Happy Valentine's Day!

1909

Valentine greetings may be older than you think. In the Middle Ages lovers would sing or say Valentine's greetings, and Geoffrey Chaucer's circle encouraged it. Written ones began appearing in the 1400's, and paper valentines, more like we know them, in the 1500's. One such early valentine is on display in the British Museum.

1875

Paper valentines were exchanged in Europe, instead of gifts and became extremely popular in England. Later gifts, especially flowers or candy, were included. In the 1800's, factories began making

valentines. At first, black and white pictures were hand painted by the workers, but by the middle of the century, lace, ribbon, and other embellishments

were added to make them fancier. Toward the end of the 1800's,

they were being completely manufactured by machines. In America, Norcross became one of the first companies to produce valentines at the turn of the century. When school children also began exchanging valentines, as well as family members, the valentine card industry really took off.

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