
It was Georgian Britain that pre-printed cards first began to appear,though these were not yet as popular as they were eventually to become.Perhaps the oldest surviving examples dates from 1797:this card,held at York Castle Museum,was sent by one Catherine Mossday to Mr Brown of London.It is decorated with flowers and images of Cupid,with a verse printed around the border reading:
Since on this ever happy day
All Nature's full of Love and Play
Yet harmless still if my design,
'Tis but to be your Valentine.