Hi everyone,

Welcome to eBay’s longest running holiday feature – Valentine Chat! I’ve had the pleasure of hosting Valentine Chat with special guest Nancy Rosin since 1999.

We hope you’ll find this hour fun and informative. Please submit your questions about new or vintage valentines, how to store or display them, etc., and Nancy will answer as many of them as time allows. We’ll also view some special valentines from Nancy’s extensive collection.

Now, let’s get started! Nancy, it’s great to have you back again. For people who are new to Valentine Chat, please tell us how Valentine’s Day began.

Hi Nancy! Good to see you again!

Hi Arlene! Good to you again as well!

Hi everyone,

Welcome to eBay’s longest running holiday feature – Valentine Chat! I’ve had the pleasure of hosting Valentine Chat with special guest Nancy Rosin since 1999.

We hope you’ll find this hour fun and informative. Please submit your questions about new or vintage valentines, how to store or display them, etc., and Nancy will answer as many of them as time allows. We’ll also view some special valentines from Nancy’s extensive collection.

Now, let’s get started! Nancy, it’s great to have you back again. For people who are new to Valentine Chat, please tell us how Valentine’s Day began.

The history about the origin of Valentine's Day varies, as there were apparently three different people named Valentines! The generally acccepted version is that he was Valentinus, a priest in Rome in the 3rd century AD. He was known to have been a great friend to young people, and encouraged marriage. This angered Claudius II, because a married soldier would give his first allegiance to his wife, not to his Emperor! When he tried to convert the Pagan Emperor to Christianity, he was sentenced to be executed. While imprisoned, awaiting his death, he is said to have restored sight to the jailer's blind daughter. In fact, he left her a note signed, "Your Valentine", and that may have been the very first valentine.
 
In Roman times, a Pagan holiday, called the Feast of Lupercal, celebrated the festive joys of spring, culminating with the drawing of names in a great urn on a scared altar. That name would be the chosen mate for the coming year.

Romans brought many Pagan holidays to England, where, as Christianity strengthened, a great effort was made to eliminate them. Because of the great popularity of this event, the name was changed to honor St. Valentinus, patron of lovers, who was martyred on February 14, 270. And so, we basically have the continuation of the Pagan custom, with a Christian name!! Everyone was happy.

Our first image -- i think -- will be a Sailors' shell valentine -- they're so popular now -- people are even m,aking new ones!

Oops -- it's a HONEYCOMB! Just as much fun! The tissue here was air-brushed and it's about ten inches tall!

What is the date on that one?

I think if you collect what you like and it gets more valuable -- you're doubly lucky. But iinvesting is another matter.

There is a lot of interest in the more rcent ones from the 30s onward. They're affordable, and they're available -- and they're fun!

Dastine -- thank you so much for your gorgeous banner -- and for your enthusiasm and support!

I don't want to ask too many questions, but it's not often we get to chat with an expert.

But if one does want to invest, what holds to most vaule? Anything really hot right now? Do you see any new trends in any areas of collecting?