This page contains my collection of Victorian Valentines. Many of the
Valentine images in my collection are reproduced from "penny" postcards, which
were popular from about 1890 to 1917. They were called penny postcards because
they were mailed with a one-penny postage stamp. It was very "proper" during
this time (1890 to 1917) to collect and display your collection of postcards
(and trade cards) in the parlor. Friends and guests would often sit for hours,
leafing through the album while they visited. The penny postcard became so
popular during this era that photographers, studios, printers, and business
were constantly searching for new and exciting subjects to satisfy an audience
that was hungry for new ideas to impress their friend at home. To make their
cards stand out, people often sought out real photographic postcards. Instead
of mass-produced lithographs, these were actual photographs made with a
postcard printed back. The photography studios often employed women to hand
tint and color the black & white photo postcards. Some of the best photo
postcards came from Germany, which was also famous for its detailed and
colorful lithography. Popular subjects for these photo postcards were women,
children, flowers, and young lovers, posed and arranged in an effort to portray
the idealized virtues of the Victorian Era. Below are 15 Valentine "penny
postcards" from the turn of the century. These are free for you to use, with
our compliments. Click on any thumbnail and it will open a new window
displaying the full size card. Additional graphic sets are available for
purchase, each containing 100's of high-resolution graphics at a nominal cost.
If you are interested in acquiring these additional sets please click the
"Purchase Additional Graphics Sets" button below. For additional information
on other graphic sets available click the "Information on Additional Graphics
Sets" button below.
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