Antique Valentine’s Day Cards Collection MSS-2015-05-21
Lale Yasemin Kaya
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
(408) 808-2062
special.collections@sjsu.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Antique Valentine’s Day Cards Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2015-05-21
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1948-1950
Abstract: The Antique Valentine’s Day Cards Collection, 1948-1950, consists of thirty-two decorated cut-out valentines, two pop-up valentines,
one large valentine, one newspaper clipping from 1950, and three notecards with written information about valentines. This
collection is arranged in two series: Series I: Antique Valentines, 1948; and Series II: Documents to Antique Valentines,
1950.
Valentines were handmade until the 1800s. They were designed with lacy paper backgrounds, romantic scenes, and cut-out cupids.
By 1858, fourteen firms were mass producing valentines and profited nearly $300,000 a year. During the Civil War, valentines
embarked upon an era of simplistic design. In the 1920s they were fanciful and clever. In the mid-1950s, delicate lace paper
cards, made from elaborate dyes, continued the tradition. In the 1980s, some valentines sold for as much as $50 apiece.
In the 1990s, silk fringes and corded tassels enhanced the verses on valentine cards.
Physical Description: 1 Box, 8 Folders
Language of Material: English
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has not been assigned to the San Jose State University Library Special Collections and Archives. All requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the Special Collections and Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions
also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational
purposes.
Preferred Citation
The Antique Valentine’s Day Cards Collection, MSS-2015-05-21, San Jose State University Library Special Collections and Archives.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Lale Yasemin Kaya.
Collection inputted to ArchivesSpace by Lale Yasemin Kaya.
Finding aid EAD encoded by Lale Yasemin Kaya.
Reviewed by Leilani Marshall.
Date began: 21 May 2015
Date encoded: 26 June 2015
Date completed: 2 July 2015
Scope and Contents
The Antique Valentine’s Day Cards Collection consists of thirty-two decorated cut-out valentines, two pop-up valentines, one
large valentine, one newspaper clipping from 1950, and three notecards.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in two series; Series I: Antique Valentines, 1948, and Series II: Documents to Antique Valentines,
1950.
Bibliography
Johnson, Joan. “Saint Valentine: Various Sentiments Wedded to a Million Dollar Business.” 1950. (Newspaper article.)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Poetry
Series I: Antique Valentines
1948
Physical Description: 7 folders
Scope and Contents
This series consists of thirty-two decorated cut-out valentines, two pop-up valentines, and one large valentine.
Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.
Folder 1: Black and White Valentine
No date
Folder 2: Cartoon Valentines
1948
Folder 3: Heart-Shaped Valentines
1948
Folder 4: Lacey Valentines
1948
Folder 5: Pastel Valentines
1948
Folder 6: Pop-Up Valentine Cards
1948
Folder 7: Small Rectangular Valentines
1948
Series II: Documents to Antique Valentines
1950
Physical Description: 1 folder
Scope and Contents
This series consists of one newspaper clipping from 1950 and three notecards.
Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically by date.
