Sentimental Cards

An Illustrated History of the Embroidered Silk Postcards is the standard reference book on embroidered silk postcards. It contains references to over 2600 different cards with over 270 illustrations. There is no section on Sentimental Greetings cards, so the cards listed on this site represent the only reference source. The latest additions are shown in RED.

Sentimental cards make up the largest section of embroidered silk postcards as their manufacture started before and continued long after the the Great War period, although their popularity diminished with time. There was a slight resurgence in the Second World War and production finally ceased in the 1950s. The designs of many cards are as complex and intricate as those for the military and patriotic themes, but they have been overlooked by collectors because of their sentimental nature. Cards with more ordinary floral and foliage designs are usually referred to as "Hearts and Flowers" types among collectors.

Similar themes to those used in the section on patriotic cards are used in sentimental embroidered silk postcards with Better Designs, such as: the black cat for good luck; the swallow, which is a symbol of hope and prosperity; angels; pretty butterflies: children; and scenes of home.

The section is divided into two parts: cards with Better Designs, and cards with Hearts and Flowers Designs. Many cards exist with captions such as: To My Dear Mother or Happy Birthday in both the horizontal and vertical styles, with and without an envelope front to hold a small printed greetings card

Captions are only listed once. If they appear amongst the Better Designs, they are NOT repeated in the Hearts and Flowers listing. Many captions are in the French language, which is understandable as most cards were manufactured in France. German, Spanish and Polish captions also exist, with a few in other languages. The are listed in alphabetical order to aid reference.

Information and images on this site are © Ian Collins 2021.

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