Victorian Calling Card Etiquette
Calling cards were an important part of Victorian social life, especially among the well-to-do and social-climbing members of the middle class. Simple and personalized, they carried meaning not conveyed by text, but rather in the way they were physically manipulated before being left at the home of a friend, acquaintance or potential social connection. Does this Spark an idea?
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Who Used Them?
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Both women and men used calling cards. Children also bought them to trade amongst themselves.
Why Were They Used?
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Calling cards were delivered on a tray to the lady of the house by a servant to announce the arrival of visitors. The visitor was then accepted or denied entrance--in the latter case, the excuse was made that the lady was out paying visits herself.
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Other Situations
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Cards could be left with a servant and placed on a tray near the door when no one was home to accept visitors. Calling cards were also used to announce a change of address as well as the arrival of a newcomer to the neighborhood or town.
Gender
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Men's cards, which were smaller than women's, often included their name and address, while most women only had their names printed on theirs during the early part of the 19th century. A woman left two of her husband's cards when calling, and at least one of her own--more if the lady of the house had daughters, or another woman living in the home.
Significance of Card Condition
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If a card was left intact, it meant it had been delivered by a servant; if bent or torn on the top right corner, it signified congratulations. On the top left, a social call. On the bottom left, goodbye. A calling card bent at the bottom right acted as a Victorian-era sympathy card.
Meaning of Design
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A black border on the card meant the caller was in mourning. Popular symbols, such as birds, flowers and hands indicated sentiments, such as friendship and peaceful intentions.
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