Mechanical Valentine, "The Flags Spell 'Come Back to Me'," 1945

Summary

The custom of sending messages of affection on February 14 dates back to Roman times, when mid-February was a time to meet and court prospective mates. The earliest American valentines were labors of love, handmade by the sender. The spread of commercially produced valentines in the second half of the nineteenth century made sending and receiving Valentine's Day cards a more lighthearted activity.

The custom of sending messages of affection on February 14 dates back to Roman times, when mid-February was a time to meet and court prospective mates. The earliest American valentines were labors of love, handmade by the sender. The spread of commercially produced valentines in the second half of the nineteenth century made sending and receiving Valentine's Day cards a more lighthearted activity.

Artifact

Valentine

Date Made

1945

Creators

Unknown

Place of Creation

United States 

Collection Title

Greeting Card Collection 

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

89.492.1661

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Mrs. Harvey Firestone, Jr.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Color

Multicolored

Dimensions

Height: 5.625 in

Width: 3.25 in

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