Kovels Antiques: Sailors made 'shell pictures' for valentines
Valentine's Day has been celebrated for centuries. By the 1790s, romantic cards were being given to that "special" person. The idea of cards and gifts has continued, and collectors search for all types of valentines of the past - everything from pasted-together lacy cards and "mechanical" cards that pop open into a 3-D display, to very modern talking cards.