This 1940s valentine features the moving arm of the boy and a message that says: “If you’ll be my Valentine, You’ll find it’s all ‘Smooth Sledding’ … so have a Heart!”
My special vintage valentine today has a message to give to anyone: “If you’ll be my Valentine, You’ll find it’s all ‘Smooth Sledding’ … so have a Heart!”
It is an action valentine and probably from the early 1940s. The little boy’s arm moves and also steers his sled while holding a heart in his hand. Again, this little valentine was made in the U.S. Probably given from one little friend to another at a school Valentine’s Day party where all the kids and the teacher would exchange their heartfelt paper hearts and sayings to friends.
If you happened to have read my column last week, you may have noticed that I am on the same subject material this week, but I really feel that we could stretch this special “day of the year” for a few more weeks until the actual day arrives. School children of all ages who were in a country or rural school house and taught by a single teacher (like I was) will remember very well how important these Valentine’s Day parties were to most of us. Special memories were made and most of us will always remember our first special valentines we may have received through the years from fellow students and friends. It is something that we will remember most of our lives, definitely one memory of fun and delight with smiles all around.
And today we are seeing that these little valentines — sometimes homemmade, sometimes purchased — given to friends and the teacher are becoming even more popular to collect. We will see many were made in the U.S., but Germany and England valentines are becoming a bit more valuable in today’s world also. Any with lace or moving parts seem to catch everyone’s eye for collecting purposes! Did you ever receive one with a lollipop attached? I am sure the lollipop was consumed almost immediately and it doesn’t devalue the card today if the lollipop is gone. A variety of valentines on the collectible and/or antique markets today seem to be holding their values quite well. In fact, when the more intricate and lacy hearts are found and still in good condition, the values seem to be rising a bit.
