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Valentine"s Day, 2020

Dear Friends and Lovers of All Things Romantic,

Welcome to Nancy Rosin"s Victorian Treasury, a unique resource for the collector, historian, or crafts-person. I am always here to answer your Valentine queries.

It is a pleasure to welcome visitors to this site, where we share our passionate obsession, The Valentine! As most of you know, we no longer publish a Newsletter, but we have a very active Facebook page, with more than 460 members! I urge you to look at the site, National Valentine Collectors Association, and participate. We no longer charge dues, and since there is no longer a quarterly auction, we do allow sales. It has become a fun place, where collectors share the wide range of Valentines, articles, and friendship.

Every fourth year is celebrated as Leap Year, and while it lasts all year, there are many Leap Year Valentines, and encourage you to read an older post on this site; and then go to our Facebook page for more posted by members.

Past newsletters may be available for $5. each -- Contact me regarding availability.

My own collection has now been placed at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. It is a formidable institution, with extensive galleries, collections, and gardens. We are working on an exciting exhibition which will take place in a few years -- and I am honored to have my treasures where they are loved and appreciated!
See the New York Times article: Three Centuries of Valentines Offer 12,000 Ways to Say 'I Love You'

For forty-five years, this Association has been a gathering place for lovers of Valentines and related ephemera. It was begun, and beautifully led, by Evalene Pulati for thirty years, and since then, I have had the pleasure. There is no doubt that it is a beloved group among dedicated collectors -- some have left, others have joined, but it still exists as a resource for all. Having placed my collection, I found it difficult to have the materials at hand to write articles, and I also realize that it may be time for another passionate person to assume the presidency. If anyone reading this is interested, please let me know.

The Facebook page was created as a modern, digital alternative, and it has been incredibly satisfying. Many of our members also participate in other groups -- and share their love and expertise.

A reminder that we have an ongoing Pinterest collaboration with Julie Anne Lambert, Curator of the John Johnson Collection at the Bodleian Library Oxford University, England. There are pages and pages of Valentine reference materials that are an invaluable addition to the study of Valentines.
Our Pinterest site is www.pinterest.com/johnjohnsoncoll/

Additionally, our member and dear friend, Malcolm Warrington, in London, has an absolutely enchanting website, www.ScrapAlbum.com, which is both beautiful and informative.

I encourage you to attend book and paper fairs where several of our dealer/members have Valentines for sale. From the early, rare, expensive to the contemporary and often very inexpensive items, you are sure to find treasures, as well as guidance and expertise. As President Emerita of the Ephemera Society of America, I can especially recommend their dealers, and annual March conference and fair. Information is at www.ephemerasociety.org

Please don't hesitate to contact me -- we have members all around the country who are available for speaking and exhibitions. I invite you to enjoy these pages and wish you a celebration of LOVE every day of the year!

I wish you another year of love, health and joy,

Nancy Rosin

Message for 2018!

Nancy Rosin's Victorian Treasury January 2018

Valentine's Day, 2018

Dear Friends and Lovers of All Things Romantic,

Welcome to Nancy Rosin's Victorian Treasury, a unique resource for the collector, historian, or crafts-person. I am always here to answer your Valentine queries.

Valentines permeate our lives, as many of the tender words and motifs are finding their way on to stationery, gifts, and even the postage stamps we use daily. We encourage romantic celebrations, as we honor "Love" 365 days a year.

The excitement builds each year, as I continue to share my passion throughout the world. My focus is on Valentines and the History of Love; and I enjoy sharing my personal collection. Within the broad range of expressions of love, there is something to appeal to everyone, from rare images to modern fun. This site includes my Library, where I am always adding new articles, reproduction cards available for sale, and kits and posters to enhance your holiday and extend it throughout the year!

My own handmade Valentines have been a popular aspect of this website, however at the present time I just have not had time to create them. As President-Emerita of The Ephemera Society of America, as well as being President of the National Valentine Collectors Association, there was little time for crafting. My ESA term has ended, and I will be creating kits and cards for next year! The Ephemera Society of America (www.ephemerasociety.org) is an international organization for enthusiasts of all manner of paper treasures, which we call, "ephemera". The annual Fair and Conference will take place March 15-18, 2018 in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. It is a feast for the senses. View their website to read the Conference brochure, visit them on Facebook, and please consider attending. The weekend Fair always includes the finest dealers in Valentines from the U.S. and England, and will be a great resource for Valentine collectors. The conference on the 16th will be educational and inspiring.

The Facebook page of the National Valentine Collectors Association now has 300 members - passionately posting and communicating their love of Valentines - please do visit - and join!

You will undoubtedly see numerous articles in your area newspapers, as Valentine's Day is such a popular celebration. I continue to present programs in my area, and am inspired buy what I see as an increase in the excitement. In any form - flowers, special romantic dinners, chocolates, or paper treasures, we love this day, and its sentimental history. Helping the world to celebrate peace and love is a positive message I try to share.

These two links connect to two favorite videos made a few years ago, which I invite you to enjoy.

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/collectors-rare-valentines-day-cards/

http://www.marthastewart.com/920937/antique-valentines-collection#920937

Please do check on www.collectorsweekly.com for articles by Lisa Hix, about Valentines and Tokens of Love.

Early American Life Magazine, February 2018 has a lovely folk art Valentine from my collection.

During the past year, I have been working with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to catalog their wonderful collection of Valentines in the Drawings and Prints Department. The blog I wrote for last February has been a great success, with its movable images. There will be another posted this February. Please enjoy the blog at:
https://metmuseum.org/blogs/now-at-the-met/2017/valentines-day-romance-of-cobwebs

I wish you another year of love, health and joy,

Nancy Rosin

Message for 2015!

Nancy Rosin's Victorian Treasury January 2015

January 1, 2015

Dear Friends and Lovers of All Things Romantic,

Welcome to my Victorian Treasury, a unique resource for the collector, historian, or craftsperson.

Valentines permeate our lives, as many of the tender words and motifs are finding their way on to notepaper, gifts, and even the postage stamps we use daily. We encourage romantic celebrations, as we honor “Love” 365 days a year.

The excitement builds each year, as I continue to share my passion throughout the world. My focus is on Valentines and the history of love; I enjoy sharing my personal collection. Within the broad range of expressions of love, there is something to appeal to everyone, from rare images to modern fun. This site includes my Library, where I am always adding new articles, reproduction cards available for sale, and kits and posters to enhance your holiday and extend it throughout the year!

My own handmade Valentines have been a popular aspect of this website, however at the present time I just have not had time to create them. As President of The Ephemera Society of America, as well as being President of the National Valentine Collectors Association, there is little time for crafting. I do, nevertheless have antique Valentines available -- email me for more information! Please do contact me for any special orders and needs. Antique and vintage ideas are finding a very popular contemporary audience.

As President of the NVCA, now in its thirty-ninth year, I continue to dedicate myself to encouraging the preserving and collecting of Valentines. I hope you will visit our website, www.valentinecollectors.com, and consider joining, for the small price of twenty dollars per year. Members receive a full color, quarterly, electronic newsletter with a mail auction, wonderful articles written by experts in the field, and a Directory, so you can meet other people who share your passion. Paper issues are available, at five dollars each, so that would be forty dollars per year. Our Facebook page has grown and it’s a good place to visit, and find out more about us. Many members give Valentine presentations to groups throughout the country; if you need a speaker for a Valentine program, please contact me and I will find someone in your area.

LOVE in the First World War

Our celebratory collaboration with the Bodleian Library at Oxford University continues, as Julie Anne Lambert, Curator of the John Johnson Collection of Ephemera, has created an amazing new Valentine experience for us. Please go online, during the month of February, at the link below.
Our Pinterest site is http://www.pinterest.com/johnjohnsoncoll/

It is a great honor to be the President of The Ephemera Society of America (www.ephemerasociety.org), an international organization for enthusiasts of the paper treasures categorized as “ephemera”. Our annual Fair and Conference will take place March 20-22, 2015 in Greenwich, Connecticut. It is a feast for the senses. View their website to read the Conference brochure, visit them on Facebook, and please consider attending. The Fair will include the finest dealers in Valentines from the U.S. and England, and will be a great resource for Valentine collectors. The conference will be educational and inspiring.

Numerous interviews will result in articles for area newspapers, as Valentine’s Day is such a popular celebration. In any form, flowers, chocolate, or paper treasures, we love this day, and its sentimental history. Helping the world to celebrate peace and love is a positive message I try to share.

This link is to a favorite video made a few years ago – enjoy.

http://www.marthastewart.com/920937/antique-valentines-collection#920937

I wish you another year of love, health and joy,

Nancy Rosin

Message for January 2014!

Nancy Rosin's Victorian Treasury January 2014

January 1, 2014

Welcome to my Victorian Treasury, a unique resource for the collector, historian, or craftsperson.

Valentines permeate our lives, as many of the tender words and motifs are finding their way on to notepaper, gifts, and even the postage stamps we use daily. We have become very mainstream, and it’s a pleasure to celebrate “Love” 365 days a year.

Please read the previous annual letters, for more information about Valentines. In this issue, I am happy to say that I have three new articles, which you will find interesting. The first, on your newsstands now, is Early American Life Magazine, January-February, 2014. Their focus is “early and historic” and you will find many wonderful pieces pictured beautifully.

I have had the pleasure of writing two other articles for the season’s pleasure: Civil War Valentines will be featured in an article in the Journal of the Ephemera Society of America, and the collection at the Gilcrease Museum, in Tulsa, Oklahoma will be featured in the Gilcrease Journal. It is a pleasure to share them with you.

A number of antique Valentines are available for your special gifts, and images can be quickly sent upon request. Reasonably priced, they are the epitome of endless love – saved and cherished as keepsakes for the next generation. I like to think of “the fingerprints of love” on each piece, and the enduring love they possess. Email, and tell me what you are seeking.

My handmade Valentines, and my Valentine Kit, the original purpose of this site, have expanded to every kind of greeting card, and are still custom made. Please do contact me for any special orders and needs. Antique and vintage ideas are finding a very popular contemporary audience.

As President of the National Valentine Collectors Association, now in its thirty-seventh year, I continue to dedicate myself to encouraging the preserving and collecting of Valentines. I hope you will visit our website, www.valentinecollectors.com, and consider joining, for the small price of twenty dollars per year. Members receive a full color, quarterly, electronic newsletter with a mail auction, wonderful articles written by experts in the field, and a Directory, so you can meet other people who share your passion. Our Facebook page has grown and it’s a good place to visit, and find out more about us. Many members give Valentine presentations to groups throughout the country; if you need a speaker for a Valentine program, please contact me and I will find someone in your area.

Cupid's manufactory: An A to Z of valentine making

Our celebratory collaboration with the Bodleian Library at Oxford University continues, as Julie Anne Lambert, Curator of the John Johnson Collection of Ephemera, has created an amazing new Valentine experience for us, with thanks to our own Michael Russo, Malcolm Warrington, and myself. Please go online, during the month of February, at the link below, and also, connect there to a Christmas with Charles Dickens. http://johnjohnsoncollectionnowandthen.wordpress.com/

It is a great honor to be the President of The Ephemera Society of America (www.ephemerasociety.org), an international organization for enthusiasts of the paper treasures categorized as “ephemera”. Our annual Fair and Conference will take place March 14-16, 2014 in Greenwich, Connecticut. It is a feast for the senses. View their website to read the Conference brochure, visit them on Facebook, and please consider attending. The Fair will include the finest dealers in Valentines from the U.S. and England, and will be a great resource for Valentine collectors. The conference will be educational and inspiring.

This link is to a favorite video made a few years ago – enjoy.

http://www.marthastewart.com/920937/antique-valentines-collection#920937

I wish you another year of love, health and joy,

Nancy Rosin

President, National Valentine Collectors' Association (www.valentinecollectors.com)

Vice-President, The Ephemera Society of America (www.ephemerasociety.org)

Message for January 2013!

Nancy Rosin's Victorian Treasury February 2013

January 1, 2013

Dear Friends and Lovers of All Things Romantic,

Welcome to my Victorian Treasury, a unique resource for the collector, historian, or craftsperson. The excitement builds each year, as I continue to share my passion throughout the world. My focus is on Valentines and the history of love; I enjoy sharing my personal collection. Within the broad range of expressions of love, there is something to appeal to everyone, from rare images to modern fun. This site includes my Library, where I am always adding new articles, reproduction cards available for sale, and kits and posters to enhance your holiday and extend it throughout the year!

As President of the National Valentine Collectors Association, now in its thirty-seventh year, I continue to dedicate myself to encouraging the preserving and collecting of Valentines. I hope you will visit our website, www.valentinecollectors.com, and consider joining, for the small price of twenty dollars per year. Members receive a full color, quarterly, electronic newsletter with a mail auction, wonderful articles written by experts in the field, and a Directory, so you can meet other people who share your passion. Please do visit us at our Facebook page. Many members give Valentine presentations to groups throughout the country; if you need a speaker for a Valentine program, please contact me and I will find someone in your area.

A very special event will be the collaboration between the NVCA and the John Johnson Collection of Printed Ephemera, at the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, England. A link, http://johnjohnsoncollectionnowandthen.wordpress.com/ , during the month of February 2013, will connect us, and guide you to a virtual exhibition of our shared holdings of the works of Eugene Rimmel. This famed London manufacturer was known for his majestic and enchanting perfumed Valentines. The NVCA website site contains a glorious virtual exhibition about Mr. Rimmel, created by Malcolm Warrington.

It is a great honor to be the new President of The Ephemera Society of America (www.ephemerasociety.org), an international organization for enthusiasts of the paper treasures categorized as “ephemera”. Our annual Fair and Conference will take place March 15-17, 2013 in Greenwich, Connecticut. It is a feast for the senses. View their website to read the Conference brochure, and please consider attending. The Fair will include the finest dealers in Valentines from the U.S. and England, and will be a great resource for Valentine collectors. The conference will be educational and inspiring.

Among the magazine articles which will focus on Valentines this February are Country Woman, Simple Things, and Firstcut, the magazine of the Guild of American Papercutters. Numerous interviews will result in articles for area newspapers, as Valentine’s Day is such a popular celebration. In any form, flowers, chocolate, or paper treasures, we love this day, and its sentimental history. Helping the world to celebrate peace and love is a positive message I try to share.

This link is to a favorite video made a few years ago – enjoy.

http://www.marthastewart.com/920937/antique-valentines-collection#920937

I wish you another year of love, health and joy,

Nancy Rosin

President, National Valentine Collectors' Association (www.valentinecollectors.com)
President, The Ephemera Society of America (www.ephemerasociety.org)

Message for January 2012!

Nancy Rosin's Victorian Treasury January 2012

February 14, 2012

Dear Friends and Lovers of All Things Romantic,

Welcome to another wonderful year at my Victorian Treasury. Valentines are the centerpiece of my site, and where I focus on providing a unique resource for the collector, historian, or craftsperson. I enjoy sharing my passion through my personal collection of Valentines and Expressions of Love. Within the broad range of Valentines, there is something to appeal to everyone. Please visit my "Library", where I am always adding new articles for your reading pleasure or research.

My handmade Valentines, the original purpose of this site, have expanded to every kind of greeting card, and they are still custom made. Please do email me for any special orders and needs. I have licensed card designs to Marian Heath Greeting Cards, and to Gartner, for Target stores, as vintage ideas are finding a popular contemporary audience.

As President of the National Valentine Collectors Association, now in its thirty-sixth year, I continue to dedicate myself to encouraging the preserving and collecting of Valentines. I hope you will visit the website, www.valentinecollectors.com, and consider joining. Four full-color newsletters, with auctions, provide wonderful articles and information about all types of Valentines. National Valentine Collectors Association members receive a full color, quarterly newsletter with a mail auction, wonderful articles written by experts in the field, and a Directory, so you can meet other people who share your passion. Please do visit us at our Facebook page: National Valentine Collectors Association.

The Ephemera Society of America (www.ephemerasociety.org), of which I have the honor to be Vice-President, is an international organization for people who study and collect the paper treasures categorized as “ephemera”. Our annual Fair and Conference will takes place March 16-18, 2012 in Greenwich, Connecticut. It is a feast for the senses. Contact me for additional information and please consider attending. The Fair will include the finest dealers in Valentines from the US and England, and will be a great resource. I hope that you will join me in these two wonderful organizations.

Special Events 2012 – LEAP YEAR – a year for Ladies to take the initiative !

A very special honor is to have been the featured guest for the holiday on Chef John Folse’s weekly radio show, which is broadcast in Louisiana and Mississippi. I hope you will go to http://www.jfolse.com/stirrin/listen.htm and enjoy our conversation about Valentine’s Day, Valentines, and a fabulous Valentine chocolate cake!

A major article will appear in:  American Stamp Dealer and Collector Magazine, February 2012, at this address: http://www.omagdigital.com/publication/?i=59317&p=24

FirstCut, The American Guild of Papercutters, Spring 2012:  "A Family Treasure Becomes a Leaf of History”. Please read about a Pennsylvania Valentine created in 1774. FirstCut: http://www.papercutters.org/

I wish you another year of love,

Nancy Rosin

President, National Valentine Collectors' Association (www.valentinecollectors.com)

Vice-President, The Ephemera Society of America (www.ephemerasociety.org)

Message for January 2011!

Nancy Rosin's Victorian Treasury January 2011

February 1, 2011

Dear Friends and Lovers of All Things Romantic,

Welcome to another wonderful year at my Victorian Treasury. Valentines and expressions of love are the centerpiece of my site, where I focus on providing a unique resource for the collector, historian, or craftsperson. I enjoy sharing my passion through my personal collection of Valentines and Expressions of Love. Within the broad range of Valentines, there is something to appeal to everyone. Please visit my "Library", where I am always adding new articles for your reading pleasure or research.

My handmade Valentines, the original purpose of this site, have expanded to every kind of greeting card, and they are still custom made. Please do email me for any special orders and needs. I have licensed card designs to Marian Heath Greeting Cards, and to Gartner, for Target stores, as vintage ideas are finding a contemporary audience.

This has been such a busy year, that I have not added all the events and activities, and I hope you will enjoy reading about them on this page.

I have posted helpful links, to enhance your romantic adventure through many interesting resources online.

As President of the National Valentine Collectors Association, now in its thirty-fifth year, I continue to dedicate myself to encouraging the preserving and collecting of Valentines. I hope you will visit the website, www.valentinecollectors.com, and consider joining.

As Vice-President of the Ephemera Society of America, (www.ephemerasociety.org), I encourage you to look at their comprehensive website. All manner of paper collectibles receive serious attention from dealers, collectors, and academia. My recent cover article for their Journal, on scrapbooks, shows the incredible connections between all these marvelous treasures we adore. Finding others to share your enthusiasm, and benefiting from their annual conference and paper fair, are important advantages.

Each year, I am happy to add more articles to the body of information about Valentines. I hope that you will join me in these two wonderful organizations.

The National Valentine Collectors Association members receive a full color, quarterly newsletter with a mail auction, and wonderful articles written by experts in the field. In March, 2011, the Association will officially participate in the conference of the Ephemera Society of America, and present a display, discussions about collecting, a dinner, and hologram and 3D expert, Frank DeFreitas, has created a special photographic event, viewing Valentines is three-dimension! Contact me for additional information and please consider attending. The Fair will include the finest dealers in Valentines from the US and England, and will be a great resource.

The History Channel provides a beautiful site about Valentines and their ancient and modern history, from cherubs to chocolate! I am delighted to still have my video included there, for your enjoyment. You can search Valentine Cards or use the exact video link: http://www.history.com/videos/valentine-cards#valentine-cards

It has been my honor to provide Victorian ephemera for a wonderful book, The Real Alice in Wonderland, by Cathy and Gabriella Rubin. Valentines were among the beautiful ephemera, which helped to create an authentic background for the pages. This is the story of Alice Liddell, the young girl who actually inspired Lewis Carroll's famous story. My collection has moved the authors to utilize the images for a charitable purpose. I hope you will look at the lovely little video online:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAeD4521Dgs&feature=bf_prev&list=QL&index=1

A very special landmark event in my personal collecting history will be on February 6, 2011, in the pages of American Profile Magazine. Distributed in ten million newspapers throughout America, Valentines will be properly showcased! It was an honor to have been invited to share my celebration of love and affection. To quote their mission, American Profile is "dedicated to the positive and uplifting aspects of American life".

Other major articles which I have written will appear in:
"Adding Flight to the Wings of Cupid - Postal Delivery of the Valentine" in American Stamp Dealer and Collector Magazine, February, 2011 (six pages plus the cover)
Article on scrapbooks to the mid-19th Century in Ephemera Journal, Volume XII
FirstCut, The American Guild of Papercutters, Spring, 2011,
"Papercuts-Scherenschnitte-Devotionals: Intimate Celebrations of Love Created by Heart and Hand"

BBC-Mundo and BBC-Brasil -- the British Broadcasting Company's Spanish websites will have a feature with images and the History of Valentines, which will be posted in Spanish and Portuguese.
CBS Charles Osgood Sunday Morning, February 13, 2011 - video and article.

I wish you another year of love,

Nancy 

 President, National Valentine Collectors' Association (www.valentinecollectors.com)
 Vice-President,The Ephemera Society of America  (www.ephemerasociety.org) 

Special thanks -- and love -- to my son, Matthew, for his unending contribution to the content and design of this website.  

Message for January 2010!

Nancy Rosin's Victorian Treasury January 2010

Dear Friends and Lovers of All Things Romantic,

Welcome to another wonderful year at my Victorian Treasury. Valentines and expressions of love are the centerpiece of my site, where I focus on providing a unique resource for the collector, historian, or craftsperson. I enjoy sharing my passion through my personal collection, my research, the articles I write, my posters, and the cards I create. You will find helpful links, as well, to expand your romantic adventure through other interesting resources online.   

As President of the National Valentine Collectors Association, now in its thirty-fourth year, I continue to dedicate myself to encouraging the preserving and collecting of Valentines. I hope you will visit the website, www.valentinecollectors.com, and consider joining. Members receive a full color, quarterly newsletter with a mail auction, interesting articles, and pertinent information.

As Vice-President of the Ephemera Society of America, (www.ephemerasociety.org), I encourage you to look at their comprehensive website. All manner of paper collectibles receive serious attention from dealers, collectors, and academia. My recent cover article for their Journal, on scrapbooks, shows the incredible connections between all these marvelous treasures we adore. Finding others to share your enthusiasm, and benefiting from their annual conference and paper fair, are important advantages.  

Each year, I am happy to add more articles to the body of information about Valentines. In the February 2010 issue of Antiques and Collecting Magazine, you will find my latest article about Civil War Valentines. In the Winter issue of FirstCut, the journal of the Guild of American Papercutters, you will find my article on “round gifts” – from the early offerings to the Moon Goddess, to our traditional round keepsake Valentines!

And please do view my most recent Valentine video on www.history.com -- a beautiful site about Valentines and their ancient and modern history, from cherubs to chocolate!   The exact video link is: http://www.history.com/video.do?name=valentinesday&bcpid=6555685001&bclid=1672160848&bctid=8612163001

Valentines range from tender handmade ones, to elaborate lace paper confections, children's cards meant for the school Valentine exchange, caustic comic ones, celluloid devices, and even postcards. Within this range there are cards with religious and romantic motifs, as well as Civil War and cartoon characters -- so there is something to appeal to everyone. Please visit my “Library”, where I am always adding new articles for your reading pleasure or research. Some of you have written about the extensive time you spend here, and I couldn't be happier!  The history of the Valentine is an important aspect, as Valentine's Day has been widely celebrated for centuries. The historic puzzle purse seems to have a unique appeal, as the complex folded puzzle reveals a message, but, once opened, is a challenge to reassemble. Two years ago, as a gift to all of you, I posted a template, instructions for folding, and an image of an antique from my collection.

My handmade Valentines, the original purpose of this site, have expanded to every kind of greeting card, and they are still custom made. Please do email me for any special orders and needs. I have licensed three card designs to Marian Heath Greeting Cards, and four designs for Gartner, for Target stores, so I am pleased to be sharing my vintage ideas with so many of you.

I wish you another year of love, and the hope that you will join me in these two wonderful organizations.

Nancy 

 President, National Valentine Collectors' Association (www.valentinecollectors.com)
 Vice-President,The Ephemera Society of America  (www.ephemerasociety.org) 

Special thanks -- and love -- to my son, Matthew, for his unending contribution to the content and design of this website.  

Message for January 2009!

Nancy Rosin's Victorian Treasury January 2009

Dear Friends,

Welcome to another romantic year at my Victorian Treasury. Valentines and expressions of love are the centerpiece of my site, where I focus on providing a unique resource for the collector, historian, or craftsperson. I enjoy sharing my passion through my personal collection, my research, the articles I write, my posters, and the cards I create. You will find helpful links, as well, to expand your romantic adventure through other interesting resources online.

I am delighted to announce that I am now President of the National Valentine Collectors Association. The organization, now in its thirty-third year, continues to dedicate itself to encouraging the preserving and collecting of Valentines. A quarterly newsletter, complete with a mail auction, interesting articles, and pertinent information, will continue, and I encourage your participation. Membership information is located on this website. Additionally another location, www.valentinecollectors.com, is being developed to complement the newsletter, and will be exclusively for it.

Wearing another hat, I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Ephemera Society of America (www.ephemerasociety.org) and I urge you to look at their website. All manner of paper - I like to think that my tokens of love are not ephemeral - receive serious attention from dealers, collectors, and academia. My recent cover article for their Journal, on scrapbooks, shows the incredible connection between all these marvelous treasures we adore. Finding others to share your enthusiasm, and benefiting from their annual conference and paper fair, are important advantages.

Due to the changes in the eBay structure, the live chats -- a staple for the past eight years - have been discontinued. They did archive our latest one, and it can be found at http://forums.ebay.com/db1/thread.jspa?start=280&threadID=2000513248.

Valentines range from tender handmade ones, to elaborate lace paper confections, children's cards meant for the school Valentine exchange, caustic comic ones, celluloid devices, and even postcards. Within this range there are cards with religious and romantic motifs, as well as Civil War and cartoon characters -- so there is something to appeal to everyone. Please visit my “Library”, where I am always adding new articles for your reading pleasure or research. Some of you have written about the extensive time you spend here, and I couldn't be happier!

The history of the Valentine is an important aspect, as Valentine's Day has been widely celebrated for centuries. The historic puzzle purse seems to have a unique appeal, as the complex folded puzzle reveals a message, but, once opened, is a challenge to reassemble. Last year, as a gift to all of you, I posted a template, instructions for folding, and an image of an antique from my collection. Many of you created puzzle purses that were just phenomenal, yielding artistic creations which will definitely become cherished heirlooms. Once you've perfected the process, you're ready to create your own design -- and the adventurous souls will be rewarded with an amazing treasure. Enclose a lock of hair, a tiny ring, or a special photo or remembrance -- and it will make the best Valentine -- ever! And this year, the secret will be out, as everyone else will learn to create this fascinating puzzle, when they are featured in the February issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine!

Enjoy your visit here, and return often. While Victorian Treasury continues to grow, it is impossible to include everything within this broad category. If there is anything you need or want, please don't hesitate to contact me!

Celebrating love and affection, every day of the year,

Nancy

President, National Valentine Collectors' Association
Member of the Board of Directors, Ephemera Society of America

Special thanks -- and love -- to my son, Matthew, for his unending contribution to the content and design of this website.

Happy Leap Year 2008!

Best New Year wishes to you all, and welcome to another wonderful year here at my Victorian Treasury. As always, this is the resource for those who collect Valentines, who are interested in the history of the Valentine, or who are just in love with the romance of the Victorian era. In addition to the reproduction Valentines and other cards, there are articles and information, which will enhance your knowledge, and provide some wonderful ideas. The site continues to grow, as I love to share my passion. If there are special requests or questions, don't hesitate to email me.

Information about Leap Year is located on this site, as well as images of new cards, which are available. Leap Year occurs every fourth year, when ladies, historically, are free to propose to the gentlemen! Remember the old-fashioned Sadie Hawkins dances? You may use this unique opportunity all 365 days of the year!!

Of course, there will be many articles published about Valentine's Day, and numerous special events. I am honored to have both written, and consulted on many. To catch up from 2007, I do hope you will check on www.victorianamagazine.com for last January, Collecting Victorian Expressions of Love, and in February, The Valentine - A Tribute to Love -- which is not the same article on this site, although I tend to use the title often -- as I feel it is so appropriate! Both articles have new images and I think you'll find them interesting. Also, I was pleased to have been a contributor to the impressive PBS special series of The Mysterious Human Heart, where three Valentine postcard images were incorporated into the film. My hearts, I thought, were just the perfect touch!

Articles about many new aspects of these wonderful treasures of ephemera will appear this season in Antiques and Collectibles, on comic Valentines, using images from my collection, and in Romantic Homes, featuring ladies' album images. In FirstCuts, the magazine of the Guild of American Papercutters, I have written on antique Valentines incorporating the popular craft of quilling, and for the Journal of the Ephemera Society of America, an extensive article on scrapbooking. In England, the premiere magazine for people interested in family history, Family Tree, wanted an article relating the things we collect with family genealogy, and the result is an article, which is different, and really a new way to look at our treasures. You can see that I've been busy! All of these articles are different windows into various aspects of these mementos we save and collect, and inspiration for creating new treasures, which will be heirlooms for the future. Creating and saving precious moments is what we do!

Our annual "Valentine Chat" takes a new form this year, as a special "Valentine Exchange". (See the news page for more information.) For twenty-four hours, from 5 PM on February 13th Pacific Time, until 5 PM on Valentine's Day, February 14th -- stop at the Ebay Valentine Exchange to send your special greetings of love and romance. Photographs, cards, any expression of your creativity -- are encouraged... make this your Valentine destination! This site will be visible around the world, so plan to send notes to anyone on the planet!!

It will be my pleasure to make an online visit with eBay at noon on Valentine's Day, Pacific Time -- that's 3:00 in the afternoon Eastern Time! I will be happy to answer any Valentine questions. Think hearts and chocolate, balloons and flowers -- make this a special place and don't forget -- this is Leap Year! Ladies are invited to propose ALL YEAR LONG!!

And the final icing on my cake - the ego-trip-of-a-lifetime - is an invitation to share my passion with collectors and scholars in England - where many of the pieces in my collection originated. So, on January 31st, I will speak about my forty years of collecting, before the Ephemera Society, the Printing History Society, and the Friends of St. Bride's, at St. Brides Library, London, England, the foremost printing history library in the world. I couldn't say no - but I shall have to put on my "brave coat" and just try to remember I'm among friends. The advertising card was so delightful, I have placed the pdf here.

Another of my articles is at a wonderful site: www.papercutters.info and is titled Antique Papercuts and the Modern Valentine: The Fingerprints of Love.

For more inspiration for crafting with ephemera, consult my five books on amazon.com.

Collecting and sharing, researching and writing -- have been a major part of my life, and have made my passion an everyday celebration of love for my entire family. I hope you spend time here, read and enjoy, and keep coming back to visit me. Custom cards can also be created for special occasions - all based on my extensive collection. With love and affection -- every day,

Nancy

Vice President, National Valentine Collectors' Association
Member of the Board of Directors, Ephemera Society of America

Special thanks -- and love -- to my son, Matthew, for his unending contribution to the content and design of this website.

Victorian Treasury ~ ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ January 2007

Dear Friends,

Welcome to another romantic year at my Victorian Treasury. Valentines and expressions of love are the centerpiece of my site, and interesting articles and useful links will provide access to some fascinating resources for the collector, historian, or craftsperson. I enjoy sharing my passion through my personal collection, my research, the articles I write, my beautiful posters, and the cards I create. As a collector, I seldom sell pieces, but if you are seeking an antique or vintage piece, contact me, and I will try to help you.

Valentines range from tender handmade ones, to embellished lace paper confections, children's’ cards meant for the school Valentine exchange, caustic comic ones, and even postcards. Within this range there are cards with religious and romantic motifs, as well as Civil War and cartoon characters -- so there is something to appeal to everyone. Articles in my Online Library cover many of these areas, and many more are yet to be added! The history of the Valentine is an important aspect, as Valentine’s Day has been widely celebrated for centuries.

The puzzle purse seems to have a unique appeal, as the complex folded puzzle reveals a message, but is challenging to reassemble once opened. As a gift to you this holiday season, I’ve included a template, instructions for folding, and an image of an antique from my collection. Once you’ve perfected the process, you’re ready to create your own design -- and the adventurous souls will be rewarded with an amazing treasure. Enclose a lock of hair, a tiny ring, or a special photo or remembrance -- and it will make the best Valentine -- ever!

Special events this year are very special! On January 20th, a return to Tinsel Trading Company, in New York, for a Valentine exhibit and class. Participants will create their own delicious Valentines using all manner of things -- flowers, glitter, Dresden metallic trims, and lace paper. Everyone had a wonderful time last year!

It is an honor to be presenting a program at New York’s prestigious American Museum of Folk Art, on Wednesday, February 21, 2007. If you are in the area, I hope you will join me for a unique experience. I am thrilled to be able to bring Valentines into mainstream art -- were they belong!

There have been several exhibits and magazine articles, which will be added to the Online Library for your own reference; some are written by me, others are about aspects of my collection -- from Sailor’s Valentines, to woven paper love tokens!! For the second year, Gibraltar, a tiny country that is a part of the British Commonwealth, has used my images for their Christmas stamps. I am very proud to have contributed to the 2006 St. Nicholas Series, and hope you’ll look at them online (large view here)!

Our annual live chat on eBay is going to happen -- but the date is not yet finalized. When it is, it will be posted. Enjoy my site -- it has grown over the years. If there is anything you need or want, don’t hesitate to contact me!

With love and affection,

Nancy

Vice President, National Valentine Collector’s Association
Member of the Board of Directors, Ephemera Society of America

Special thanks -- and love -- to my son, Matthew, for his unending contribution to the content and design of this website.

Autumn, 2005

Dear Friends,

While I am immersed in Valentines every day -- through my collecting, greeting cards, programs, and writing, the Autumn season has some special announcements... more will be added, to be sure, to make your Valentine's Day -- and every day -- special.

Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of working with Sterling/Chapelle Publishers, in creating five books! Four are part of a series called Memories of a Lifetime, the fifth is from a series called Instant Memories. Using items from my personal collection of ephemera, the books cover the subjects, Love, Angels and Fairies, Christmas, Birds and Butterflies, and Vintage Labels from a Lady's Dressing Table. Complete with projects to make, and a CD-ROM so you can use the images on your computer, they are a 21st century resource for crafting and scrapbooking, in all its forms. The images are versatile, and unique. I do hope you will look for them on the internet or in your local stores.

I am pleased to announce that I am participating in the wonderful craft classes being presented at New York City's famous Tinsel Trading Company. Marcia Ceppos' establishment, begun by her grandfather more than 75 years ago, remains a virtual treasure trove of unique vintage trims, inspiring extraordinary creativity. The store is an explosion of magic and is an experience in itself! Listed on the Classes page are the details for the Christmas and Valentine classes. You may email me or Tinsel Trading Company directly. Class size is limited, so that everyone will have an individualized and memorable experience. The shop is conveniently located in the heart of the Garment District.

The "icing" on my holiday "cake" is that the new Christmas stamps for Gibraltar feature Snow Angels from my collection. This is a truly exciting event, and I hope you will go to the website; www.gibraltar-stamps.com to see them.

Gradually, our online Library will have more articles added -- but if you have any specific questions, please don't hesitate to email me.

How this website started to grow: Online since 1997

The enormous number of inquiries about the antique Valentines shown in Victoria Magazine has been overwhelming! As mentioned in the article, I have assembled a wonderful collection which I share through my writing, displays, and programs.

This homepage was quickly created to meet the sudden burst of interest, and will be developed into a more polished version in the future. For the present, I wanted to add some information, and again offer a personalized service to meet any specific needs you may have.

Since the original missives were sent as love messages, for any time of the year, they are often quite appropriate for any occasion, and make wonderful greetings for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, confirmations, and any moment enhanced by a special token of affection. The interior of the cards are blank, enabling you to write your own message - when the originals were given, poetry or messages of love were carefully penned within to express the personal sentiment of the giver - thereby making the message more personal and cherished. Today, the unique, handwritten thoughts of the sender are still better than any printed message!

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Archived Past Valentine's Day Letters