaped 1 274aba4f0bd2071bade2db171b19ca44 — Vintage heart-shaped chocolate boxes came in various sizes and colors. Most included embellishments, and others contained an image printed directly on them. This grouping includes both examples.

In 1824, John Cadbury began selling tea, coffee, and drinking chocolate in Birmingham, England. In 1847, he partnered with his brother Benjamin to start Cadbury Brothers. Shortly after sons Richard and George took over the business in 1861, Richard introduced the first box of chocolates called the “Fancy Box.” The chocolate box was such a success Richard decided to make a heart-shaped one and marketed it for Valentine’s Day in 1868.

Before long, other chocolatiers released their own heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates for sale leading up to Valentine’s Day. Then, during the 1920s, U.S.-based Russell Stover introduced their heart-shaped boxes, which today still include the “Red Foil Heart” and the “Secret Lace Heart.” Russell Stover has since become the leading boxed chocolate brand in America.

Vtg kings candy co red flowers 1 bfac06fff0389dac806763091c5d16a1 — Like this vintage King Candy Company chocolate box, many early heart-shaped boxes are embellished with trimmings such as ribbon, lace, rickrack, and silk flowers.

Fortunately, many of these early heart-shaped boxes survived. Once the chocolate was gone, consumers saved the cardboard box as a keepsake for storing mementos. Some fun ways to display your heart-shaped box is to prop it on a shelf or hang several together in a grouping to create a colorful gallery wall.

AFFORDABLE VINTAGE VALENTINE’S DÉCOR

Vintage Valentine’s ephemera is generally inexpensive to purchase, making it an economical choice for Valentine’s Day décor. These paper goods made to use and throw away somehow survived to be used again for holiday display. The best place to find early Valentine’s ephemera is at online markets. Often the items are sold online in lots, so it’s easy to have an instant collection at an affordable price.

Karen Weiss is a freelance writer and enjoys decorating her home with vintage finds from her many collections. She also has an Etsy shop called SimplePatinaFinds.

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