Valentine and Sons of Dundee
Valentine and Sons of Dundee were once Scotland’s most successful commercial photographers. In 1907, at the height of the postcard revolution, the photographs they published showed scenes from around the world. Often regarded as only postcard publishers, Valentines produced images in various formats including fine early photographic prints.
The Valentine company was founded in Dundee by James’s father, John Valentine, in 1825. After learning the daguerreotype process in Paris in the late 1840s, James added portrait photography to the family business in 1851. By the 1860s the company had begun to cater to the growing tourist industry by producing photographic prints with views from around the country. After James’s death in 1880, his son William Dobson took over the ever-expanding business.
Valentine & Sons printed its first postcards in 1898. Canadian production began between 1903 and 1906 with offices established first in Montreal and then Toronto. The earliest Canadian postcards published by Valentine and Sons were monotone black, collotype views showing the scenery along the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway north of Lake Superior and in the Rocky Mountains.
At Valentine’s the greeting card gradually replaced the picture postcard. What remained of a card making empire was sold to Hallmark Cards Inc. in 1980.
Wikipedia on Valentine
University of St. Andrew’s (Scotland) Photographic Archive
Luminous Lint – for collectors and connoisseurs of fine photography
Valentine & Sons Postcard List – March 2011 (filtered Excel list-1,915kb)
Comments
Comment from bhenderson
Time: February 8, 2012, 9:31 pm
Hello Art,
If you live in or near a location where there is a postcard show, the dealers at the show are always available to comment on card values. The page titled ‘Show Calendars’ on this web-site always has a list of the upcoming shows in Ontario. The next TPC show in the Toronto area is June 3rd and will have about 25 dealers in attendance. If you cannot get to a show, the several internet auction sites for postcards, also listed on our web-site on the ‘Links and Connections’ page will give you a good idea of values. Put in Valentine and the subject in the search field and you are very likely to see the same card on offer.
Comment from Art Halpert
Time: February 3, 2012, 10:51 am
I have about 30 Valentine & Sons postcards (all with green edge and gold pearls along the sides and oval scene in the centre). Most are unused. How can I find out what these are worth?
Thanks, Art
Comment from Norman MacInnes
Time: November 12, 2011, 10:50 pm
Found a fold out set of 12 photo of Blairgowrie. Each photo is 5.08×3.81 centimeters and in very good condition.My grandfather found it on the battle field during WW1 in France. He was of member of the 48th Highlanders, Toronto, Ontario.
Just for your information.
Comment from Palmier
Time: April 13, 2011, 1:47 pm
I have some Valentine & sons ltd snapshots. They are 6 photographs of stratford-on-avon in a grey envelope that seems to be ready for mailing purchased during WWII by my father. Are they of any value?
Comment from len sherrott
Time: February 2, 2009, 5:01 am
I purchased today in a second hand bookshop in Australia, the “Photographic views of Bedford”. It is not dated but the images suggest late nineteenth century. What a gem! Printed of Course by Valentine & Sons Dundee.
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