Carrington Card Co. of Chicago, Illinois

I'm Kickin' 'cause I ain't Your Valentine.

 3 5/8" x 5 1/4"
circa 1930s
Mechanical Flat
marked: Carrington Co.
Chicago, Ill
'E' in tree logo

I ask of you on bended knee That you my Valentine will be (over) All alone I'm waiting With this true heart of mine; So why be hesitating ~ Be my own Valentine!

3 3/4" x 2 1/2"
circa 1920s, 1930s
Flat
by Carrington (Publisher)
 'A' in tree logo 

If it's not Sticking My Neck Out Too Far - Will You be my Valentine?

6 1/4" x 8"
circa 1930s, 1940s
Standing Flat with 3-D Feature
made in USA
by Carrington
'E' in tree logo

For you my Valentine.

3 1/4" x 5"
circa 1920s, 1930s 

Flat with Easel Stand
by Carrington
'C' in tree logo

marked: made in Saxony

The George S. Carrington Company was in business by at least 1917. They appear listed as an exhibitor at a convention for  the drug store industry in American Druggist and Pharmaceutical Record Vol 65 Jan-Dec 1917. They published books and games as well as cards. The address for the company noted on their game boxes circa 1950s is 2740 West Fullerton Ave in Chicago, Illinois. In American Stationer Vol 86 of May 8, 1920 their address is listed as 2330 W Van Buren, Chicago, Ill.

Hope I WIND UP as your valentine!

3" x 5 1/2"
dated 1947
Flat
made in USA
Carrington
'A' in tree logo

Their cards are marked with a logo in the shape of a tree outline containing a letter (usually A, H, C, or E) inside the tree. Some early cards are marked with an 'H' inside a circle. The letter code in the tree may be an indication of the price, with different prices being indicated by different letters, but this is not known for certain.

To My Valentine - Roses for remembrance Would bring into your mind My glad and happy wishes For you, dear Valentine.

6" x 7 3/4"
circa 1910s, 1920s
Flat
marked: 'H' in circle 6003
made in USA
by Carrington

In 1937, the company made the headlines when retired president Charles Sherman Ross was kidnapped, held for ransom, then killed along with one of the kidnappers, James Atwood Gray (perhaps to avoid splitting any ransom they hoped to receive). Murderer John Seadlund was the subject of an FBI manhunt and finally captured in early 1938 at the Santa Anita Race Track in Arcadia, California.

It was love at first glance When I saw you ~ Say! How do you feel about me? I'd like you for my valentine!

4" x 5" (5" x 8" opened)
1930s
French fold
made in USA
by Carrington
'A' in tree logo

Wartime shortages led to the demise of the George C Whitney Co of Worchester, Massachusetts. Immediately following the war proved to be a difficult time for many in the card making industry with even the most successful companies like Raphael Tuck suffering due to pressures from the war such as paper shortages around the same time.  Carrington bought out Whitney in 1942, purchasing presses, stock and more. They continued on, creating desirable cards until 1955, when they too closed down. Tuck managed to hang on a little longer, shuttering their doors after 1959.

Oh! that I could learn the art Of dancing right into your heart.

2 3/4" x 5 1/4"
circa 1920s, 1930s
Flapper figure with headband, bobbed hair and star-shaped beauty mark under her eye

Mechanical Flat
made in USA
by Carrington
marked: 'C' in circle 'H' in circle 6002
'C' in tree logo on the back

We have cards by Carrington in many of our other categories. Enter 'Carrington' into the search box in the upper left to see them all. 

You've got me CORNERED My love ~ Here I sit a-dreamin 'bout you, Sort 'o lonesome, kind o' blue, Thinkin' I can't do without you - Be My Valentine, please do.

3 1/2" x 5 5/8" flat
circa 1930s
Part of a series of corner-sitting cards
Fold Out
by Carrington
'A' in tree logo 

This valentine is twined around
With hopes that gladness will be found
Within the happy heart of you
On this day and on all days too.

4" x 4 7/8"
circa 1920s/1930s
Flat
made by Carrington Co

Life would be divine. If would be my Valentine.

3 1/4" x 5"
circa 1920s/1930s
made by Carrington
'C' in tree logo
also has older mark of an 'H' in a circle in lower right
marked: 6002

I can only manage Two Hearts Yours and Mine.

3 3/4" x 4 1/4"
dated 1933
Mechanical Flat with Easel Stand
marked: Carrington (with 'C' in tree logo)

I think the world and all of you - Dear Valentine.

3" x 2 3/4"
circa 1920s
Flat
made by Carrington
in the USA
'A' in tree logo

To My Valentine ~ Tell me with those eyes of thine That you will be My Valentine.

2 1/4" x 2 3/4" (4 1/2 x 2 3/4" opened)
circa 1910s, 1920s 
Single Fold
 By Carrington
 Marked with 'H' in circle logo followed with 6001
 made in USA 

Valentine Greetings ~ Sweet and old fashioned Loving and true Such is the heart I am offering to you.  

4 1/2" x 5 1/2" (9" x 5 1/2" opened)
circa 1920s, 1930s
French Fold
by Carrington
 'E' in tree logo

For My Valentine.

5 1/4" x 9"
circa 1920s, 1930s 
 Mechanical Flat with Easel Stand
 by Carrington
 'G' in tree logo

Say "YES". (on reverse: So starved for love That I;m weak in the knees So be my Valentine Won't you - please!)

3 1/4" x 3 1/4"
circa 1920s, 1930s
Flat
by Carrington
 'A' in tree logo

To my Valentine - Oh pretty maid so fair and sweet, This brings a loving line To tell you as the moments fleet You are my Valentine.

3 3/8" x 8 3/8"
circa 1920s, 1930s
Fold-Out
marked: H (in circle) 149
made in U.S.A.
The H in Circle logo is an early Carrington mark

Two Large built up and riveted parchment wall or table-top display valentines.

Pink card is 17 1/2" x 14 1/2"
Blue card is 16" x 16"
circa 1910s-1920s
No Carrington mark on the cards themselves
But came in boxes marked:
Geo. S. Carrington, Chicago, ILL. Novelty

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Artists known to have worked for Carrington:

• Jessie Louise Taylor