THE HISTORY OF VALENTINE CARDS European Valentines 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 first was written in 1415, by a Frenchman, Charles, Duke of Orleans, who was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Charles wrote romantic verses for his wife from the prison tower. The oldest "valentine" now in existence, a poem written by Charles, is in the British Library in London, England. Paper valentines were especially popular in England. Early valentines were made by hand and were made with colored paper, watercolors, and colored inks. During the 17th century, people made valentines using original verse or sentimental poems copied from booklets called "valentine writers." In the early 1800's, valentines began to be assembled in factories. Early manufactured valentines were rather simple- black and white pictures that were painted by workers in a factory. But by the 1830's and 1840's fancy valentines were made of fine papers and decorated with satin ribbons, and lace. They had pictures of turtledoves, lovers' knots in gold or silver, bow and arrows, cupids, and bleeding hearts. Here's a valentine verse from the 1840's: "This Valentine's Day, to the church let's away;
No longer I'll wait, let us marry.
You promised, dear maid, that you would be mine,
If I, till today, would tarry." Valentines were especially popular in England during Victorian times. On delicate lacey paper were hand-painted cupids, birds, flowers, hearts, and darts with chiffon, silk, satin, tule, or lace. Novelty valentines might include a tiny mirror, an envelope, a puzzle, or a lock of hair. They often were scented with perfume, and the handwriting was a thing of beauty. In the 1840's the first mechanical valentines were introduced. By pulling a tab, a figure or object on the card could be made to move. Some had elaborate honeycomb pop-outs or various other three-dimensional features. Purchased valentines became the most popular way to declare love during the early decades of the 19th century. Miniature works of art, the cards were usually hand painted and were often lavishly decorated with laces, silk or satin, flowers (made from the feathers of tropical birds), glass filigrees, gold-leaf or even perfumed sachets!
American Valentines The English brought the idea of exchanging Valentines to America in the 1700's. Valentine writers produced booklets with verses and messages which could be copied onto gilt-edged letter paper or other decorative sheets. One popular writer contained not only "be my valentine" type verses for men to send, but also acceptance or "answers" which women could return. Early American valentines were hand-made. They sometimes were embroidered on fabric. They often had pictures of doves, hearts, flowers, or Cupid. Printed valentines began in the early 1880's. Stores sold paper featuring roses, Cupids, flowers, or beautiful women. People pasted them on paper or paper lace and added their own messages. In the early 1840's, printed valentines became very popular. During the Gay Nineties valentines were adorned with spun glass, mother-of-pearl, imitation jewels, tassels, or silk fringe. "Vinegar valentines" were comic valentines with unpleasant but humorous messages. Valentines for kids became popular in the early 1900's. They often reflected popular sports or fads. Today, American school children usually celebrate St. Valentine's Day with a party at school. Before the party, the children each make a decorated box with a slot in the top. During the party the children distribute valentines to their classmates' Valentine's boxes. | 
