Spent the weekend at Old Sturbridge Village as "Esther Howland, Mother of the American Valentine". A Worcester original, she popularized Valentines--and thus Valentine's Day--in America with her handmade cards from 1847-1881.
Here are a few 19th century valentines of my own making:
And since Esther Howland made valentines ranging from $.05 to $50, my attempt at a $.05 card (needless to say, not too many of these, which is to say, none I could find, exist in this price range):
With Love,
Enjoy!
