Maker - Vintage Valentines by Norcross

To my Valentine For you from me ~ Oh how DUCKY it would be If you'd choose a Valentine like me.

4" x 5" (8" x 5" opened)
circa 1950s
French Fold
by Norcross
Marked: 5V240
made in USA

Begun by brother and sister, Arthur D. and Jane Norcross in 1914, Norcross was located at 315 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The company didn't really get going until 1919, after Arthur returned from a stint with the army in France. Methods utilised included copper plate etchings, dry points, gravures and hand coloring on hand-made paper. In addition to greeting cards the company created wonderful gift wrapping.

Like the sweet old-fashioned Valentines That in by-gone year Brought love and deep devotion To someone very dear So this Valentine is bringing A love that's deep and true And a thousand special wishes Straight from my heart to you.

8" x 10" (10" x 16" opened)
circa 1940s, 1950s
Nostalgic card
French Fold
by Norcross
Marked: 100V18
"Idea and old lace pattern adapted from an old Valentine of 1859"
made in USA

Still an ongoing concern in the 1950s, they had by then moved to Madison Ave. In the 1970s they relocated again, this time to Pennsylvannia. In 1981 they merged with Rust Craft. After this merger, the Norcross name was likely no longer used. Some of the artists employed by the company include: 

• Helen Sewell
• Mildred Boyle
• Helen Meredith
• Marie Manners
• Vivienne Blake McCandless Demuth  (1936-1940)

Oh Valentine! You are a Must! ~ If you won't be Mine My Heart will Bust!

3 1/4" x 4 1/4"
circa 1950s
 Single Fold
Marked: 5V159
A Susie-Q Card
Copyright
Norcross New York U.S.A.

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 Sources:

The Romance of Greeting Cards, (revised ed of 1956) By Ernest Dudley Chase
Illustrators/Artists page from TheSantis.com (authors of a series of Little Golden Book collector guides)
Smithsonian Institute; Archives, Manuscripts and Photographs online catalog