Games - Love at Play!

 You Can't SKIP me - Be My Valentine.

3 1/2" x 3 1/2"
circa 1920s
Flat

Gee Valentine - I don't SEE why you won't be mine!

4 1/8" x 4 1/2"
circa 1950s
Fold-Out
made in USA

 All Out But You My Valentine.

3" x 2 3/4"
circa 1920s
Appears to be referencing the end of choosing teams or some such as in "eeny meeny"

Flat 

 The GRIPPING TRUTH I want you for my Valentine.

3 1/8" x 3 1/2"
circa 1930s
Flat
made in USA 

 Guess Who - wants you for a Valentine?

4" x 6 1/8"
circa 1940s
Mechanical Flat
made in USA

 VALENTINE IS PLEASED TO PRESENT 

 NEW AND RECENT DRAWINGS BY 

DAVID HUMPHREY AND JAMES SIENA

 OPENING FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30 FROM 6-9

                WITH EVA SCHICKER AND LOIE HOLLOWELL IN THE SMALLER ROOMS

        GALLERY HOURS ARE FRIDAY-SUNDAY FROM 1-6

      THE EXHIBIT RUNS THROUGH DECEMBER 23

Maker: A-Meri-Card

 Can't you hear me CALLING YOU, Valentine

3 5/8" x 7 1/2"
circa 1950s
Fold-Out
by A-Meri-Card
marked: L-187
made in USA

A-Meri-Card is a trademark now owned by American Greetings. The earliest filing date I could find for the trademark by American Greetings is January 11, 1960. American Greetings did not originate A-Meri-Card themselves. Over the years they purchased numerous smaller card companies (like Rust Craft which it purchased in 1982) to become second only to Hallmark in size. 

I'm Parking Right Here Until You Say Yes My Valentine.

3 1/4" x 3 3/4"
circa 1950s
by A-Meri-Card
marked: 113
Flat
made in USA

There are clearly cards with the A-Meri-Card name on them that date prior to this registration. There are many cards with that mark from the 1950s, with a few possibly dating to the 1940s. We have come across an A-Meri-Card with a handwritten date on it of 1939, but it is possible that the date is mistaken. American Greetings kept the line active to some degree up through at least the 1980s. The bulk of the cards I have come across appear to be from the 1950s or 1960s. 

I got my EYE on you my Valentine.

4 1/4" x 4 5/8"
circa 1950s
Mechanical Flat
made in USA
by A-Meri-Card
marked: p-202

A booklet of punch-out party favors called The Birthday Party Cut-Out Book dating to 1947 has the A-Meri-Card trademark on the punch-out pieces, but also has markings indicating it was printed by A.C. Co. - aka the American Colortype Company. There is also a small boxed set of cards we have come across that have A.C. Co markings on the box with a set number while the cards contained in the box all bore the A-Meri-Card trademark and the same set number on them. So it would seem the trademark possibly originated as a line for the American Colortype Co.

Of special interest are their cards that fold-out and stand to form wonderful little three dimensional scenes. The variety of this style card made by A-Meri-Card seems endless, providing quite a challenge for any collectors wishing to have an example of each.

We have many A-Meri-Card valentines in other categories too. Use the search box in the upper left corner - enter in "a-meri-card" - to see other posts with A-Meri-Card cards pictured.

 Jack of Hearts ~ I'm a bold, bad man - a scamp, you've heard; (I stole a tart or two,) "Cause I love tarts and my Queen of Hearts, so, now I'm telling you. Today I'll be a worser scamp! I'll steal more than a tart! For my own Valentine, Today, I'll steal my Queenie's heart.

5 3/4" x 4 7/8" (4 7/8" x 11 1/2" opened)
circa 1950s
Single Fold
marked: 0-5596
A-Meri-Card

Be Mine! You're the APPLE of my eye - Dear Valentine.

3 1/2" x 8" opened
circa 1950s
Fold-Out
by A-Meri-Card
made in USA
marked: P-142

My Valentine If wishes were fishes I'd wish for YOU!

3" x 4 5/8"
circa 1950s
Mechanical Flat
A-Meri-Card
marked: P-189

I've got my eyes on YOU My Valentine.

3" x 4 5/8"
circa 1950s
Mechanical Flat
A-Meri-Card
marked: P-189

Maker: Rust Craft

Don't Purr around me unless you mean it.

3 3/8" x 4 1/2"
circa 1930s

A cat rubs against a wary dog
Flat
by Rust Craft
marked: 5V79

I don't know what to call you - But I'd like to call you MINE!

3 7/8" x 4 7/8"
circa 1920s, 1930s
Flat
by Rust Craft

For Son ~ With love and happy greetings, this valentine will bring A special thought to wish you the best of everything!

5" x 4 7/8" (5" x 9 3/4" opened)
circa 1940s, 1950s
French Fold
Rust Craft
marked: 25VF458

For a dear NIECE on Valentines Day ~ To a sweet little Niece Who has a way Of growing sweeter Every day!

6" x 4"  (6" x 8" opened)
dated 1952
Single Fold
 marked: 10VF4413
 Copyright MCMLII
 Rust Craft Boston, U.S.A.

Sailors - Love from Sea to Sea

My Little Sweetheart My heart is whole; my fancy free; Are you inclined to mate with me?

8 3/4" x 5"
circa 1910s, 1920s
 Standing Flat
 by Ernest Nister/EP Dutton
marked:No. 1241
printed in Bavaria

To tell you that I like you Gobs and Gobs, dear Valentine!

3 1/2" x 6"
circa 1920s, 1930s
Flat
by Carrington
 'A' in tree logo

To My Valentine Two hearts but one love - be mine.

2 1/2" x 4 1/8"
dated 1940
 Flat
 made in USA

 Valentine sighted Will she be mine?

2 5/8" x 4 5/8"
circa 1930s, 1940s
made in USA

Flat

A Romantic guy, I! Aye! Aye! Be My Valentine!

4 3/4" x 8 3/8"
circa 1930s
Flat
made in USA

I'm anchored to your heart - Love - Tie up with me.

4 5/8" x 3"
circa 1930s, 1940s
Flat
made in USA

"It was the best of times..."

New Paintings and Artifacts by Summer Wheat         

     “There is a woman who works at a trolley tour office. She sells paper tickets and does the accounting with a worn-down pencil. Her husband works two jobs, in factories, one at night and one in the daytime, and he steals a few hours at home between his labors. Every morning, this woman rises at 3:45 am, in the dark and draws a bath for her husband. When he arrives, she wraps his swollen feet in hot towels and he sinks into the bath – every day. This is a love story. We draw baths and tend wounds.

Opening Friday October 26 from 6-9

Valentine is open Friday through Sunday from 1-4 and by appointment

This exhibit runs through November 18

Valentinegallery.blogspot.com

Rain or Shine - I've Got You Covered! Umbrellas on Valentine Cards

To One I Love.

3 3/8" x 3 5/8"
circa 1920s, 1930s  
  Flat
   marked: Printed in Germany
Embossed Detailing
   

To my Valentine. 

3 1/4" x 5 1/2"
circa 1920s
Flat with Easel Stand
marked: Germany
by Charles Twelvetrees

Gee, I'm lucky to have a Valentine like you. 

2 1/2" x 3 5/8"
circa 1930s
Flat
marked: Printed in Germany

I'm ready for a SHOWER of love from you my Valentine.

6 3/4" x 5 3/8"
circa 1930s, 1940s
  Flat with Easel Stand
 by Carrington
made in USA
marked: "E" in tree logo

To My Valentine

5" x 5"
circa 1930s 
Flat 
 marked: printed in U.S.A

To My Love.

2 3/4" x 4 5/8"
circa 1920s
Standing Fold-Out
marked: printed in Germany

To my Love

3" x 5 1/2
dated 1933
Flat
German Made
with easel stand

I'm expecting sunshine - (the sunshine of your smile) My Valentine

8 1/2" x 5 1/4"
circa 1920s, 1930s
flat
by Carrington
'C' in tree logo

Valentine greetings ~ Now here's my chance, I could not say These words in any other way. Of all the folks I ever saw, You're just the one I'm looking for.

4" x 2 1/4" (4" x 4 3/8" opened)
1920s
Single Fold

If I could share a date with you Valentine I wouldn't feel so blue.

5 3/4" x 4 3/4"
dated 1938
Fold-Out
made in USA

4 Who Paint

Lauren Collings 
Barbara Friedman 
Gili Levy 
Shelley Marlow

Opening Friday September 14th 6-9 
The Exhibit Runs Through October 14th 

Royalty - Ruling Hearts in the Court of Love

Won't you be my Queen of Hearts? My Valentine.

2" x 5"
circa 1930s
Flat
made in Germany

Be my Valentine! You're the RULER of my Heart!

2 1/2" x 5 1/2"
circa 1950s
Flat
made in USA

We should be KING and QUEEN of Hearts - It's in the Cards

3 7/8" x 7 1/8"
circa 1950s
Mechanical Flat
marked: made in USA