A trove of valentines from century ago discovered in attic

A selection of Valentine’s Day cards from the 1920s was recently discovered in an attic.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 7

Local historians love to hear the phrases “We found these in the attic” or “We found these in the barn.”

Many charming Valentine’s Day cards from the 1920s were discovered in the attic of a home near Kenyonville Road and were donated by Duane and Pat Payne of Medina. One cannot but marvel at the fact that they survived critters, weather and time.

“Ephemera” is the term used to describe paper items that have short-term usefulness – receipts, bills, cards etc. We can appreciate why these cards were not thrown out, they have a lasting visual appeal and no doubt they held a sentimental value for the person who put them aside.

According to the Greeting Card Association, Valentine’s Day is second to Christmas as the most popular holiday for people to send greeting cards. The city of Worcester, Mass. became, by chance, the center for the printing of commercial Valentine cards after Esther Howland was inspired by European lace-layered cards in the 1840s. She used her father’s printing business to create her own multi-layered card creations and developed a very successful business.

The cards in this donated collection were produced by the Whitney Valentine Company, also located in Worcester, Mass. In the late 19th century, George C. Whitney purchased Howland’s firm as well as other Valentine card companies. He developed mass-produced greeting cards which were very popular.

Valentine postcards from the Payne collection.

Valentine’s Day postcards were also popular and just required a 1-cent stamp. The design and verse were on the front, message and mailing address on the back. The sender’s message could be read by everybody. The handwritten message on one postcard written by Joyce and sent to Ronald reads “If you think a lot of a person, why isn’t Valentines Day a good time to say so?”

But where could you purchase cards to mail to your Valentine? Stationery supplies were sold at drugstores. The 1903 Directory of Orleans County lists the following suppliers under the heading Stationery:

BISHOP, FRANCIS M. – Public Square, Holley

CENTRAL DRUG STORE – Main St, Albion

MILLENER, WILLIAM S.  – Public Square, Holley

WRIGHT & ROSS – Main St., Lyndonville

Generally, the images and greetings were polite, this one is a little saucier.

Do you save cards? If you read this column, chances are you do! Why not put some aside in an attic or barn to tantalize future generations?