120 Years of Valentines With Cats
The Victorians began a vogue for Valentines with cats and every generation since has placed their own mark with wit or wisdom. I collect vintage ephemera and some of these images were repaired and/or enhanced.
At the turn of the century, Valentines graphics were frilly and ornate. Kittens were often paired with young girls.
During the Edwardian era and into the 20s graphics turned less ornate with sentiments of true love and purity but
they could just as easily be satirical or slyly suggestive especially those printed in England like this one.
Long before the Internet, TV or radio, letters were the lifeline of communication and expression.
Oh dear, I’m not sure what to say except: We’ve come along way, baby!
The themes of girls and cats continued into the 20s and beyond. Black cats, considered lucky in the U.K. were favored.
The expression “a cat’s whiskers” as someone hot or attractive sprang out of the “roaring twenties”. The color red became brighter and the color to symbolize Valentine’s Day.
From the 30s into the 40’s the cute Kewpie doll face emerged. Cards were shifting to a rounded, more cartoonish childlike form.
In the 50s and 60s brightly colored cartoons with funny play on words were popular and appealed mostly to kids.
The mid century modern style into the 60s had a distinctive look with cleaner graphics.
Nothing is more emblematic of the 70s to 90s than the Kliban cats.
With the advent of the Internet and LOL kitties, Valentine cats have come full circle. Now every style and sentiment of Valentine cat cards is available. In over 120 years, styles and fashions have changed but the love of cats endures. Which of these cards is your favorite?
41 Comments
Leah
These are just wonderful! The UK card with the black kitty is my favorite!
Jo Singer
Belated nonetheless beloved. What a beautiful post. It’s purrfect!
Jo, Aki and Edgar Allen Poe
Skeeter and Izzy
This seems like a million years ago, 2015.
The cards are so pretty still.
Happy belated 2021 VDAY to all!!!
Luvs
Skeeter and Izzy and the Feral Gang and the Angels >^..^<
Layla Morgan Wilde
Goodness, I missed your comments wading through piles of spam comments from old posts. I hope all is well xoxo
Meezer'sMews&TerrieristicalWoofs
Oh, MY!! What an interesting progression of card styles! I love the older ones the best!
Layla Morgan Wilde
Belated thanks xoxo
meowmeowmans
What a lovely and special traipse through Valentine’s greetings through the decades. We love them all so much. Happy Valentine’s Day, sweet friends! ♥♥♥
Caren
love, love, love vintage and love, love, love you! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Layla Morgan Wilde
Oh, sorry I missed this xoxo
Timmy Tomcat
We loved them all but the Edwardian caught our eye but the kitty with his tongue out is really some character. Thanks so much for the fun
Claude West aka Cat Man
Always a pleasure to visit your site and read your blogs. Happy Valentines to you!
Rachel Woodisse
Love this blog and the cards are so beautiful, can’t pick a favourite. Happy Valentine’s Layla xx
Sally Swanson
I love all these vintage cards! The Cat’s Whiskers and Kliban Cats are my favorites! Happy Valentine’s Day to you, Layla!
Ellen Pilch
All these cards are beautiful. I am partial to the card reader. 🙂 Happy Valentine’s Day! XO
Connie Marie Poulson
I still love them all!!
Happy Valentines Day❤️
Ruthanne Schmiel
Great article! Very interesting subject. Niche specific holiday cards with a distinctively warm and personal touch are always beautiful suprise.
Arline Amith
Next time I read a blog, Hopefully it does not disappoint me just as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, nonetheless I truly thought you’d have something helpful to say. All I hear is a bunch of crying about something you could possibly fix if you weren’t too busy searching for attention.
Cats
Nice pictures
Connie Marie
I really love your Valentine’s day cards. Vintage is the Cat’s Meow
Layla Morgan Wilde
thanks, I think so too! Happy V Day!
Cathy Keisha
Those are adorable! TW has a scrapbook of old postcards from her grandma that she’s now inspired to look through. There might be Valentine cards in there too since there are Christmas and Easter cards.
Julie
These are so cool.
Sammy
Love old Valentine’s cards…..so much personality and such SWEET artwork. We like the Kliban “modern day” card but also quite like the “Cat’s Whiskers” one too!
Hugs, Pam and Sam
Katnip Lounge
The blue cat. third to last…I’m pretty sure I remember that one from grade school!
Cary Hillman
I’ve always loved Kliban’s cats!
maggie
Love them all- The Kliban is my favorite followed by the 20’s Cat’s Whiskers card. What a fun collection- thanks Layla.
The Island Cats
We love the Victorian valentines!
Nerissa's Life
Awww… Those are all so cute! I love ’em all. Yup, I love each and every one of ’em., for sure.
Purrs,
Nissy
Yvonne Price
I love this website. I love cats very much and love the pictures and special thoughts.
Andrea
I tried to post a comment earlier and your blog told me I was SPAM. I am not SPAM, so I hope this gets through to you this time because I loved these Valentine Cards and wanted you to know it. Fingers crossed …
Andrea @ From The Sol
Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101)
Andrea, it came through fine thanks.
Skeeter and Izzy
We love them all but the LOL cats are usually so on the mark.
Luvs
skeeter and Izzy and the Feral Gang + Twig & Peanut & Romeo >^..^<
The Swiss Cats
Great post ! All cards are lovely ! Mum’s favorite is the one with the Kliban cats. Purrs
da tabbies o trout towne
L; One is my favorite; it reminds me of my grandmother…weezer…when she
was a little girl; hair cut and all !! ♥ L
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doodz & “N”….heerz two a mustard eel & marlin kinda week oh end ♥
Flynn
They are all lovely in their different styles.
Kathryn
Wow, incredible post, Layla. Absolutely incredible. Thank you so much for all your hard work. These are all delightful. I have always loved Victorian decor the most, but all are wonderful.
Thank you and hope you have a great V day and a wonderful eight days leading up to V day.
Andrea and the Celestial Kitties
Oh my gosh, I love every one of them!
Tamago
Those images are so adorable. I love vintage images! And Kliban cat is so cute!
Pawesome Cats
These are awesome…think I like the Kliban cats best!
Summer
We kitties are perennial Valentines!
Katie Kat and Oreo
Wouldn’t be a Valentine with out a cat… no sirree. -Oreo.