Victorian Greeting Card - Come Maiden Year

Come Maiden Year, smiling and kind and sweet, And lay thy bouquet at my dear ones feet

This original chromolithographic Victorian Greeting card is printed in color on thick nineteenth century wove paper and with full margins as published around 1890. The caption under the portrait of a young girl contains a verse that reads; "Come Maiden Year, smiling and kind and sweet, And lay thy bouquet at my dear ones feet" Judging by that text and the image on the card, I would venture to guess it is a Birthday Card. The image depicts an interior scene with a young girl standing at the entrance of a hallway. Behind her, there is a large framed picture of a landscape hanging on the wall by the stairwell. The child is wearing a beautiful white dress with pink ribbons, a sash, white gloves and she is holding a bouquet of flowers in her left hand. This is a fine, original example of 19th century chromolithographic art and the Victorian 'Greeting Card'.

Victorian Greeting Card: Come Maiden Year, smiling and kind and sweet, And lay thy bouquet at my dear ones feet

View Other 19th & Early 20th Century Greeting Cards, Post Cards, & Rewards of Merit.

19th & Early 20th Century Greeting Cards, Post Cards, & Rewards of Merit
#	Image	Advertiser & Description	Medium	Date	Notes	-
01.-		Victorian Greeting Card (Come Maiden Year, smiling and kind and sweet, And lay thy bouquet at my dear ones feet.)	Original Chromolithograph	c. 1890	19th Century Greeting Card (Celebration Card)
02.-		Victorian Post Card (Publisher: Raphael Tuck & Sons) The Balloon Girl	Original Chromolithograph	c. 1895	19th Century Post Card (Theatrical)
03.-		Victorian Merit Card (Reward of Merit- 'Two Little Girls Picking Berries in the Woods)	Original Chromolithograph	c. 1885	19th Century Reward of Merit Card (Excellence)
04.-		Victorian Merit Card (Reward of Merit - A Sphere with a Winter Landscape Embellished with a Floral Arrangement)	Original Chromolithograph	c. 1885	19th Century Reward of Merit Card (Excellence)
05.-		Post Card (Publisher: Misch & Co., Ltd., London, England), The Tenor's Top Note, The Bouquet	Original Mixed Media	c. 1913	19th Century Post Card (Theatrical)
06.-		Post Card (Publisher: John Winsch, New York) All Thanksgiving Bounty Be Thine	Original Chromolithograph	1911	Early 20th Century Post Card (Celebration)

View other original 19th century chromolithographic Trade Cards in our gallery (Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com)

Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com - 19th Century Trade Cards

19th Century Advertising Trade Card Image Gallery Directory: Thumbnails of all our original chromolithographic trade cards with links to the larger images and a full description.

Although the advertisement of products and services was active long before the 19th century, It was not until the second half of the 19th century that companies and businesses realized the importance of promoting their products in order to better compete with the growing market, thus, advertising became one of the most potent selling tools to date. 'Trade Cards' and 'Labels' were used to advertise all kinds of products and services. They were the popular choice due to their beautiful and decorative styles and small size. Unlike other methods of advertising, often discarded and destroyed, people actually collected these cards and labels, often keeping them in scrapbooks. The advertising artists went to great lengths in order to create images with sophisticated, decorative and colorful designs that would entice the public to purchase the advertised products. 'Trade Cards' came in various sizes, shapes and colors, and most often depicted beautiful women, cute children, animals, flowers and landscapes, however, many other types of images were part of their wonderful selection. As antique art, advertisements such as these original examples reflect the true tastes and desires of the times.

The subjects and categories chosen to illustrate and promote the merchandise and services were endless. Much like today, advertisers employed marketing strategies that embraced the needs or desires of people. Fantasy, comedy, satire, education, politics, and even religion were subjects often manipulated to best represent their merchandise and services. The various categories comprised of circus art, sports memorabilia, portraits of famous men and women, medical supplies and remedies, special holidays, transportation, and other interesting subjects. Trade cards were often a primary means of marketing used by both the medical profession and snake-oil vendors, 'Quacks' selling their remedies for both animals and people. There were trade cards for food products, such as cereals, meats, canned foods, soda pop, coffee, sweets and a variety of different types of groceries (both local and imported), mechanical bank trade cards luring people to save and deposit their money into their banks. The small specialized shops and department stores also advertised items of clothing, such as, shoes, dresses, pants, shirts, hats, coats, etc. There were toiletries like perfumes, colognes and soaps which were great gift ideas. Other items offered for sale included clocks, watches, firearms and toys. Their household goods departments sold dishes, canisters, silverware, pots, kettles, thread, pins and needles, cleaning supplies like brushes and buckets. Companies also advertised tools, large appliances, machinery and other smaller items that reduced the time spent doing chores, like their new sewing machines, stoves, and gardening tools of all types and sizes. Of course, advertisers could not afford to exclude three of the most controversial products ever offered for sale. They became some of the most lucrative products on the market, cigars, cigarettes and liquor.

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Title:	Victorian Greeting Card: Come Maiden Year, smiling and kind and sweet, And lay thy bouquet at my dear ones feet
Date:	c. 1890
Medium:	Original Chromolithograph
Source:	19th century Greeting Cards
Note:	Greeting Cards: Although greeting cards were in use much before the 19th century, it wasn't' until the 1860's - 1870's when their popularity really flourished as companies recognized their commercial value, thus establishing the 'Greeting Card' industry. Victorian greeting cards are the predecessor of the modern day cards people send on special occasions such as, birthdays, weddings and Christmas, or the computerized (E-Cards) we e-mail to a friend or loved one on that very special day. Victorian Greeting cards were meant to inspire people and deliver a message of warmth and merriment for those special events. If you search carefully, you can find some of the loveliest 19th century chromolithographic cards created for such instances. This particular greeting card depicts an interior scene with a young girl standing at the entrance of a hallway with a stairwell at the far end. There are two objects that stand out in the room, the first is the rather silly looking shaggy green rug under her feet and the other is the large framed picture hanging on the wall behind her. However, the main subject here is the depiction of the young girl holding a bouquet of flowers. She is wearing a very special white dress with pink ribbons and a sash, white gloves. As is typical with many of these Victorian works, the artist has added a decorative border framing the image which gives it a three dimensional view. Judging by the text under the image, I would venture to guess it is a 'Birthday Card'. The Text reads'; "Come Maiden Year, smiling and kind and sweet, And lay thy bouquet at my dear ones feet" This is a fine, original example of the Victorian Greeting Card.
	19th century printing and publishing firms producing wonderful and colorful cards using the new art medium of chromolithography. Chromolithography -- printing images by using a series of carefully registered tint stones -- became the most popular method for the original print-making of everything from miniatures to large posters during the last half of the nineteenth century. The far less costly advances of photomechanical methods, however, made this original and complex form of art all but obsolete by the early twentieth century. Companies such as, Charles Goodall & Son, Marcus Ward, Louis Prang, Bufford, Raphael Tuck, the American Lithographic Company, Consolidated Lithographing Corporation, The Knapp Co., Lith, and many other important printing and publishing firms contributed to the popularity of this industry by producing cards of high standards and quality. They were also a highly influential force in the commercial culture of special events, impacting how they are celebrated, introducing the exchange of gifts and creating the need to buy countless items for these occasions.
	The artists were talented, ingenious and artistic, and created some of the most beautiful miniature works of art that now reflect the thoughts and tastes of that era. The subjects were numerous, and included exterior and interior scenes. They depicted adorable children, beautiful women, wonderful Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter landscapes, cute animals, colorful flower motifs, and still life scenes. Some cards were solemn, others were humorous; they came in all shapes and sizes, and although a large majority of these cards were extremely elaborate, some were very modest. Many of the most cherished traditions that we associate with certain holidays started in the 19th century. Creations like the Christmas tree, Santa, and the Easter Bunny are attributed to the imagination of both literary and visual artists of that period. The first Christmas card was created by J. C. Horsely and since then such famous 19th century artists such as Kate Greenaway, H. Stacy Marks, Thomas Crane and his son Walter Crane, William Coleman, as well as many others created designs for these cards, thus contributed their share of magic to this industry. Many charming cards were also made at home by women and children offering the collector just another opportunity to add a unique work of art to their collection. Because of their beauty, charm and wit, these beautiful treasures ended up in many albums as keepsakes, making it possible for us to enjoy them today.
	As mentioned earlier, the most common subjects represented were numerous, and the artists relied heavily upon the specific event or situation for their imagery, but when none was available, they either stretched the truth or fabricated a version that met their needs. It is very possible that this artistic freedom opened the door for the card industry. You may disagree, but I believe that the most significant, most memorable and the most financially rewarding of all the greeting cards was and is the 'Christmas Card'. So, it is the first to be described on our list. As expected, some Victorian Christmas cards displayed images of a religious nature, but most of them illustrated the more commercially known images of Santa, decorated trees, happy cherub like children, toys and the great Xmas spirit that we are familiar with today. Next on our list are 'Easter cards'. They contained illustrations of lovely spring flowers, chicks, the Easter Bunny, Easter Eggs and and of course, a variety of lovable babies, kittens, puppies, birds, and children. I'm not sure when 'New Year's Day' cards became so popular, but they were surely a part of the 19th century. New Year's Day cards brought forth images of old 'Father Time' with memories of a romantic past, and cherubs conveying thoughts of a happier and a more prosperous new year. These cards often depict colorful fireworks and lavish parties. Another annual celebration includes Halloween. Some scholars believe it is a ritual influenced by Celtic harvest festivals and others disagree. Whatever the origins may be, there are early 19th century Halloween cards celebrating 'All Hallows' Eve (Saints Day). That's the name for a celebration that marked the end of the harvest season on the last day of October and a was conjured up as a night for mischief and pranks. Themes included witches on broomsticks flying past a full moon or brewing potions in big black steaming pots, spooky jack-o'-lanterns lighting up the night, menacing ghosts and devils, black cats creeping on rooftops and dark alleys, as well as many other strange depictions, all wishing you a Happy Halloween. The celebrated Mother's Day and Valentines Day cards have not changed much since time past. These cards still portray the tender and loving images of motherhood, children and romance that were as popular in the 19th century as they are today. The following selection brings us to 'Thanksgiving' day. The first official Thanksgiving day in North America came around the first quarter of the seventeenth century. Since then, It has been received and celebrated with joy. Victorian Thanksgiving cards followed that tradition by offering good wishes and a happy Thanksgiving day to all. Those cards depicted images of the early Pilgrims and bountiful harvests of fruit and vegetables, turkeys, horns of plenty, and not unlike today, cheerful family gatherings celebrating that day with a fine feast. Ah!, lets not forget Birthday cards, Wedding cards, 4th of July cards, First Communion cards, Graduations cards and many other festivities not included on this list. Today, just about any kind of social or special event that could arise has been introduced into the Greeting Card industry which continues to be a major and profitable business.
Size:	7 X 4 3/4 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Buy Now	Price: $75.00 US
Condition:	Printed on thick nineteenth century wove paper and with full margins as published on the above date. It is a fine, strongly printed impression without a trace of deterioration or discoloration and in excellent condition throughout. Altogether, this is a delightful and original example of the nineteenth century 'Greeting Card'.
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