Artist Marked: Initials - H. B.

To My Valentine ~ Cupid flies no more they say to this weary world today; But this fact I know is true Cupid brings my heart to you.

1 1/4" x 6 5/8"
circa 1920s
Standing Fold-Out
marked: HB

Valentine ~ To My Valentine!

3 7/8" x 2 3/8" 

circa 1920s, 1930s
girl in green dress and hat
made in Germany
Mechanical Flat
Eyes move
marked H. B. along bottom edge

Valentine Greetings

3 7/8" x 2 3/8" 

circa 1920s, 1930s
sailor
made in Germany
Mechanical Flat
Eyes move
marked H. B. along bottom edge

These big-eyed characters have a lot of personality and nice detailing. The heads are a little large, with small hands. The initials H. B. are likely an artist marking, but could also be a company mark.

Boats, Canoes, Lighthouses

Love one another but make not a bond of love: rather let it be a moving sea between the shores of your souls ~ Kahlil Gibran

"Ahoy Mate"  Be My Valentine?

2 7/8" x 5 1/2"
circa 1950s, 1960s
Flat
Duck in a Boat
marked: 757/21
made in U.S.A.

Ahoy Valentine I'm ALL AT SEA with a raft built for two - Here's hoping a good wind will BLOW ME TO YOU!

 5 1/2" x 7"
circa 1940s
Mechanical Flat
marked: Made in U.S.A.
no other publisher's marks

To My Valentine.

4 1/4" x 3 1/4"
circa 1910s, 1920s
Flat with Easel Stand
marked: Printed in Germany

I Love you - I would sail the ocean blue Sweetheart just to be with you.

3" x 5 1/8"
circa 1930s, 1940s
Mechanical Flat
made in USA

My Love - I can SEA You as My Dear Valentine.

3 7/8" x 4 7/8"
circa 1950s, 1960s
Folded
with silver glitter detailing

 

My Valentine - I'd like to SAIL into you heart.

4 3/8" x 2"
circa 1950s
Flat
marked: x-602/2

I couldn't SKIP-per date like this, for a Valentine like you.

5" x 6 3/8"
1930s
Fold-Out
made in USA

Ship With Me

4 3/8" x 4"
circa 1920s, 1930s
Flat
embossed detailing
 no publisher's marks

Valentine Greetings Searching for Romance

4 3/4" x 2 1/2"
dated 1935
Mechanical Flat
made in Germany

I'm H'anchor'ing for you, Valentine ~ I've an ocean of Love All for you, Valentine And you'd ought to come in - 'Cause the water's just fine!

3 3/4" x 5 3/8"
circa 1930s, 1940s
with attached metal anchor charm
French Fold
made in USA
by Gibson Brothers
marked: GB (in rectangle logo) 8428 on the back

I'm looking for my Valentine

7" x 3 3/4"
circa 1930s
mechanical card 
Lithograph by Stecher
marked '21'
made in USA

I'm all at sea Won't you be my Valentine?

5 1/4" x 5 3/4"
circa 1940s
mechanical card
made in USA

I ad-OAR you, My Valentine ~ So don't take the wind out of my sails. Be Mine!

3 1/2" x 4 1/4" (4 1/2" x 6 3/4" opened)
circa 1940s
by Doubl-Glo
Modified French Fold
made in USA

I'm PUT-PUT-PUTTING Myself Right into Your Heart Valentine!

circa 1950s, 1960s
5 5/8" x 3 1/8"
marked: P-917/4 Litho in U.S.A.

You're MOTOR me than I can say, Valentine.

circa 1930s, 1940s
made in USA

 When you're looking for a Valentine Don't SKIP the SKIPPER.

6 5/8" x 5 1/4"
circa 1940s/1950s
by Carrington
marked 'E' in tree logo

There is lots of room for two
Can't I speed away with you
If your idea's the same as mine
why not be my valentine.

3 5/8" x 3" (3" x 6 3/8" open)
circa 1930s

Loving Thoughts

3 5/8" x 2 3/4"
circa 1930s
 Mechanical Flat
marked: made in Germany

To my Valentine.

6 1/8" x 5 7/8"
circa 1920s/1930s
likely an unsigned Charles Twelvetrees
made in GERMANY

To my Valentine.

3 1/4" x 3 3/4"
circa 1920s
made in GERMANY

You're my Sweetheart in Every Port.

2 1/2" x 3 5/8"
circa 1920s
Flat
printed in Germany

Sailor beware I want you for mine So row off with me my Valentine.

6 5/8" x 4 1/2"
circa 1920s
Fold-Out
made in USA

Yes Sir! Blow Me Down I'll be all AT SEA without You My Valentine.

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

So Help Me! I've gone OVERBOARD Valentine for You. 

7 3/8" x 3 3/4"
circa 1950s, 1960s 
  Fold-Out
  made in USA

You've got a lot of PULL with me Valentine!

 3 5/8" x 3 1/2"
circa 1950s
Flat
Marked: X-5544
Made in USA
by A-Meri-Card

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See also our pages on  Pirates and Sailors

Made in Germany

Pussy cat, tell me are you true? Always, dear doggie, when swinging with you.

7 3/4" x 5 3/8" flat
1920s
Standing Mechanical

Animals suggest it may be the work of  Charles Twelvetrees
made in Germany

Germany was home to the heart of the printing industry for several decades. Many of the most desirable valentines of the late 19th century and early 20th century were created there. WWI greatly impacted quite a few of the German printers, but they rebounded for the most part and regained their position at the top of the field for many years to come. 

Just between us ~~ don't you s'pouse we can figger this puzzle out together?

3 5/8" x 5 1/2"
circa 1930s
 Mechanical Flat
marked: printed in Germany
stand on back

WWII and the great devastation it brought changed this forever. It wasn't just the level of destruction wrought in Germany that brought this change, but was also caused by consumers in the Allied countries' reticence to purchase items marked as German made following the war. German products after World War I did not face the level of disdain from purchasers that they did after World War II. 

The country of origin marking can help to date cards. It was some time late in the 1800s that goods were required to bear the name of the country in which they were made somewhere on the goods or package in which they came. In the 1930s this was expanded to require more precise wording such as "made in..." or "printed in...". Card that bear just the word "Germany" would therefore date to prior to the early 1930s. Be aware that the phrase "printed in Germany" does also appear on some earlier cards too. It is just the appearance of the country name with no more wording than that which is significant for dating.

To My Valentine.

3 3/8" x 4 7/8"
circa 1900s, 1910s

Small figure in blue with large basket
Flat

A Token of Affection.

2 7/8" x 5 7/8"
circa 1920s

Girl in Pink Dress with Large Heart Tied in a Blue Ribbon
Flat
made in Germany

My heart is ready - waiting - Why are you hesitating.

6" x 8 1/4"
circa 1920s, 1930s
Mechanical Flat
made in Germany

A Token of Affection.

2 5/8" x 4 1/2"
circa 1920s, 1930s

Girl in Blue Coat and Hat with Basket of Hearts
Mechanical Flat with Easel Stand

Won't you be my Valentine.

2 5/8" x 3 3/4"
Made in Germany
circa 1920s

You see its written in my heart You're my Valentine.

made in Germany
circa 1920s, 1930s
Flat

To My Valentine.

3 5/8" x 3 7/8" flat
circa 1920s
Part of a Series of Rocking Cards
Boy and Girl on See-Saw
made in Germany
Folding Rocker

No Text.

Figure under Blooming Tree
with paper puff rosette
Made in Germany
circa 1910s