Antique Valentines Cards

Valentine celebrations have evolved from the martyrdom of St. Valentine, a third-century priest, into a romantic exchanging of gifts, notes and cards.
Early valentines were produced in a variety of forms-mechanical, flat, and three-dimensional.

The card below was valued at $350.

From a February 2005 issue of Country Living

This antique valentine dates from the early 1900s and is a three-dimensional chromolithographed card printed on heavy card stock imported from Germany.  The fold-out mechanism allows it to stand alone.
The most sought after cards are ones made by Esther Howland, the McLouglin Brothers, and Raphael Tuck & Sons; all of whom were active during the mid-19th century and collector values range from a few dollars to prices in the thousands.

Clamshell Cottage Vintage