Page 14 - 0217

Page 14 The Antique Shoppe February, 2017
Cupids Rollick on Valentine's Day Postcards
By Roy Nuhn

One of the most often used themes But they also used a lot of cherubs, transportation. Even Ellen Clapsaddle, portrayed him in comical and whimsical
on Valentine's Day postcards was Cupid, as well, and ever since collectors have the firm's most important artists, drew situations. Tuck's Series Number 28 is
the mischievous, playful youngster often mistaken cherubs for Cupid on Cupids in her postcard designs. Another just one of several to depict the winged
whose eternal tasks is to see that true Valentine's Day postcards. artist popular today, Ethel Dewees (EHD), archer of sweet love.
love prevails. Cupid, in addition to having wings, contributed to the Cupid Valentine's Day Also well represented on Valentine's
However, our little pal has a very dark must have either an arrow or a quiver, or lore with illustrations for the publisher Day postcards are the previously
and sinister past. Actually, as recently as be seen working with hearts. AMP Co. There are also some lovely mentioned bows and arrows and
a couple of dozen centuries ago, Cupid Cupid has been represented in art and Cupid designs to be found amongst the quivers. As symbolic of the god of love,
was not a very likeable guy at all. literature during the last, millennium as various sets done by the German firm of they appear frequently in illustrations.
He was originally called Eros by the a young boy of Grecian beauty. Paul Finkenrath, which exported huge R.F. Outcault, especially in his many sets
ancient Greeks. For several centuries amounts of postcards into the United for Tuck, used arrows and pierced hearts
before the beginning of the Christian States in the early years of the 20th a great deal.
era, when Grecian - and, later, Hellenistic century. Cupid is also well represented Cupid also makes an occasional
- culture was the apex of Western on many of the souvenir Valentine's appearance on postcards other than
civilization, Eros reigned as the god of Day postcards by Nash, one of the most those of the day of romance. The great
love. As one of the makers of creation, prolific of all holiday publishers. American artist, Charles Dana Gibson,
he was worshipped as the god of sexual Of particular note is Tuck's tongue- was fond of drawing Cupid into many of
passion and power. He took many forms in-cheek view of the little god. Their his designs. Since Gibson specialized in
and shapes in different parts of the "Mischievous Cupid" series of postcards the romantic encounters of the upper
ancient world. As a god who lived on Mt. class, and the love
Olympus, he engaged in many unsavory affairs of debutante-
activities and was often a mean-spirited type young ladies, Cupid
deity. is used as a sort of silent
When the Romans conquered the third party to the action
known world and established their long- going on. While Gibson
lived empire they borrowed much from never drew directly for
the peoples they had conquered. From the postcard format,
the Greeks they embraced most of their he gave us a priceless
gods - but renamed them, and accepted heritage as so many
much of the mythology while adding of his drawings were
their own imprint. adapted as souvenir
Eros became Cupid - from the Latin postals by several large
cupido, meaning desire - and was given and small publishers.
a bagful of human traits. He was now Embossed beauty by unknown printer. Charles Twelvetrees'
not so much a god, but a devilish, often Series Number 75,
nasty playful child. Cupid pulling wagon full of hearts and flowers National Cupid, for
About this time he (unknown publisher, postmarked 1910.) Ullman Mfg. Co.,
became a sort of patron consists of 12 cute
saint to lovers. But at the illustrations showing Cupids in national
beginning, he was a cruel, Hanging up a string of hearts costumes (U.S., Canada, China, etc.).
self-centered individual. He (No. 7902 by unidentified Twelvetrees' use of Cupids is also seen
carried two types of arrows published, embossed, in the many magazine illustrations he did
in his quiver. One type was postmarked 1910). from 1906 to the late 1930s.
golden and sharp, intended Also a favorite with collectors
to inspire love; the other, are patriotic-style Valentine's
leaden and blunt, meant to Day postcards. Rare, they
cause the unlucky recipient often feature Cupid proudly
depression, anguish and fear. waving an American flag. The
Cupid became a good London firm of Birn Brothers,
guy for all of time when in 1909 and 1910, marketed
he hooked up with Psyche. an interesting Series, No. VIO,
The legend, as told by the along these lines. It consisted
Roman writer Lucius Auleius, of different scenes showing
relates how Cupid fell hopelessly in love He is often confused with the cherub Cupid saluating, waving and
with the beautiful mortal and how their babies with wings found on many carrying Old Glory.
love ran afoul of Venus, Cupid's mother. Christmas and Valentine's Day greeting Much in demand are novelty
After a series of adventures, Jupiter postcards. Thus, wings do not a cupid types, as well. These include
intervened. He made Psyche a goddess make! attached brass Cupids, gold foil
and persuaded Venus to accept her as a International Art Publishing Company, and other kinds of material as
daughter-in-law. located in New York City from the 1890s background, and mechanicals
So down to our own time, it has to the advent of World War I, was one that have a moving Cupid.
been Cupid's appointed task to help of America's largest paper novelty and Hold-to-lights - cards which
love whenever he could. Anyone struck greeting card publishers. They specialized when held to a strong light
by his arrow immediately falls in love, in holiday postcards and their Valentine source burst into color - have
usually with the first person seen. These cards frequently featured Cupids. In long been held in high regard.
arrows of desire have become one of the fact, their embossed, sparkling colored Cupid postcards are many
strongest and most enduring symbols and well designed offerings are among and varied. They are plentiful
associated with Valentine's Day. the best. One series, for instance, shows and moderately priced, except
Both foreign and domestic publishers the jolly little fellow making hearts on for the unusual. What would
delighted in producing postcards for a blacksmith's forge and delivering Valentine's Day or a valentine
the holiday with Cupid as the central them. Another set marvelously depicts B.B. London Co. great patriotic set, Circa 1908. collection be without them?
character. Cupid traveling via many modes of