Animals - Pigs, Hogs, Swine on Vintage Valentines

This little piggy is looking for a Valentine! ~ So I won't be afraid to ask you to be mine.

3" x 5" (5 x 6" opened)
circa 1920s, 1930s
 Single Fold
marked: Made in U.S.A.

 Love - Of Our Love I like to BRAG Because I know it's in the BAG.

6 5/8" x 5 1/4"
circa 1920s, 1930s
Mechanical Flat
marked: Made in Canada

 I'm no HOG but I want you for My Valentine!

circa 1940s, 1950s
Flat

Victorian - Antique Romantic Paper Lace Valentines

Constancy.

4 5/8" x 7 1/8"
circa 1860s - 1880s
single fold
3 layers of paper lace
fabric-crafted flowers and foliage
no writing or decoration on the interior
no publisher marks

Oh, if I fail your heart to move, And 'tis not yours to give, I cannot, will not, cease to love, But I will cease to live.

3 7/8" x 5 5/8" (5 5/8" x 7 1/4" opened)
circa 1850s, 1860s
message can be read to reference suicide
single fold with paper lace featuring an Angel at center
orange paper wafer behind center motif
decorated with scraps
'25' red stamp on the back (w/rest of stamp running off the top edge)

These are red roses gathered at thy cheek, The white are all too happy to look white, For love, the rose, for faith, the lily speaks, It withers in false hands, but here 'tis bright.

3 3/4" x 5 1/4" (5 1/4" x 7 3/4" opened)
circa late 1890s, early 1900s
single fold with paper lace
2 layers atop the face of the card attached with paper accordion hinges

Think of Thee - The blush of summer bud in dew, Softly reminds me of you; Or the sweet bird that sings on spray, At close of radiant summer's day.

4 1/2" x 6 3/4"
circa 1860s, 1880s
double-sided card
with stuffing between layers of paper lace
may have been scented with perfume
no publisher marks

The love that is True love can never depart, But will spring ever new from the fount of the heart, And such is the love, fond, faithful, and pure, That for you I shall cherish, while life shall endure.

5 3/4" x 3 7/8"
circa 1890s, 1900s
Single Fold
dimensional layer of paper lace and decorations
Embossed
Silver Detailing
something printed in silver on back, upper right (perhaps a number 3 or 8?)
No other publisher's marks

Bright Be Thy Lot ~ What a host of kind greetings and tokens to-day, Over land, over sea, are now ringing their way: And more fixed than the land, and more deep than the sea, Are my thoughts, my good wishes and my love to thee!

6 1/4" x 6"
circa 1910s  
Folded
Embossed
Paper Lace
Victorian Scraps

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See Also:

• Maker - Meek
• Maker - Howland

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

Maker: Rust Craft

Don't Purr around me unless you mean it.

3 3/8" x 4 1/2"
circa 1930s

A cat rubs against a wary dog
Flat
by Rust Craft
marked: 5V79

I don't know what to call you - But I'd like to call you MINE!

3 7/8" x 4 7/8"
circa 1920s, 1930s
Flat
by Rust Craft

For Son ~ With love and happy greetings, this valentine will bring A special thought to wish you the best of everything!

5" x 4 7/8" (5" x 9 3/4" opened)
circa 1940s, 1950s
French Fold
Rust Craft
marked: 25VF458

For a dear NIECE on Valentines Day ~ To a sweet little Niece Who has a way Of growing sweeter Every day!

6" x 4"  (6" x 8" opened)
dated 1952
Single Fold
 marked: 10VF4413
 Copyright MCMLII
 Rust Craft Boston, U.S.A.

Cannibals - You are a Splendid Dish (served with a Nice Chianti)

I'm all in a stew My heart is all a twitter ~ Just yearning for you! Be my Valentine or it looks like my goose is cooked!

3 1/4" x 4 3/4" (4 3/4" x 7 3/8" opened)
circa 1940s

French-Fold
by Doubl-Glo

Marked:  P 6702-1
Made in USA

You sure SUIT MY TASTE - My Valentine!

3 5/8" x 2 1/2" 
circa 1940s

Flat

Marked:  Made in USA

In a Situation like this ~ TWO HEADS are better than ONE.  P.S. Let's get together Valentine!

3 1/4" x 4 1/4" (3 1/4" x 7 1/4" opened)
circa 1940s

Modified French-Fold

Marked:  Made in USA

I am in a Stew all about you.

3 1/2" x 4 1/8"
circa 1920s  
signed: CS Byrnes
no publisher's marks

J G Scott - Gibson Cards Artist

Don't be so CHILLY Sweetheart.

4 5/8" x 5"
circa 1920s/1930s
2 layers
no publisher's marks
likely by J G Scott

You suit me fine, My Valentine

4 1/8" x 3 1/8"
circa 1920s/1930s
made by Gibson
possibly by J G Scott

None of the cards on this page are signed by the artist, but are likely to be by John G Scott (aka JG Scott). There is very little written about this prolific artist and he did not sign most of his work. Signed cards do exist but are quite rare.

To My Valentine

4" x 3 1/4"
circa 1940s
die cut - dog playing flute
marked: Gibson Cinti., U.S.A.
1 V 8015

Mr. Scott's association with Gibson runs from May 1924 - Dec 1953.  He also drew Cream of Wheat ads in the 1920s that appeared in the Saturday Evening Post and the Peoples Home Journal and did some magazine covers.

Rain or Shine
I Love You.

 4 1/4" x 3 1/4"
dated 1936
Flat
Girl with Umbrella and Small Dog
no Gibson mark on the back

In addition to his work as an artist, Mr. Scott served as a Representative to the Pennsylvania State General Assembly from the County of Schuylkill from 1925 - 1934. His passing in March of 1975 was noted in the Wed., April 30th 1975 session of the General Assembly.

You cut some figure with me!

 4 1/4" x 3 1/2"
circa 1940s
Flat
Skater with High Button Ice Skates
marked: Gibson Cinti., U.S.A.
1 v 8026

I Like You.

 4 1/8" x 3 1/4"
circa 1940s or early 1950s
Flat
marked: A Gibson Card
Gibson Cinti., U.S.A.

To My Valentine

 4 1/8" x 3 1/4"
circa 1930s
Flat

All my Love is for YOU.

3 1/8" x 4"
circa 1940s
made by Gibson
marked: 1 V 8027

Hello There! You're Nice ~ 

This little Dutch girl Is neat as can be,
Her cap's snowy white,
As you plainly can see
In her big wooden shoes
She is coming your way
To tell you "Hello"
On St Valentine's Day.

4 1/8" x 6"
circa 1950s
made in USA
by Gibson
marked: A Gibson Card
Gibson Cinti., U.S.A.
10V 8078

We'd pack a grip And take a trip If you'd be mine.

6 1/2" x 4 5/8"
circa 1940s
mechanical card
hat moves

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Other Pages of Interest:

Imitators of J G Scott
Maker - Gibson Art Co