Victorian Calling Cards

 

In the Victorian era, calling cards were used by every lady and gentleman of means. While the custom began in Europe, it spread to England and America quickly, and the intricate courtesies of how and when to leave cards was a facet of Victorian social life and etiquette. Everything about a card carried a meaning, from it's design and motifs to a turned-down corner or black border.

Cards could be colorful or plain, with lovely calligraphy or printing. Some cards had the name hidden in the design or behind a colorful decorative front card.

Some cards are black and white lithographs with the color added by hand, but others are done in Chromolithography, which uses a different plate for each color, resulting in a richly colored and detailed card.

Calling cards were carried in elegant card cases, often made of sterling, mother-of-pearl or paper mache. Making social calls was a ritual of Victorian life, and calling card trays graced the entry of most homes.  There was even a method of leaving a message with no words by folding a corner of the card: the folded top right of the card indicated congratulations, the bottom right a call of condolence, and the bottom left a farewell.

"With name in fancy type
50 Designs ~ No two alike
Each card has every flower leaf and character completely embossed"

"Special for the Season of 1885
Motto embossed cards at half price
Our new embossed Pack
50 for 15 cts"

"Wishing you a Happy Birthday"
  The sweet pea and white lily symbolize the message "it is good to be with you".

This scrap card is friendship greetings
"Friends will meet and friends will sever,
But true friendship lives forever."

"Life bear for you it's sweetest flowers"
The rose and dove symbolize peace and love.

"May true friends be around you"

Sample Book

Walter S. Hannable

Charles F. Symonds

  Mrs. A. F. Sanborn

"My Heart is Thine" card with the hand holding a pink rose symbolizing secret love. This is a "hidden name" calling card...

... with the name concealed behind a hand and flower decorative scrap.
Amy Masters

     MOTHER-OF-PEARL 1-3/4" hand brooch holding a pearl and wearing a gold wire ring and bracelet.   View    #V8500 

Hidden name card.

Salesman's sample hidden name card
"no. 58 floral, 12 for 20 cts."

"Affections offered"
Hannah Kelly 

"With my compliments"
Hidden name card.

Appolona Stolcenberger

 "True Love's Offering"
Harry C. Hannable

 The hand is a common motif in Victorian calling cards and jewelry.  VICTORIAN "Fede" or clasped hands pin signifying friendship, dyed horn or vulcanite, 2-5/8". Hallmark on back.  View   View   #V25192
 

    VICTORIAN vulcanite  hand holding basket brooch, hallmarked 1885, 2-3/4".   View   #V27230
 

   VICTORIAN 2" vulcanite  hand brooch holding sheaf and wreath of roses, symbolic of hope and love.   View   #V13204 

Allen F. Marshall

Gertie D. Reed

Thomas F. Gunivan 

 CARD holder made of wood with sterling embellishments.  #a27687 

Card holder with card.

Card and photo in box lid.

Mr. & Mrs. John Ballou
at home
Saturday eve, Nov. 18, 1871

     VICTORIAN Reed & Barton silver plated card tray with swinging birds and footed stand ornamented with faces at the center.   View   View   View   View   #a7138

 Birds on swinging perches.

   STERLING card or cigarette case with machined finish front and back, engraved ""FLR", 4" by 3".  View   View   #P12290

  STERLING card or cigarette case engraved "SKJ", 4-1/2" by 3-1/8". Hammered design on both front and back.   View   View   #P9362

Cilla A. Blanchard

"Would that this garden fair might weave around thy life
A spell to shield from car a guard form every strife."

    Charles A. Palmer

Frank R. Smith

 The dove holds lily-of-the-valley and violets in his mouth, symbols of peace and love.
Lollie M. Wright

"Trust to Me"
Allen A. Baker

        14k SEED PEARL three-bird bar pin from the early 1900's.  View   #Q12787

    NOAH'S DOVE... like the one that flew from the ark to search for land, signifying good tidings, a tiny pin circa 1900. This tiny turn-of-the-century treasure is a sentimental favorite for me, as it was in the very first box lot of jewelry I bought when I was 12 years old.   View   #Q4458 

    EDWARDIAN yellow gold and diamond bird bar pin, 2".  View #Q27559

"May flowers of love around thee be twined
and the sunshine of peace shed its joys o'er thy mind."
Willie L. Burchsted

"May your life be as happy and free from care
As the rose of the garden or birds of the air."

  Helen A. Allen

Emma K. Smith

Frank A. Cleaves

H.L. Holcomb

Mrs. Fannie E. Elliott

Unusual sea shells motif.
Arthur F. Adams

  Unusual speckled eggs motif.
Alice May Cross

 Lewis A. Berry

"Admiration"
Nellie T. O. Hearene

Etna F. May 

"Think of Me"
Fred Woodbury

  George E. Wiseman

Affection
Lulu Manning

 "From a faithful friend."
Morning Glories and bonneted child.
Annie E. Wiseman

Katie C. Wiseman

 "With love and fond wishes"
Benj. F. Tappan   

Jennie Critchett

"Believe me Thine"
 

  Rosanna F. King

Janice W. Havens

"May flowers bedeck thy path and fortune be thy guiding star."
What an unusual name!
Asenath R. Pickering

  Mary E. Fay

Possibly a sympathy card.
Adelaide S. Saunders

"May all your troubles be light as the beautiful rose, and be carried beyond the clouds on wings of love."
 

Scenic and floral motif card.
Anna Wright

"I dare not tell thee how my heart
At every thought of thee will start."
Christianna E. Cross

Robert P. Williams

W. Terry Fulkerson

Abbie E. Reed

"I love you"
Helen P. Collimer 

Lillian E. Davis 

Fannie A. Pardee

"I'll be forever thine, if thou wilt let me,
While the bright sun doth shine I'll ne'er forget thee."

Bertha A. Larcom