While the tradition of sending handwritten notes or poems on February 14th existed for centuries, the first Valentine’s Day card as we know it today was created during the Middle Ages. However, it was in the 15th century when the tradition really began to take shape.

The earliest known Valentine’s Day card was written by Charles, Duke of Orleans, in 1415. Charles wrote a poem to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following the Battle of Agincourt. The card, written in verse, was addressed to his wife and is considered one of the first examples of a Valentine’s card. The poem is still preserved in the British Library and is regarded as one of the earliest known written expressions of love sent on Valentine’s Day.

The poem, although not a “card” in the modern sense, demonstrated the idea of expressing love and affection through written words, a custom that would evolve into the greeting cards exchanged on Valentine’s Day centuries later.

The Evolution of Valentine’s Cards

By the 18th century, the practice of exchanging love letters and cards had become more common in Europe. The use of intricate designs and elaborate handwritten messages grew, and these expressions of affection began to be exchanged on a larger scale. With the advent of mass printing in the early 19th century, Valentine’s Day cards became even more accessible to the general public.

In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland, an American woman, is often credited with producing the first commercially printed Valentine’s Day cards. Known as the "Mother of the Valentine," Howland created elaborate and decorative cards made with lace, ribbons, and colorful designs. She began selling these cards in 1849, marking the beginning of the commercial Valentine’s card industry.

Howland’s cards became immensely popular, and her business expanded rapidly, leading to the production of mass-produced Valentine's cards that were affordable and widely available to people of all social classes. shutdown123