Valentine Collection ca. 1860-1890.

Format:

Archive

Contributor:

Maris, Mary Louisa, 1866-1924, collector.

Maris, Theodore, 1864-1912, collector.

Howland, Esther Allen, 1828-1904.

Taft, Jotham, 1816-1910.

Whitney, George C., 1842-1915.

Steeble, William Hill, Mrs., former owner.

Newkirk, Martha, former owner.

New England Valentine Co.

George C. Whitney Co.

Currier & Ives.

Language:

English

Genre:

Valentines.

Greeting cards.

Trade cards.

Physical Description:

2 binders (ca. 165 items)

Place of Publication:

ca. 1860-1890.

Summary:

Collection consists primarily of mid to late 19th century lace paper valentines with matching embossed envelopes sent to Theodore and Mary Louisa (Lulu) Maris, 820 Pine Street Philadelphia, Pa.; also included in collection are 50 color lithograph comic trade cards by Currier & Ives (with no advertising imprint) copright 1878-1880; 8 flora and fauna color lithograph cards and a few other assorted items belonging to Theodore and Mary Louisa Maris.

Notes:

Valentines in the collection represent the work of Esther Howland, Jotham Taft, George C. Whitney and others; according to Ruth Webb Lee (A History of Valentines, 1952) Worcester, Mass. was the first American centerfor the manufacture of lace paper valentines: in 1849 Esther Howland began a cottage industy of such valentines which eventually became the New England Valentine Co.; New England Valentine Co. was later absorbed by the George C. Whitney Valentine Company (ca. 1880); the George C. Whitney Co. had also been established as a cottage industry in the late 1850s.

Title devised by cataloger.

Local Notes:

Athenaeum copy: Gift of Mrs. William Hill Steeble and Martha Newkirk, 1979.