The Oldest Printed Valentine

How did the celebration of Valentine’s Day become so entangled with cards? The relationship, it turns out, is older than the printing press itself with roots dating all the way back to ancient Rome!

The Oldest Printed Valentine -

In the 1700s, something recognizable as a form of the modern greeting card began to be seen for Valentine’s Day. Pre-made cards weren’t available yet, so these early cards were handmade, and usually delivered secretly by slipping them under a door. Lovers who couldn’t put their ardent desire into heart-stopping words for their beloved themselves could buy printed verse guides full of suggestions with which to woo their valentine – the 18th century equivalent of modern cardmakers’ idea books for card sentiments!

York Castle Museum in York, England has in their collection what is believed to be the oldest printed Valentine’s Day card in existence. Printed in London in 1797, it is hand colored (since full color printing didn’t exist in the 18th century) and features elaborate floral patterns, cupids, doves, and a lace effect created by piercing the paper. A verse trails around the edge of the floral pattern:

Since on this ever Happy day, All Nature's full of Love and Play. Yet harmless still if my design,'Tis but to be your Valentine

The oldest printed Valentine, shown above, courtesy of York Museums Trust.

Get Outlook for iOS