St. Valentines Day

Charles, Duke of Orleans, was one of the earliest creators of valentines, called "poetical or amorous addresses." He was confined in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, from there he sent several poems or rhymed love letters or "valentines" to his wife in France.

During the 15th century, one valentine showed a drawing of a knight and a lady, with Cupid in the act of sending an arrow to pierce the Knight's heart.

During the seventeenth century people made their own valentines using original verse or poems copied from booklets with appropriate verse.

It used to be said that birds chose their mate for the year on February 14. Doves and pigeons mate for life and therefore were used as a symbol of "fidelity". This is why we see doves in romantic films and stories. Geoffrey Chaucer, in his "Parlement of Foules," wrote: "For this was Seynt Valentine's Day when every foul cometh ther to choose his mate."

The first commercial valentine appeared circa 1800 and were rather simplistic. But by the 1830's and 1840's Valentines contained delicate and artistic messages. Valentines made of fine papers and decorated with satin, ribbon, or lace commanded high prices. They had pictures of turtledoves, lovers' knots in gold or silver, bow and arrows, cupids, and bleeding hearts. All of these symbols have become associated with love and lovers.

In the 1840's the first commercial valentines were introduced. By pulling a tab, a figure or object on the card could be made to move. Some had elaborate honeycomb pop-outs or various other three-dimensional features.