Victorian Standing and Hanging Cards that served as Decorations

No Text.

5 1/2" x 5"
circa 1900s
Hanging Wall Decoration
Woman in Classical Garb
Parchment layer Riveted onto Heavy Card
Unmarked

With Fond Remembrance.

8 3/4" x 5"
circa 1900s
Hanging Wall Decoration
Woman with Daisy
Parchment layer Riveted onto Top Heart
Unmarked

The McLoughlin Brothers, a London-based company (1848-1950) that also had a New York City office, popularized the heavy, sometimes riveted, valentine cards that could be used as home decor.  The layers, attached onto thick backing board, were parchment or celluloid or a mix of the two.  They were often adhered in a way to fold and ruffle or puff out, thus enhancing the 3-d effect created by the layering frequently used in the cards.  

Cupid Ave. Feb. 14th To a Dear Friend - Since time and space Declare I may not meet you send my love and wishes  Thus to greet you.

5 3/4" x 5 3/4"
circa 1900s, 1910s
Standing Display with Easel Stand
Girl in Red Hat
with text inside small envelope (lifts up to open)
Parchment layer Riveted onto Heavy Backing Board
Unmarked

Hanging cards and free-standing ones, those usually with an easel stand attached to the back, could be displayed along side cabinet cards and other knick-knacks of the day. It is common for the ribbons of the hanging style cards to deteriorate while the card itself remains quite intact.

A Gift of Love.

5 1/2" x 5 3/4"
circa 1900s, 1910s
Standing Display with Easel Stand
Text on lower pansies
Unmarked

Wooden Shoe Be Mine? Dutch Themes

Valentine Greetings I've got TWO LIPS to share with you ~ Like you? Why of course I do! I just thrive on liking you! I want to tell you so, what's more! That's what Valentines are for!

4 1/2" x 4 1/2" (4 1/2" x 9" opened)
circa 1930s 
 Modified French Fold
 by Carrington
 'C' in tree logo

 Here's my Valentine.

4 3/8" x 4"
circa 1920s
Mechanical Flat
made in Germany

I'd be in DUTCH if I didn't ask you to be my Valentine.

6 1/4" x 7 3/8"
circa 1940s, 1950s
Flat
marked: 776/7
made in USA

Two Lips (Tulips) for you Valentine.

2 7/8" x 3 3/4"
circa 1930s
Flat
Girl in Wooden Shoes with tulips
Part of a series of cards of figures posed in front of a painting set on an artist's easel
marked: made in Germany

For my Valentine ~ Dutch kiddies look cute, but very queer So I prefer those over here For they are just as sweet - and fine As any foreign Valentine.

2 5/8" x 3 7/8" (3 7/8" x 5 1/4" opened)
circa 1920s, 1930s
Single Fold
Pair in Wooden Shoes with Windmill in Background
Girl with doll
marked: made in USA
Carrington ('A' in tree logo)
H (in a circle) 5009

Be My Valentine ~ Though clouded the sky and storm does whine, In my heart shines love for my Valentine.

9" x 7 5/8"
circa early 1900
by Ellen Clapsaddle
The same figures appearing on this die-cut card can be found on postcards
Card has easel stand on the back the bottom of which is seen above under the heart at their feet.

Your DUTCH TREAT Valentine ~ Right hand - Left hand Which do you choose? I'll take both, please ~ Then I won't lose.  From your DUTCH TREAT Valentine.

4 1/4" x 3 1/2"
Made in USA
circa 1930s
single fold

It beats the DUTCH how much I love you!

circa 1930s/1940s
flat

Be My Valentine.

tent-style stand-up
circa 1920s

You can have my TU-LIPS

Figure in wooden shoes and winged cap
flat

Two-Lips for my Valentine.

4 3/8" x 4"
circa 1910s
Mechanical Flat
made in USA
for Sam Gabriel Co

 Two-Lips for my Valentine.

6 1/8" x 3 3/8"
circa 1910s
Mechanical Flat
made in USA
for Sam Gabriel Co

 Lovin' YOU is now a HABIT - Here's my HEART - Why don't you GRAB IT? Be My Valentine.

4 1/2" x 7 7/8"
circa 1960s
Flat
embossed detailing
made in USA
flat

Be My Valentine ~ Vy should you not my luvings take ven I vuz here for luve's sveet sake.

8 1/4" x 3 3/8" flat
circa 1930s
Fold-Out

 WOODEN SHOE like to be my Valentine?

4 3/8" x 4 7/8"
circa 1930s, 1940s
Standing Fold-Out
bottom folds to form stand

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See Also:

Bernhardt Wall 

Chloe Preston - Page 2

Why dan't someone ask someone to be My Valentine.

9 5/8" 7 7/8"
circa 1910s, 1920s
"dan't" is not a typo, it is the word used
Figure in a tree with lanterns above a Couple

Valentine Greetings ~ To My Valentine In these Blue Forget-Me-Nots, In these Roses too, Read the message Fond and True From my Faithful Heart to you.

5 1/4" x 4 7/8"
circa 1910s, 1920s
Girl and Dog at Fountain

To My Valentine  There may other smiles as sweet And other eyes that brightly shine But none for me can ever be So bright so sweet so dear as thine.

5" x 4 1/8"
circa 1910s, 1920s
Girl with heart by Paper-puff Pillar

To my Valentine In these Blue Forget-Me-Nots, In these Roses too, Read the message Fond and True From my Faithful Heart to you.

7 1/4" x 7 1/4" 
circa 1910s, 1920s
Couple with Umbrellas

Kind and Tender, Fond and True I will always be to you.

8 1/4" x 6 3/4"
dated 1924
Tunnel of Love

To My Valentine.  This little card I Send to you, To tell you I Continue true.

4 3/4" x 2 1/2" x 1 3/4"
circa 1910s, 1920s
Girl with Doll in Front of Fireplace

To My Valentine  My heart is red Your eyes are blue My love for you Sweet and True.

9 7/8" x 7 3/4"
circa 1910s, 1920s
Smoking Man in the Moon with Couple and Dog and Cat below

Preston's cards are made in Germany and feature embossing.  Small tags of text are frequently attached to the paper-puff.  Figures are often accompanied by distinctive cats and dogs.  Her birds are also very characteristic and are regularly included in the rich detailing she creates in her scenes.


You'll find some of the same figures repeated in pull-downs and as walker cards.  Most of the cards I've found that have been hand-dated or in date-stamped envelopes bear dates from the 1920s, with a few from the late 1910s.  As noted on page 1 of Cloe Preston, her cards never bear her signature so they can only be identified via her style of illustration and the type of cards she was fond of creating.

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Click to go to Page 1 Of Chloe Preston Valentine's Day Cards