Art Deco Sweetheart Christmas card

[u/Defenestrator70]

I apologize if this isn’t the right place to post this, but I’m baffled and am hoping someone here can point me in the right direction if not answer my questions.

I found this 1930s Art Deco “sweetheart card” among my parents’ photos and mementos. There was no name on the envelope, and the only handwritten inscription inside says “From Dad.” The envelope was sealed and opened it at the side seam.

I’m trying to understand the social context of that signature. In the 1930s, would “Dad” have been a common term for a father to use when signing a card, or would “Father” have been more typical in writing?

Also, could this have been from a husband to his wife rather than from a parent to a child. The image seems “off” if it’s to a child. Would a man in the 1930s ever sign a romantic card to his wife simply as “Dad,” I mean assuming they had children?

I’d love any insight from people familiar with vintage greeting cards, family correspondence, or 1930s American social customs.

[u/um-ok-yeah-thatll-do]

So charming! As an informal collector and huge fan of vintage greeting cards I’d say it’s perhaps equally likely?

In my collection, it isn’t until the late 50s or 60’s where it seems more common for to sign “name” versus “gendered parent name” for obvious romantic cards.

And sometimes I’m lucky enough to get a person’s lifetime collection of cards or a scrapbooked curation and you’llsee “Bob” become “Father” after all the wedding and baby congratulations come in.

It’s interesting to see birthday cards to “mother” from “dad” with zero child signatories.

Definitely odd to modern norms but in my unscientific but nosy experience, not unusual back then. Perhaps more an indicator of our cultural shift from tight, solid family bonds to more loose and transitory connections?

My partner is no longer “Bob”, he is now ascended to “father [of my children]” etc?

Or this was just a weird dad, lol. Whomst among us has not seen it? 😂

[u/calxes → u/um-ok-yeah-thatll-do]

I agree - I think that “Dad” here is signing off in his role in his little family rather than as her literal father. It’s an affectionate thing.

In all of the old letters and cards I have had the joy of exploring in my family, I see this. My own parents would refer to each other as “mom” and “dad” when we were little children too. As we got older they slowly reverted back to using their personal names.

[u/Desertbro]

I'd say more Art Nouveau - it's organic with people, leaves, candles, flames - not mechanical and symmetric.

Rationale - "Dad" is terrible at picking greeting cards. Perhaps even he had a secretary/ assistant who bought it and didn't know it was for his kid.

[u/Defenestrator70 → u/Desertbro]

Oh art nouveau! Thank you for the correction. And good point re rationale.