Valentines Day book "Friendships Token"

I purchased this book probably twenty years ago at Saint Vincent de Paul when they put out their Valentine's Day collectables.

I have had it all this time and just noticed...

the inscription inside the front cover. It reads

23/12.02

To Miss Tilley May Nelson

with Xmas Greeting

From I. Norton

Inside is this visiting card. One edge, the edge reading "Ever Your Friend" is glued in place, lift the other edge and on the bottom paper is "Geo. I. Norton" printed with a very fancy script.

Even though it was given at Christmas as a Christmas gift it will stay as a Valentine, a token of love.

I have scanned the entire little book, it is in a sad state, the paper is very aged from the acid in the paper and is somewhat brittle; the pages have come away from the cover; the cover is water stained. It is still a lovely book with an interesting past.

Written in fountain pen at the top of the page is...

Maple leaves from Queenston Heights

Niagara Peninsula

Ontario

Yes, there are dry, brittle, pressed maple leaves in the book, between these pages and elsewhere in the book. There are also four leaf clovers between several pages.

Across the bottom of this last page is printed...

London Ernest Lister          Printed in Bavaria 798          New York E. P. Dutton & Co.

I wonder if this was a prelude to a long marriage; I believe it was because this little book was  bought about ninety or so years later in Victoria, British Columbia.

This may not be a Valentine's Day token as I had believed it was but it is part of a love story worthy of Saint Valentine.

Early Valentine's Day Cards

I put all of my antique cards on the top shelf of the buffet, that way they can be seen individually. Most are not in pristine shape but they are lovely to look at.

Starting on the left is this honeycomb clown card, he is delightful.

In front and to the right of the clown is this fold out card, Made in the U.S.A.

I've scanned the back so that words on the inside make sense.

"You'll always find me waiting rain or shine"...

with the inside saying, "Let's travel around together dear Valentine".

There is no country of origin or printer on the large "Affections Offering" Valentine.

Here is the interior of the card.

To the left of "Affections Offering" is this postcard...

and laying in front is this postcard.

All five of these fold out Valentines are made in Germany.

Laying in front is this packet of silver foil doves. They are most likely for wedding cakes and decorations; they are not as old as the cards.

Two fold out Valentines and a postcard; all are printed in Germany.

Here is a better image of the postcard: I love it

The stand-up card of the little boy with the letter J tied to his back has written on it... Don't be a "J" Be My Valentine... I have no idea what "J" means, unless it is saying, "Don't be a jerk"!
Such naughty words from such a sweet little boy!

I have scanned the postcard in behind the naughty little rascal. I love this card as well, the colours are great, not at all romantic but filled with the joy of life, living, and love.

Valentines Day Cards for grown-ups

Well... That blog post title certainly sucks big time. I didn't know what else to put especially when some of the cards shown are to Dad or Mother, cards for lovers is definitely not appropriate!

I just realized that the card to Dad has bachelor's buttons tucked into the red heart, is it a cruel joke or letting him know that yes he is much better off now than when he was single and alone. I suppose we will never know.

Hearts, flowers, and ribbon adorn this long slender card, never mind that the forget-me-nots are the size of hydrangeas. Scale doesn't matter, it is the design and above all the sentiment that counts!

What 1950s mother wouldn't want an apron as glamourous as this little number? This is one of my favourites of the vintage cards. I will probably show you another "favourite card" in a little while.

I am not sure how I feel about this card, it seems to have several different design elements going on at the same time and none are relating that well. I do like the clean crispness of it though. In behind the cut-out circle is a piece of blue fabric with a Valentine's Day seal glued in the centre of the fabric circle.

An absolutely romantic image that a sister would send her brother and his wife. Okay... favourite number two.

The style of this card reminds me of the 1940s, I could be wrong, but the sentiment has also steered me in that direction; a card sent to a soldier by his wife or girlfriend. Am I reading too much into it?

The other Valentine for Mother was young and spoke of family whereas this card speaks of a grown child's love for her or his Mum.

It is interesting that a lot of cards for men to buy for their sweethearts are comic. Does this mean that men are incapable of showing feeling and emotion or is it "Not Masculine" to be romantic? I suppose it really does not matter because the sentiment is expressed.

This card is unique in that the card is finally revealed after the Valentine that it was given to opens each successive envelope.

The poem and the cuddly bear is on the face of each envelope...

another verse is given...

And then you have the choice, there are two envelopes the same size, one is for a married man, the other for a single man to his sweetheart... the envelope for the fellows sweetheart is shown above...

and this is the version for the married man... a simple solution so that this card hits both the married and the unmarried man...

The part of the poem that appears that he has had second thoughts...

only to be shown that he is madly in love with her...

finally...  the card with his heart felt sentiments...

and the clincher that there could be no one else that he would rather be with.

Children's Valentine's Day Cards

Valentine's Day is coming soon, here is a selection of children's cards from my Valentine's collection.

Mum and Dad or Grandma and Grandpa would have given this cute card to the "Sweet little girl" in their lives.

This cute Valentine would have been used for a younger child.

Cowboys and Indians in games, clothing, and television were very popular in the 1950s.

The teacher was not forgotten either; this card is made of parchment paper printed with gold highlights.

I am not certain but this diecut card may be from the 1920s or 1930s.

This card like the rabbit Valentine would have been meant for a young child.

Hand cut from a book of children's Valentines, this bus card is about twice the length shown.

The puns and word play on the children's cards are so corny... and so much fun!

I have scanned this card out flat but it folds in half so that it will stand up and rock back and forth.

It is a sweet card, it reminds me of a cutie that I know.

Here is another card hand cut from a book of Valentines.

I have no idea as to how old this card is, it would have been purchased in a group of die-cut cards with envelopes included.

The comment on the card "I won't be contented until you are my Valentine" is referring to the slogan used by Borden’s condensed milk, “The milk from contented cows”. Elsie, the cow was the mascot on the side of the tins proclaiming this slogan.

The head of this young girl is held in place with a grommet enabling it to move. The card was made in Canada.

It is never "Puppy Love" the first time as you can see from the star struck expression on his face.

I have more tokens of love on the way; so see you soon!