These little calling cards are over 120 years old, some much older! These lovely cards, not just for collectors, make an interesting conversation piece for your Victorian style home, especially framed in groups.

Long before our computer age and e-mail, a wonderful custom developed in the early 1800s in France and spread throughout Europe and the United States. “Calling or visiting cards” were carried by well-to-do ladies to leave when they went visiting family and friends. Kind of hard to do that today! Design, style, border color and even a bent corner, all had specific meanings to the receiver. Early cards had fancy scrollwork and were hand written by a calligrapher. This very popular tradition spared no expense in the detail of the artists and calligraphers. Later cards were mass produced by a process called chromolithography which was difficult and time consuming, later pieces lost much of the earlier quality. These cards had chromolithographic "scrap" attached to the paper, which was either light-weight and embossed or hard stock style with fancy edges, these "scraps" covered the name of the visitor.

Cards were often carried in plain or elaborate card cases. We have a tortoise shell case at http://www.jacsjunques.ecrater.com for you to view. Some of these cases were mother of pearl, gold, silver, leather etc. In the entry way of homes, tables were set with trays and plates to recieve the cards. Cards were meant to keep you updated as to who visited you and who you had to visit. The custom of visiting cards ended in the 1890s. You can see more cards at jacsjunques, these cards are more than 120 years old, come in all styles and are truly a lost art, as is a wonderful custom.

The adorable little Dutch Girl has a "handkerchief" Dress and the little Dutch boy has "hanky" pants! These "cards" came in thin boxes to present to the reciever, these were most likely a Souvenir Hanky set from Holland. They had "picture" stands on the back, so you could place them on the fireplace or buffet for all to see. They are both hand-embroidered with more little Dutch boys and girls. What a find! Very few of these hankies ever stayed in their display/presentation form.

Packaging! Ah ... the good old days! In the past, the outer packages of so many items were rather plain. Gift handerchiefs, or hankies, were generally packaged in plain boxes that had perhaps a foil or light paper covering. There were fancy presentation packages for every holiday. I can remember seeing some of my Mother's gift-hankies in their presentation cases. Beautiful ladies with bustled "hanky" skirts, Easter eggs with multi-colored "hanky" designs, Christmas "hankie" Bouquets of Pointsettias and so many more!

I can remember these items being available at F. W. Woolworths, which is where my Mother worked. I have seen very few, 1 or 2, of these fine presentation hankies on the internet. I hope you enjoyed looking!