Margaret Evans Price - Illustrator, Toy Designer, Valentine Artist

Valentine Greetings I'd like to be your Valentine.

5" x 7 3/4"
dated 1916
Stecher Lith. Co. of Rochester, NY
by Margaret Evans Price
features a girl in hat and spats with a bell and furry muff

If you Love me It's time you Said so.

5" x 7 5/8"
dated 1916
made in USA
features a girl in a chair with a white cat at her feet

Painter, illustrator, muralist and toy designer Margaret Evans Price (American, 1888-1973) is primarily known for her work as a children's book author and illustrator. She can be difficult to find as a valentine card designer. Her work has a rich, art deco feel and is well worth the hunt.

Valentine Greetings to a Good Little Girl I Know.

5" x 7 5/8"
dated 1916
by Stetcher Lith. Co. Rochester, N.Y. features a girl in spats with Umbrella and a white cat at her feet

Ms. Price was the wife of Fisher-Price Toy founder Irving Price and in 1930 was the company's founding art director. The first line produced by Fisher-Price was a series of push-pull toys based on illustrations from her books. From those books, her drawings of fairy tale characters like Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood are especially gorgeous with wonderful use of color and line.

Soap Box Derby Cars - A Rare Valentine Theme

I don't want to PUSH things ~ But will you be My Valentine.

4 3/4" x 4 1/4"
circa 1930s, 1940s
by Carrington
'A' in tree logo

Here's another fun but rare theme for valentines - soap box derby cars.   Kids racing vehicles has been around for a long time.  It was featured in a Charlie Chaplin movie as early as 1914.  Official All-American racing began in 1934 in Dayton, Ohio.  The next year the event was moved to Akron, Ohio (aka Rubber City) and is still held there currently at a track called Derby Downs.

I wanna HAMMER this home - Be My Valentine!

6 1/2" x 5 1/4"
circa 1940s, 1950s
Mechanical Flat
marked: Litho. in U.S.A.
no other publisher's marks

The 1970s were a noteable time for soap box derby - with the first girl winner and a scandal involving electromagnets and chemicals on the tires both happening during that decade.

Love at the Track - Horse Racing Themed Valentine Cards

 Valentine Greetings The jockey role I want to play and win your heart this very day!

3 1/4" x 3 5/8"
circa 1920s, 1930s
   Flat
    marked: 'C'
Made in U.S.A.
in red ink
easel stand on the back

Hope I'm first under the wire to be your Valentine.

5" x 5 1/2"
1930s
Flat

To My Sweetheart

3 5/8" x 4 1/8"
German Made
circa 1920s, 1930s
Flat
also features a cute bulldog running alongside

 You picked a WINNER when you got me.

5 3/4" x 5 1/4"
Flat
circa 1920s

 My Valentine I may not win this RACE but I still am bent on winning you!

3 1/2" x 5 1/2"
Flat
circa 1940s-1950s

Sports: Valentine - You're a HIT with me! Baseball Themed Cards

I'm OUT for you! You'd BATTER be mine You're for me Valentine!

8 1/2" x 4 3/4"
circa 1930s, 1940s
Mechanical Flat
marked: 0-8201
Made in U.S.A.
no other publisher's marks

To My Valentine

5 1/2" x 3"
circa 1920s, 1930s 
Mechanical Flat
 marked: printed in Germany

You're the best CATCH I ever made my Valentine.

2 1/2" x 3 3/4"
circa 1920s
  Flat
 made in USA

 I sure would make a wonderful CATCH so why not be my Valentine.

4" x 6"
circa 1930s, 1940s
Mechanical Flat
made in USA

Please don't leave me on the BENCH 'cause you've made a HIT with me my valentine.

4 1/2" x 8 5/8" flat
circa 1930s, 1940s
Standing Fold Out

Valentine You've made a Big HIT Will I make a Good CATCH?

4 3/4" x 4 5/8"
Made in USA
circa 1940s, 1950s

I can't get along MIT out you.  I'd make a GOOD CATCH!  My Valentine!

circa 1930s, 1940s
Glove is done in relief (raised)

It STRIKES me funny how I always fall for you.  It's cause you've PLENTY ON THE BALL Valentine.

circa 1940s
Flat

I'm no MICKEY MANTLE ~ But I'd like to score a hit with You!

circa 1950s, 1960s
Folded

Darling Valentine Batter Up! and if I must Baby, I'll admit Everywhere you'll ever be you're sure to make a HIT!

3 7/8" x 5 1/8"
circa 1930s, 1940s
  Lollipop Card
 no publisher's marks

Hearts Ablaze - It's Red Hot Love! Firemen and Fire Trucks on Vintage Valentines

For A Special Son ~ This Valentine brings lots of love And comes to tell you, too, That anybody would be proud To have a son like you.

3" x 6 3/4" (5 3/4" x 6 3/4" opened)
dated 1962  
Hallmark
Slim Jims line
with Hallmark Crown Logo
marked: 10V 560-5
made in U.S.A.

You're the CHIEF thing in my Life.

2 1/4" x 3 3/4"
circa 1930s, 1940s
  Flat
 made in Germany

My Heart's All Ablaze for You, Dear Valentine

4 7/8" x 3 5/8"
circa 1930s
Mechanical Flat
marked: Made in Germany

Here's the Ladder to my Heart. This is no FALSE ALARM my Valentine.

5 1/8" x 5 3/4"
dated Feb 14th 1938
Standing Fold-Out
made in USA

A Burning Question will you be my Valentine?

4 1/8" x 5 1/2"
circa 1930s
Mechanical Flat
no publisher's marks

My heart is BURNING for you, My Valentine.

3" x 6 3/4" flat
circa 1930s
Standing Fold-Out
made in USA

A RED-HOT Valentine! Fires I got plenty of - How about a little hug?

6" x 7 3/4"
circa 1940s, 1950s
Standing Fold-Out
Made in USA 

Love bugs, Insects and Creepy Crawlers

I'll be very HOPPY if you'll be mine!

4 5/8" x 2"
circa 1950s
Flat
marked: made in U.S.A.
no other publisher's marks

 Give me a BUZZ sometime, Valentine!

 4 1/2" x 2 3/8"
circa 1950s
Flat
Marked: made in U.S.A.
no other publisher's marks

I'd like to WORM my way into your heart, Dear Valentine!

4 1/2" x 2 1/4"
circa 1950s
Flat
marked: Made in U.S.A.
no other publisher's marks

Can't cha see I'm BUGS about-cha Valentine!

7 1/4" x 4 1/2" (flat)
Dimensional
marked: Made in U.S.A.
circa 1930s, 1940s

STICK around Valentine
Catch On.

3 1/4" x 4 1/4"
circa 1930s
Flat
marked: made in USA

How'd you like to be my HONEY?  Please BEE mine.

circa 1940s, 1950s
Flat

C'mon, Honey -- BEE My Valentine.

3" x 3 1/2"
circa 1950s
Flat
by Hallmark

***************************************************

See Also: 

Butterflies

School Themes and Teacher Cards

To my Teacher ~ My Valentine ~ You're the nicest Teacher I've ever met Please let me be the Teacher's Pet.

4 3/4" x 5 7/8"
circa 1940s, 1950s
  Mechanical Flat
 no maker's marks 

Please be mine, Valentine! I'm going to study up. (on book) "How to win Boyfriends"

3" x 4 7/8"
circa 1950s, 1960s
Flat
marked: A-Meri-Card
 X-7548/5
 G

My Valentine 'Twould take volumes and volumes and volumes combined, To express the sweet thoughts that I've got in my mind.

3 1/2" x 5"
circa 1930s 
Flat
 marked: made in USA 

It Adds Up to be My Valentine

2 7/8" x 4"
circa 1930s 
Flat
 marked: made in USA

To My Valentine Learning things is lots of fun I've learned that you're the only one.

3 1/8" x 5 1/8"
circa 1940s, 1950s
  Flat
 made in USA

Chalk me up for your Valentine It's just as plain as ABC That you're the Valentine for me!

8" x 3 3/8"
circa 1940s
Standing Fold-Out
by Golden Bell
made in USA
marked: P 7127-D
with a '5' in a circle above the GB Bell logo

Hi There! Hep Chick! Well wet my feet and call me DUCKY! If You're my Valentine I'm LUCKY!

4 1/8" x 6 1/8"
Made in USA
by A-Meri-Card
marked P-113
circa 1940s, 1950s

Feb. 14th Valentine's Day For Teacher ~ I think you're Grand.

2 1/2" x 5 1/8"
circa 1950s

Call on me to be your Valentine Teacher.

2 5/8" x 5"
circa 1950s/1960s
made in USA

Can't we GRADually get Acquainted - Valentine?

2 3/4" x 3 1/4"
circa 1940s/1950s
made in USA

Show signs of life and be My Valentine.

2 5/8 x 5"
dated 1927
Flat 

I'm going to choose the best little valentine in the world - you.

4" x 5 3/8"
dated 1943
Mechanical Flat
made in USA

I''ve set my cap for you Valentine.

Girl at Chalk Board
circa 1930s, 1940s
Pop-Out, Pull-Down

I'm willing to learn to be Your Valentine.

5 3/4" x 5 1/4"
circa 1930s
  Flat
 made in USA