Flaming Heart Spinner Valentine

This itty bitty German valentine, just 3 1/4 inches tall and circa the late 'teens or early '20s, features a "spinner" that gives the effect of a flaming heart in the background. For some reason, the little boy appears to be dressed as a wizard.

Topsy Turvy Valentine

"He loves  me, he loves me not," says this circa 1920 German made Valentine, 5 inches tall. A topsy turvy, the character's facial expression changes when the card is flipped over.

Creepiest Valentine Ever?

From my collection of "Creepy Valentines", of which there are a surprising number historically speaking, comes my vote for Creepiest Valentine Ever: this German die-cut from the 1920s. 

These two little girls seem to be enjoying their pop-up Demon-in-a-Box for Valentine's Day... the only thing I can guess is that this is related to the Krampus, the Germanic black devil figure who accompanies St. Nicholas on his Christmas gift-giving route and acts as his "enforcer". If this is him, I've no idea what he's doing on a Valentine.

And on that note, I'll end this month's Valentine show & tell! 

Hope everyone had a happy Valentine's Day, and if you didn't, well, 

at least no one sent you this.

Scary Teddy Bear Valentine

Here's a 1930s card I found this year that fits nicely into my little collection of "Creepy Valentines." Just what is up with that teddy bear?! He's got "possessed eyes", he's kicked a hole in that heart, and he appears to be attacking that little boy. Does he not like Valentine's Day? Is he related to Chucky of "Child's Play" fame? Who knows..

Creepy Valentine Postcards

These circa 1906 German postcards  were some of the first antique valentines I purchased. I remember thinking how strange, even creepy, they seemed: just what the heck were those cupids doing?! They appeared to be chopping up hearts, painting them with something caustic, and shishkabobing them. Finally an artist acquaintance explained that the cupids were not fiends, but friends: they were repairing a a broken heart by smelting it back together, and "stirring the flames of love" by roasting two hearts over one flame. Whatever, I still think they look creepy.

Cannibal, Snake Charmer, & Devil Valentines

Here's some iconography that would be hard to find in modern children's valentines: a snake charmer, a cannibal stewing a lady, and a devil (although devils still feature in adult valentines). These date to the 1950s.

"Vinegar Valentine": A Lady's Pipe Dream

Here's another "vinegar valentine" from my collection of these insulting postcards that were all the rage in the early 1900s. This one features a fantastic embossed scene of a lonely lady having a Valentine's Day "pipe dream." Dig the monocle and fancy mustaches!

"Vinegar Valentine": A Gentleman's Pipe Dream

Here's a "vinegar valentine" postcard from the early 1900s, featuring a bachelor's "pipe dream". This gently joshing card was sent between friends, and saved in an album for over 100 years before I found it. It's really a beautiful card.

"Vinegar Valentine": 'Tis a Lemon That I Hand You...

Here's a postcard from my collection of "vinegar valentines," sarcastic, sly, or downright cruel cards that people sent to friends (as jokes) or to their enemies (not as jokes). 

These were quite popular in the early 1900s.

This card dates to about 1906, and is one of my favorites. 

Mundane Object Valentines

These little 1920s cards are some of my very favorites, and comprise what I refer to as my "Mundane Objects" valentines. I've found these over a number of years from different sources, but they seem to make a set. Many of the messages inside are puns, and feature a lot of intriguing historical slang. 

The brick reads: "You're a Brick...I'm 'Building Up Great Hopes' That You Will Be My Valentine"; "the pie: "If I Only Had the Crust...I'd Ask You To Be My Valentine"; the cork: "Gee! But You're a Corker...That's Why I Want You For My Valentine"; the briefcase: "To Make It Brief...I Have an Awful 'Case' On You"; the glove: "Do You Glove Me?... Be My Valentine"; and the plum: "I'm Plum Crazy About You!...Will You Be My Valentine?".

Flip Book Valentine

One of the most unusual valentines in my collection is this comical flip book from the 1930s. By turning the pages, you can make different characters (each with a great '30s marcelled platinum 'do!). Below you can see the three primary characters; by flipping the head and body pages, you can make variations, like the head of the first girl on the body of the third.

 

Change-A-Face Mechanical Valentine

Here's one of my favorite valentines: a mechanical change-a-face card, dating to the 1930s. By pulling the tab at the bottom, the goofy-looking boy's expression changes. Just a really fun valentine!

Here's the first face:

 

And here's the second:

 

Little Airplane Valentine

Just a sweet little moveable valentine dating from the 1930s. 

You can make the wings waggle up and down.

Courtship Sequence Valentine Postcards

Here's a great set of 1907 sequence postcards: these were mailed by the sender one by one, with the complete set telling a little story. These postcards were sent by a woman in Washington state who traded similar sequenced sets with a friend in Michigan. The message on the back of the first card reads: "Kind friend, yours received yesterday, couldn't get the rest of that set, therefore I shall finish with this." Pretty cool that these were kept together and saved for over 100 years!

 

Novelty Rebus Valentine

This is one of the most unique valentines in my collection. Made by Raphael Tuck in the early 1900s, it features a die-cut Dutch girl overlooking a rebus constructed of gilt paper utensils. Unusual and attractive, it's quite a treasure.

Space Age Valentines

I love retro space age iconography, so naturally I love these great 1950s valentines:

Toaster Valentine

Here's another unusual valentine, from what I call my "Mundane Objects" subset. There are all sorts of odd cards out there featuring items like hand mixers, television sets, briefcases, gloves, and many more things one wouldn't readily associate with Valentine's Day, like this toaster. Made in Germany circa the 1920s.

 

Vegetable Patch Kids Valentines

These three tiny valentines are some of my favorites. They date from the 1930s, and feature little characters peeking out from behind various vegetables, with appropriate puns inside each card.

The corn says: "Here's an 'Earful' -- I Want You for My Valentine"; the potato: "I Have My 'Eyes' on You"; and the lettuce: "I've Lost My 'Head' Over You."

War Time Valentines

This group of World War II era valentines were received by their young owner at an event called "The Good Samaritan Class Party at the Church Feb. 5, 1945." No idea what church or where: it's quite intriguing!

Antique Auto Valentine

Here's a really lovely 1930s valentine: an old roadster complete with a chauffeur transports two young lovers to their romantic destination.