Sending Valentine's Day Cards

From 1840 to 1860, Valentine's Day cards were works of art often hand painted and adorned with silk, lace, fresh flowers or sachets, glass ornamentation, and gold-leaf accents. Esther Howland is credited as the first person to sell and mass produce these lavish Valentines at a price that ranged from $5 to $30 for one card. A pretty penny in the mid 1800's! The artistry became a little less detailed, but late 19th century cards were still decorated with items such as feathers, faux flowers, and costume jewelry.

What started as a hand-written note expressing, "I love you," has turned into an amorous empire. Approximately one billion valentine cards are sent each year on this day of love. Electronic Valentines are also sent to friends and loved ones with romantic music, dancing hearts, and even recoding capabilities so you can utter sweet nothings to your recipient over the World Wide Web. It's a great timesaver for those on the go, but perhaps a touch impersonal for your sweetheart.