Greeting Cards from the Wellesley Historical Society Collections

The “golden age” of greeting cards spanned from the late Victorian period into the Edwardian period. In the mid-19th century, greeting cards and postcards became more accessible and affordable due to improvements in printing technology. As sending and receiving postcards became more commonplace, their design grew to become more elaborate, with elements such as lace, fabric, and gilting emerging as trends.

Greeting cards and postcards are a fascinating example of how we have communicated across time. Their featured art and design can also tell a larger story of popular symbols, motifs, and cultural interest in a given time period. For May’s object of the month, we take a look at four greeting cards from the Wellesley Historical Society’s archives.

Valentine’s Day Card, Late Victorian Period:

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This storybook-esque Valentine’s Day card was produced by Marcus Ward & Co., an Irish publishing company active from 1833 to 1899 that was known for its illustrated books for children and adults. Marcus Ward & Co. began producing cards from the late 1860s onward to massive success, employing famous and beloved children’s book illustrator Kate Greenaway. Marcus Ward & Co. cards have been preserved in museums across the world, notably the V&A Museum in London.

This lace-trimmed card features a maiden in medieval garb, a dove and a love letter, implied to have just been received from a suitor, settled within her arms. The card leans into nature motifs as comparison to blossoming affection, with flowers budding along the bare tree in the background and blooms appearing in the grass. The picturesque image is accompanied by a poem, in which the suitor is reassured by the doves that his paramour’s heart is not unkind to him.

Birthday Card, 1911:

This spring-like birthday card was sent to a Miss Agnes Goddard for her birthday on December 3rd, 1911. The card is bound with a thin pale blue ribbon, and its edges are embossed. The card can be opened to a message within, but there is a traditional divided back postcard on the back as well.

The card is adorned with a burst of bright blue forget-me-nots before a wider landscape scene. Forget-me-nots were an immensely popular motif in the Edwardian era, symbolizing true love, friendship, and remembrance. They appear on several other cards in the Wellesley Historical Society collection. Edwardian birthday cards also often featured a short poem or fragment of a poem.

Embroidered Postcard, Edwardian Era:

Produced in Spain, this postcard was never posted, but instead kept as a keepsake or memento. The postcard boldly mixes both media and art style. The printed background of the card shows a fan with intricately carved wood and its body displaying a Rococo-inspired scene of lovers courting one another. The bold and brilliant-colored embroidery stands in sharp juxtaposition, making the postcard feel unexpectedly modern. Other cards of this same make similarly featured a fan in the background, always with a classical scene of lovers or courtesans.

Mother’s Day Card, 1950s:

As a more modern example, it is only right that the greeting cards for the month of May include a Mother’s Day card! The Volland Company made cards from 1908-1959, including this one featuring bright pink tulips and tied with a pale pink ribbon. The simple design, from the detailed flowers to the script font on the front of the card, feels closely reminiscent of modern day greeting cards. Inside of the card is a poem, the end of which reads “You grow more like your Mother every single day.”

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Every month, the Wellesley Historical Society highlights an object from its collection. These objects capture Wellesley stories, both those well-known to us and those yet uncovered. Historic artifacts symbolize and convey important narratives, whether that is the hard-working craftsman behind a piece or a written document that shaped the town’s future. As such, the Wellesley Historical Society collections capture the entirety of Wellesley as a town, from significant happenings to sentimental mementos.